Are you planning to visit Palestine soon?
If yes, this article is for you. Palestine is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It has a rich history, vibrant culture, and spectacular scenery.
The local people are friendly and hospitable, atop having a great sense of humor. You’ll love to mingle with them and even make a few friends.
When you’re in this beautiful nation, it’s easy to forget that Israel still occupies Palestine. Whatever your reason for traveling to Palestine, create time in your itinerary to pamper yourself.
There’re many opportunities for self-care and relaxation in Palestine. Whether it’s a trip to your local hammam or you just prefer to enjoy some downtime, take care of yourself and enjoy the place.
Here’re some of the ways you can pamper yourself while visiting this country in the Middle
How to Treat Yourself on Your Next Vacation to the Palestine
Get a massage at one of the many spas
Getting a massage is probably one of the best ways to pamper yourself, and you can have it during your visit to Palestine. Find a reputable local salon & spa with affordable prices to give yourself a treat.
Most salons and spas offer an array of beauty and relaxing treatments to consider. They include:
- Massages
- Manicures
- Pedicures
- Waxing services, and
- Facials
What’s more, the salons and spas have invested in various technologies to improve their services and customer experience. Apart from beauty technologies, local nail salons and spas have invested in POS systems to improve their payment processes.
A popular recommended choice resembles the one from Authority Automation. It eases, simplifies and hastens the payment process for better experience.
Indulge in a Turkish bath
Nothing beats a Turkish bath when you want to relax at the end of a long day, exploring local sites. Hammams are an important part of the Palestine culture, and your visit would be incomplete without indulging in one!
Hammams have a long tradition in Palestine. This makes them the most popular way for locals to relax their bodies from time to time.
A hammam visit also gives you an opportunity to socialize and chat with locals. You won’t just meet them here, but also ask their life stories while having someone wash your back.
Shop for spices
Buy aromatic Palestinian spices from Dehk El Aweida Market (this market offers more than 30 types of different spices). These spices are used to cook traditional dishes that almost every Palestinian knows how to prepare.
You can bring some home to prepare your favorite everyday dishes. Visit the market to explore various spices and find out what meals you can prepare with them. Some popular local spices you’ll find at local markets include:
- Cardamom
- Turmeric
- Saffron
- Cumin seeds
- Cinnamon sticks, etc. – all grown here in Palestine!
You can even find organic produce and handicrafts from local artisans to buy as souvenirs. The spices give food not only a new flavor, but also an aura of authenticity and tradition.
If you can’t make it to the Aweida market, visit the Old City where you’ll find shops with spices from all over Palestine. This place is also home to old traditional houses which have been transformed into museums exhibiting various aspects of the Palestinian culture and history.
Visit the Dead Sea to float and relax
The Dead Sea is popular for its therapeutic benefits. Take a day trip to the Sea and float on its salty waters. A long bath in the sea will lower your stress levels, cleanse and remove toxins from your skin, and reward you with a rejuvenating experience.
The best part is when you have to use the Dead Sea mud mask to exfoliate dead cells off your skin! The mud mask is filled with minerals and nutrients that’ll help your skin look great.
Board a bus or taxi from Jerusalem, if it’s not too far away from your location, to get to the Dead Sea. However, buses are usually fully booked during peak season (April – June). So, make sure you plan your trip early to get a bus ticket or taxi to this great site.
The site will treat you to amazing views of the scenic surrounding landscape. Walk into a roadside café for shisha with friends or family on your way back to your hotel.
There’s no better way to relax your muscles and mind after lots of local travels to nearby sites than spending a day or just a few hours at the Dead Sea.
Try the Palestinian cuisine
Many Palestine restaurants serve traditional food made from locally grown produce to satisfy your taste buds. Some popular ingredients include:
- Olives
- Almonds
- Figs
- Pomegranates, and more.
Visit a Palestinian café nearby for a sweet treat. The traditional cuisine tastes great, and it’ll make you feel at home. Don’t forget to try other popular Palestinian dishes such as:
- Hummus
- Kebabs
- Maftoul
- Maqluba
- Knafeh
- Musakhan
- Freekeh, and
- Baba ghanoush.
Pamper your skin with henna tattoos!
Henna tattoos are popular among locals and tourists alike. The tattoos are loved for their natural beauty and lasting effects on the skin, atop being safe. They come in all sorts of patterns, colors, shapes, and sizes.
Find a local tattoo artist who specializes in henna designs, during your visit, to offer you the service. Alternatively, you can buy henna to bring back home and get a tattoo artist from your home town to offer you the service.
Explore the rich Palestine culture
Visit a local cultural center for exhibitions or performances based on the Palestinian culture. Some top sites to learn about the culture of this country include sites in Judea and Samaria, ranging from Masada to the Ramallah’s Church of Nativity.
Tour Hebron and visit the Ibrahimi Mosque; here you’ll learn about the Palestinian history and culture in one place. The cultural sites give visitors an insight into the rich Palestinian traditions, something you can’t explore or experience from abroad.
You can also backpack and walk across the many historical sites. Another option is to horseback ride across Palestine. Whichever option you pick, you’re bound to get some exercise while having lots of fun!
Visiting Palestine as a tourist is an experience that’ll leave you with memories of a lifetime. As an added bonus, there’re plenty of ways to pamper yourself while traveling across this beautiful country. Which one of these tips would you want to try when you visit Palestine?
