The Walled Off Hotel

Hemmed in by the eight-metre high Separation Wall in Bethlehem, The Walled Off Hotel is the creation of British street artist Banksy and is famously described as “having the worst view in the world”. The Walled Off Hotel is one mile from Bethlehem’s historical centre. While it celebrates art with a political message, it is not aligned with any political movement. Each of the hotel’s ten bedrooms is uniquely decorated and has its own bathroom, except for the budget eight-bed dormitory, which has a shared bathroom and has been outfitted with surplus items from an Israeli military barracks.

Elsewhere, you could find yourself literally sleeping with art – but be aware that on account of the wall, rooms receive only 25 minutes of direct sunshine a day. Three bedrooms were individually designed by artists, including Banksy, Sami Musa and Dominique Petrin. Public areas at The Walled Off Hotel are a mix of chaotic exhibition space for Banksy’s art and a dystopian vision of a British colonial outpost. In the club-like Piano Bar, guests can enjoy High Tea (or a Walled Off Salad!) while sitting beneath wall-mounted Israeli security cameras and perusing Banksy artworks, including vandalised oil paintings and statutes choking on tear gas. The in-house museum leads off from the lobby and is dedicated to the biography of the wall, while upstairs is a gallery containing Palestinian art.

A stay at The Walled Off Hotel is a unique experience that is not to be missed by many lovers of art. Still, prospective guests should know that this quirky property has limited facilities (no restaurant, swimming pool or TVs) and doesn’t serve alcohol.