Experience the best of Ashdod

Ashdod lies on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, between Tel Aviv and Gaza, and is one of the country's main ports. The modern city was founded in the 1950s, but the site is ancient: Ashdod was one of the five cities of the Philistines, and later Greek, Roman and Byzantine settlements stood on the coast. Ashdod-Yam, an old fortress at the sea's edge, recalls the harbour's long history.

Excavations at Tel Ashdod have uncovered layers of the Philistine town. A long sandy beach and a marina front the modern city, with promenades and cafés along the waterfront. Jerusalem lies about an hour inland by road, Tel Aviv is to the north, and the flat farmland of the coastal plain stretches between.

Mediterranean food rules the table: hummus, falafel, grilled fish, salads dressed with olive oil and tahini, and sweet pastries, reflecting Jewish communities who came from North Africa, Eastern Europe and Ethiopia. Summers are hot and humid with sea breezes; winters are mild and rainy, and spring and autumn are comfortable.