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Ancient hilltop fortification in Israel
Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Masada (Hebrew: מצדה) is a magnificently located fortress site in Israel's stark Judaean Desert, close to the Dead Sea. The last Jewish holdout to fall to Rome in 73 CE, Masada symbolizes the exile of the Jewish nation from the Holy Land. Its violent end has become a symbol of bravery and self-sacrifice since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.
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Spectacular light show recounts the dramatic history of Masada with special pyrotechnic effects. Spectators sit in a natural amphitheater on the west side of the mountain, reachable only via Arad, 20km away.
Closest to the Masada National Park, a youth hostel.
By bus
Check departure times from Masada either beforehand or online from the McDonald's restaurant on site as there is no timetable at the bus stop. Buses may run ahead of schedule.
By plane
Hours and contact
The site is open seven days a week. The first cable car runs at 08:00. The site closes at 16:00 (October to March) or 17:00 (April to September).
Fees
Entrance fee to the park is ₪28, not including the cable car. Cable car is about ₪25 one way. Discounts are available for students, youth and the elderly.
If you are really adventurous, you can hike through the valleys to the north or south of Masada, and thus reach it from the "other side".
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Articles and travel topics about Masada and Israel.
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