Visiting Masada — Israel for Families

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Visiting Masada should be near the top of your bucket list when traveling to Israel with kids. There are so many great things to do in Israel for families, and this ancient fortress built by King Herod the Great is one you don’t want to miss.

Visiting Masada

Masada is less than two hours from Jerusalem by car. It makes a great day trip for families — you get to see the landscape change from the hills of Jerusalem to the Judaean desert.

The ancient fortress was built on top of an isolated mountain overlooking the Dead Sea. You can reach it on the switchback path up the mountain traveled by the ancient survivors of the Jewish Revolt against Roman rule. Or you can take the modern cable car.

In 2001, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The desert landscape has preserved much of the fortress, including original mosaic tiles from Herod’s palace. How cool is that?!

The black lines on the rock show original rocks from the fortress.

Kids will love exploring all of the different parts of the fortress and learning about the Jewish rebels who were besieged by a massive Roman army. Rather than being taken as slaves, the nearly 1,000 rebels committed self-immolation. It is such a sad story, but one that shows the faith of those people.

The view from the fortress is spectacular — you can still see where the Roman army camped during their siege. And the view of the Judaean desert and the Dead Sea is amazing.

Tips for Visiting Masada

• Arrive early. The site can get very hot, so the earlier in the day you can make it, the better. Many recommend hiking to the top of the fortress early in the morning in time to watch the sunrise. I hear it’s an incredible site.
• Wear good walking shoes. Even if you don’t plan to hike up the mountain, you’ll want them for navigating the rocky landscape of the palace.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses. Imagine the sun beating down on all that sand and rock — it reflects back and can make the heat unbearable.
• Learn a little history. The story of the Jewish rebels is fascinating — you can read all about it in The Dovekeepers. It’s a fictional story based on the events at Masada and a fun way to learn about the life of the Jews there.

You can get all the details of Masada National Park and plan your visit on their website.