Kosher travel tips (Photo: Envato)
Where are you heading for your summer vacation? Before you plan your trip, check TJT’s Kosher Travel Digest’s Destinations page. We have travel itineraries highlighting Jewish heritage sites, local cultural landmark and information about kosher food and synagogues. As a general rule, it is best to book things in advance as much as possible. The summer months are very busy and it can be difficult to get tickets at the last minute. It is also best to check about Shabbat meals, synagogues and restaurant reservations in advance. Synagogues often require advance registration due to security issues. The articles have relevant links that can help you find that information. The more prepared you are, the more smoothly your vacation will go.
There are a lot of historical landmarks to see in Rome. You can get a combined ticket to The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine HIll. Don’t miss the relief on the Arch of Titus showing the holy vessels from the Temple being taken to Rome. Take time to visit Trevi Fountain and some of Romes numerous piazzas (plazas or squares) that are scattered throughout the city. The city of Rome has a long history of Jewish life in the city. VIsit the Jewish Ghetto in the Trastevere area and the Jewish Museum. There are Chabad houses, three synagogues and many kosher restaurants. Click here for the full article with all the information and links to plan your summer vacation.
Kosher vacation in Rome (Photo: Envato)
Panama is home to the largest Jewish community in South America and the largest kosher supermarket in the world. There is an active Chabad House, synagogues and over 40 kosher restaurants. Check out the wonders of the Panama Canal, visit the Biomuseo, The Amador Causeway and Monkey Island. Enjoy the tropical weather, the beaches and delicious kosher food. Click here for the full article with more details about Panama City sites, kosher restaurants and synagogues.
Kosher vacation in Panama - ship crossing Panama Canal at Miraflores Locks (Envato)
Jewish life is once again thriving in Vienna. There is a proud Jewish community and numerous kosher restaurants. Visit the only synagogue in Vienna to survive Kristallnacht. Then visit the Jewish museums, one of which housed the ancient synagogue uncovered during archeological excavations. There are numerous other museums and attractions to see in the city. See the full article for more details and information to help you plan your summer visit to Vienna.
Kosher vacation in Vienna - interior of the main Synagogue of Vienna, the Stadttempel (Photo: Sarah Ansbacher)
Budapest, aka “Paris of the East”, has a lot of Jewish history to explore. There are three main synagogues to visit, including the Dohany Street Synagogue which is the 3rd largest synagogue in the world. The Jewish Museum and Jewish cemetery are located in the same complex with the Dohany Synagogue. There are other exhibits and monuments about the history of the Jews of Hungary. There are kosher restaurants and Chabad House that offers Shabbat meals. Check out the full article for more information.
Kosher vacation in Budapest - Landmarks of Budapest (Enavto)
Kosher vacation in Budapest - Landmarks of Budapest (Enavto)
Berlin is a large city and is full of sites commemorating the Jews murdered by the Nazis. There are exhibits detailing the Nazis rise to power, site of the Nazi book burning, Grunwald Train Station where the first deportations left from and other memorials throughout the city. Other points of interest include Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Bunker, Brandenburg Gate and German Parliament. See the article for more information about Jewish sites and kosher restaurants for your summer vacation.
Jewish heritage tour of Berlin - Memorial to Kindertransport
The UAE is very hot in the summer but that isn’t stopping the tourists from coming for vacation. There are numerous kosher restaurants in Dubai and a brand new kosher restaurant in Abu Dhabi. There are beautiful beaches where you can dip into the water to cool off from the summer heat or head over to the Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark. There are plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy, such as the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world) and Ski Dubai, where you can ski in sub-zero temperatures while it is steaming outside. Abu Dhabi has indoor family-fun activities to keep you busy: Warner Bros theme park, Ferrari World amusement park and Yas Waterworld. Check out the complete vacation guide to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Kosher vacation in the UAE - Cityscape of Dubai (Envato)
The Jewish history of Hong Kong dates back to the middle of the 19th century. Visit the Ohel Leah Synagogue and the Jewish Community Center. The Community Center has kosher meat and dairy restaurants as well as a mikvah, swimming pool, library and shop. There are a number of other synagogues as well as Chabad on the island. See the full article for more information and tips for visiting the Jewish community of Hong Kong.
Jewish community of Hong Kong - Ohel Leah Synagogue (Wikimedia Commons)
Preparation is the key to a successful and stress-free vacation. It is important to leave some down time and free time as well. If there are certain sites that you know you want to see then best to book in advance. If you are visiting over Shabbat and want to book meals at a kosher restaurant or Chabad House then check how much in advance is required.
While borders are open and travel is back in full swing for summer, there are still some COVID restrictions. Testing requirements, masks and requirements for COVID vaccination or recovery vary from country to country. Be sure to check the COVID testing requirements and vaccination requirements for each country that you will be visiting. Many countries still have mask requirements and some sites have their own mask requirements. Some sites will only allow guests to enter with N95 masks. Be sure to check the masking requirements and travel with masks on you at all times so you don’t need to worry about purchasing masks while you are on vacation.
If you are vacationing in other cities, then check out TJT’s directory of kosher restaurants, synagogues and mikvehs. TJT has all the Jewish travel information at your finger tips for a stress-free vacation. Be sure to check out our guide to kosher summer vacations, guide to kosher cruises and guide to kosher hotels for summer vacation.
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