Hip Holiday Apartments in Israel’s Old City You’ll Want to Call Home

What’s a holiday without a stay in a luxury penthouse? The opulent four-bedroom Keren Yayesod apartment sits in the Talbieh neighbourhood with the Great Synagogue and Zion Square under a 10-minute drive away. Here, 220sq m (2,368sq ft) of floor space comfortably accommodates 10 people, plus it is flooded with natural light, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Friendly staff will load the fridge with groceries before your arrival, book city tours and organise daily breakfast deliveries. Daily housekeeping is also included.

Rest easy knowing you’re in a neighbourhood renowned for its delicious eateries and buzzy nightlife. This one-bed apartment is close to Jerusalem’s landmark sights and the Mahane Yehuda Market, with 250 vendors selling fresh food and produce. Inside, expect touches of Jerusalem gold, colourful art and hi-spec furnishings.

If going off-track is your thing, take a detour south of Jerusalem to Be’er Sheva, the largest city in the Negev desert and a vibrant tech-hub — once a tiny fishing village. The Beer Sheva Old City Apartments offer new, super-stylish serviced units. Expect a fully equipped kitchen and fine bed linen. Foodies will love this area – it is full of budget-friendly street food alongside refined sit-down feasts. For a wide range of choice under one roof, head to the food hall Landwer Cafe Ishpro Planet.

Stay Jaffa apartments are affordable, modern and smack-bang in the centre on Jaffa street — one of the longest and oldest major streets in Jerusalem. Rooms have soundproof walls, so you can collapse into a deep slumber, whatever parties are still going on outside. Expect homely touches and heaving fruit bowls. The common lounge and shared kitchen are great places to swap notes with fellow travellers.

From the same crowd behind Stay Jaffa but with a slightly more mature, elevated feel, Stay Kook offers spacious rooms in earthy muted tones. Don’t worry, it’s still budget-friendly. Rooms span from family-size doubles to the junior suite with a terrace and private bathroom. The young multilingual staff will happily reveal Jerusalem’s best secrets. Try nearby Zalman’s for a creative spin on the humble hotdog and Cafe Bastet for Israeli vegan breakfasts, chai cookies and great coffee.

These sleek and modern apartment suites are decorated with a luxury minimalist style, including flashes of bright yellow and gold, which add warmth. Enjoy a glass of wine on your balcony overlooking the hum of Jaffa Street, before exploring the eateries and bars at ground level. Each unit has a fully equipped kitchen, living area and a private bathroom with free toiletries.

Colour-coded apartments range from one- to three-beds. The green apartment, for example, is “natural and harmonic”, featuring real pot plants and framed pictures of pot plants too. The yellow room is “hipster, chic and joyful” with a pink sofa (curve ball), balcony and sunshine pouring in from every window. The staff are helpful and Golda provides unlimited local sim cards.

This luxury apartment is on the fifth floor with fantastic city views, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. Plush, stretched sofas go on for miles, while the mural-sized TV screen and dining room table (seating eight comfortably) makes this the perfect luxe pad for a family or group trip. The property is close to green parks and just a few steps from the Old City. You’ll have The Church of the Holy Sepulchre on one side and The Great Synagogue on the other, with plenty of eateries to discover in between.

The comfy double beds in the King David Luxury Apartments come with crushed velvet throws and gold-framed paintings of sea-battered ships. All rooms are soundproof and strictly non-smoking. You are just under two kilometres from Jerusalem city centre and within walking distance to the Western Wall. If you fancy a craft cocktail, head to the nearby Zuta.