Travel in Palestine

In 1998, the Yasser Arafat International Airport in Palestine stood as a symbol of independence. 

Trying my best not to make a mess, I devoured the chocolate-drizzled, walnut-topped qatayef and instantly felt better about the wet, wintery day. In Jordan and throughout the Middle East, these palm-sized semolina pancakes are typically only popular during the holy month of Ramadan—As-Salt, a city on three hills about an hour north of the Jordanian capital of Amman, is “the only place where one can find qatayef year-round,” my As-Salti guide Sewar Alfauori explained between bites.

Throughout April, we're honoring the ancient Arab tradition of hakawatis, or storytellers, highlighting the writers, performers, and poets who are driving the conversation around what it means to be Arab American today—and celebrating the rich culture and histories of the diaspora.

Qatar Tourism extends the Throwback Food Festival until April 15, adding an additional five days to its month-long run. The Throwback Food Festival was inaugurated at the beginning of Ramadan as an initiative to bring together families and people to enjoy multinational cuisines and Qatari traditions during the holy month. Following its great success, Qatar Tourism has extended the festival to run through Eid Al Fitr 2024, to allow more visitors to enjoy the culinary and crafts experience for longer. The festival offers a soothing, fun, and glamorous atmosphere with lighting, tapestry, and cozy seating areas. There are over 15 local, regional, and international restaurants at the festival, which offer several delicious cuisines. Visitors can enjoy different bites and sips in the comfortable outdoor seating in the pleasant weather of spring. The exclusive restaurants include: Beirut Restaurant, Popeye, Sidheeque Juice Stall, Omar Al Khayam, Hargeisa, Palestine Cafeteria, Al Zarka Scene, Orange Kiosk, Baradat Saida, Rex Restaurant, Shujaa Restaurant, Stearling and many more.

Throughout April, we're honoring the ancient Arab tradition of hakawatis, or storytellers, highlighting the writers, performers, and poets who are driving the conversation around what it means to be Arab American today—and celebrating the rich culture and histories of the diaspora.

Throughout April, we're honoring the ancient Arab tradition of hakawatis, or storytellers, highlighting the writers, performers, and poets who are driving the conversation around what it means to be Arab American today—and celebrating the rich culture and histories of the diaspora.

One night, when Nadia Abuisnaineh was in 11th grade, Mormon missionaries came knocking. After Abuisnaineh’s sister politely declined their proselytizing, the pair turned to leave—but not before asking, “Do you know that there are auroras outside?” Immediately running out the door of their Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, home, Abuisnaineh witnessed the northern lights for the first time.

ITB Berlin, an annual event considered one of the most critical in the travel trade industry, concluded last week after another successful year. 

How should we use our power, once we have it? As the CEO and founder of El Camino Travel, a company that organizes small group trips and builds community among women travelers, I am always thinking about what guests want out of their travels—and what direction we, as an industry, are headed. It's 2024, yet the CEOs of most major travel companies are still men, dictating the trajectory of a marketplace in which women account for 85% of travel planning decisions and spend $125 billion annually on trips. It’s no doubt the reason so many of our community members tell me they have struggled to find experiences that speak to them in the marketplace.

Franco-Palestinian chef and hotelier Fadi Kattan, who splits his time between projects in London and the West Bank, can now add author to his repertoire. His new cookbook, Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food, set to be released on May 14 in the US, honors his hometown and its people. In a devastating time for Palestinians, as a violent war with Israel pushes surviving Gazans to the brink of famine and impacts life for those in the West Bank every day, Kattan's book aims to bring Bethlehem into people’s kitchens to preserve the traditions, culture, and flavors of Palestine well beyond the region.

I’ve always been obsessed with the food around festivities. I adore breaking ‘rules’ set around cooking, but there is something so lovely about the simplicity of celebrating with a certain dish to link you to a culture. Food around Scottish festivities is not a widely known tradition; the most habitual celebratory food we would eat would be a steamy tower of haggis, neeps, and tatties on Burns Night, surrounded by poetry and whisky. But I can’t really think of many others off the top of my head.

Many of the travellers who venture beyond the Arctic Circle to Norway’s northern capital, Tromsø, do so with very realistic hopes of seeing the Northern Lights. But those who come chiefly to be dazzled by the Aurora Borealis will find a city capable of springing plenty of culinary surprises, thanks to a varied dining scene reflecting a population that’s more cosmopolitan than some might assume. At its root, however, is a world-class offering of fresh local fish, from herring to halibut, served on its own, as sushi or in a delicious soups and stews.

Air travel to and from Israel plunged in the last three months of 2023 amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, but the number of passengers traveling through Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv still rose 10% in 2023.

Ahead of the competition’s highly anticipated opening clash between hosts Qatar and Lebanon, the Lusail Stadium welcomed fans from across Asia to bask in the splendour of Asia’s crown jewel.

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia head coach Roberto Mancini has named his 26-player squad for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ , with the tournament set to kick off on January 12.

Unveiling Jordan’s baptism site’s significance, the insightful interview with Rustom Mkhjian highlights interfaith harmony and future collaborations in religious tourism.

The United Arab Emirates go into the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ aiming to build on their back-to-back semi-final finishes. And just as was the case in 2015 and 2019, Ali Mabkhout will carry the hopes of his nation. Not many players in Asian football have as many records to their name across club and country, domestic and continental football as 33-year-old Mabkhout, and he travels to Qatar hopeful of breaking one of the most important records of them all.

Japan will head to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ as the top ranked Asian side. The four-time AFC Asian Cup winners maintained their 17th spot in the latest FIFA World Ranking issued last Thursday.

The skyline of Amman looks a bit like a game of Tetris. From the top of the Bronze Age Citadel, the city’s highest point, the view seemingly comprises tiny blocks of tightly compacted, limestone houses strewn with washing, topped with water tanks and interspersed with the odd cypress tree. The clear blue sky is occasionally pierced by one of the city’s many minarets. The soundtrack, a cacophony of traffic and car horns honking from the streets below, is soothed by the echoes of the call to prayer.

In our 5 Shops series, we'll point you in the direction of our favorite independent shops across some of the world's best cities. From food markets to bookshops, vintage and homegrown design, we've found a diverse and exciting mix of local retailers where you can pick up one-of-a-kind pieces.

The war between Israel and Hamas has made the already skittish airline industry even more diligent about messaging on passenger attire.

Exploring Jordan on a road trip affords you access to places unreachable by public transportation, giving you the freedom to choose your own adventure along the way rather than being tied to the timeline of a set tour.