Tour Destinations: Beit Guvrin | Caesarea | Eilat | Galilee | Golan Heights | The Haas Promenade | Haifa | The Herzl Museum | Jaffa | Jerusalem | Jerusalem's Old City | Masada | Nazareth | Tel Aviv | Tiberias | The Dead Sea | Petra

Current Weather in Israel

TIPS FOR TOURISTS
The Western Wall in Jerusalem is the last remaining wall from the Second Temple destroyed in 70CE by the Romans. Tourists may leave a personal note in the wall with their wish for the future.

The Haas Promenade (in East Talpiot) has the most wonderful view of the Old City (and a cute restaurant in the middle of the promenade open on Fridays and Saturdays only with one of the best views in the world!) This unique promenade features paths of Jerusalem stone, wooden pergolas, and terraces landscaped with olive trees. It is wonderful place to run, and enjoy the air.

Nahalat Shiva is a pedestrian shopping area in West Jerusalem, featuring a wide variety of restaurants and quaint shops. The entire street is renovated from early 1900's buildings. and is a perfect place to have breakfast at one of the many outdoor cafes.

The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem - One of the most pleasant surprises in Jerusalem is its wonderful zoo. The zoo is set in a remarkable landscape, and offers a wonderful day out for both adults and children alike.

DISTANCES ARE SHORT
Israel is a small country. Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa can easily be reached on leisure touring days without changing hotels, this being particularly important for short visits. Modern air-conditioned touring buses, minibuses and limousines are available to ensure speedy and comfortable transportation. Drivers and guides are knowledgeable and experienced. Public transport is excellent. Taxis are easily found. - see the distance chart at the bottom of the page chart

CLOTHING
As a rule, dress in Israel is extremely informal, so casual for daytime, informal for evenings. Bring lightweight clothing, head covering, comfortable walking shoes and swim wear. Modest attire for visits to religious sites is required. In Jerusalem or other hilly areas, a light jacket is good.

You will be hard pressed to find a suit and tie here, even in The Prime Minister's office. However, oddly enough, even on hot summer days, it is not considered polite for men to take off their shirts, and is only seen among tourists!

SHOPPING
In Israel's major cities, shops are usually open from 9 am until at least 7 pm from Sunday through Thursday. The afternoon break or siesta between 1 pm and 4 pm is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. More and more shopping malls are being built around the country, offering even more flexible hours and a cool, air conditioned environment in which to browse items such as leather, gold, jewelry and diamonds (Israel is the No. 1 exporter of diamonds). On Fridays, shops usually close between 2 pm - 3:30 pm and most Jewish establishments do not open on Saturdays.

BANKING AND CURRENCY
Banks are open every morning from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Some Commercial and Tourist branches are open until 2 pm, and most banks offer afternoon banking hours from 4 pm - 6 pm two days a week (varying according to the bank). All banks are closed on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays, but most have automatic tellers accepting most major international credit cards, against which cash may be withdrawn. The unit of currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS) usually referred to as "shekels" and come in a variety of denominations.

Money Exchange - Rule number 1: Do not exchange your money in a bank! The commission charged is astronomical! The solution is to go to "Change" shops scattered around most city centers. They take no commission and equal the bank rates. Furthermore, don't change your money in the first place you find. Ask how much you get for your currency, then move on to the next place. Upon hearing the first quote, you will undoubtedly be offered a higher exchange rate. Continue until you know you've reached their top limit.

VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)
VAT exemption or refund generally applies to goods and services paid by tourists in foreign currency. VAT is refunded on purchased provided that receipts and refund form are presented with the merchandise at the airport bank.

TIME
Israel's standard time is two hours ahead of GMT, one hour ahead of mid- European time, and seven hours ahead of USA Eastern Standard Time.

ELECTRICITY
Power supply is 220 volt, AC 50 cycles, although most major Hotels usually offer a built-in 110 volt electric razor transformer.

LANGUAGES
Although Hebrew and Arabic are Israel's official languages, just standing at a street corner can be an experience: Passers-by conversing in Hebrew, Arabic, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Hungarian, Italian and English - Israel's adopted second language, spoken so extensively that even street signs are also in English.

CUISINE
Due to the cosmopolitan composition of its population, cuisine in Israel is equally varied and restaurants may be found offering delicacies from all over the world. Based on traditional Jewish dietary law, Kosher cuisine, or "Kashrut", is observed in almost all hotels and many restaurants.

EASY TO GET TO
Israel is extremely accessible from almost anywhere in the world, with daily direct flight operating from Europe, North America and many destinations in Africa, Asia and the Far East. Many Cruise ships touring the Mediterranean offer Israel as one of the ports of call (Haifa or Ashdod) and there are also regular sailings of ferries to these ports from Greece, Cyprus and beyond. Overland travel from Egypt or Jordan is also an option.

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
In most cases, visitors from North America and Western European countries will be granted a visa automatically upon arrival. For specific details, check with the local Israeli embassy or consulate. For visitors who so request, the visa may be stamped not in the passport but issued on a separate document.

VISA
Do I need a visa to travel to Israel?
All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they enter the country. People with no nationality must hold a valid laissez passer, as well as a visa back to the country that issued it.

Citizens of the following countries will be issued tourist visas free of charge at every port or entrance terminal to Israel:

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany (Persons born after 1.1.28), Gibraltar,Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Asia & Oceania: Australia, Fiji Islands, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea Africa: Central African Republic, Losoto, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland The Americas: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, St. Kitts, & Nevis, Surinam, Trinidad, & Tobago, The Bahamas, The Dominican

SAFETY
Is it safe to travel to Israel?
Israel is an extremely safe country to visit and to tour. 2010 was the best year ever for tourism to Israel, and 2011 is on the way to breaking that record. In 2010, 3.5 million tourists came to Israel, and all went back home safe and sound. We would not encourage tourists to come if we felt they would be in the slightest danger.
Are tourists allowed to enter areas outside of the Israeli responsibility (Palestinian areas)?
Passage to the two major tourist cities of Bethlehem and Jericho in the Palestinian Authority is direct without prior clearance or required authorization.

As regarding the rest of the Palestinian areas, it is recommended to forward requests to the IDF Public Relations Office, Fax: +972-2-5305724. All requests should include: Name, passport nationality and number, destination, name of departure into Palestinian Area Crossing if known; if crossing is by car – name and details of driver as well as car registration number. Fax replies will only be sent to Israeli tel./fax numbers.

TRAVELING TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
Is it possible to travel to Jordan or Egypt from Israel?
Yes. You can travel between Israel, Jordan and Egypt. You should check with the relevant embassies if you need a visa to these countries
For additional info Consult with your ITC representative
800 247 7235 info@israelturs.com

HEALTH
Do I need to receive any special vaccination before my trip to Israel?
Israel is a modern, developed country with levels of health and hygiene equal to those of Western countries. Visitors entering Israel are not required to undergo vaccinations prior to their arrival.

Can you drink tap water in Israel?
You can drink tap water. But, you will also find mineral water everywhere. It is important to make sure you drink a lot, especially when out walking and on hot days.

ELECTRICITY
The electric current in Israel is 220 volts AC, single phase, 50 Hertz. Most Israeli sockets are of the three-pronged variety but many can accept some European two-pronged plugs as well. Electric shavers, traveling irons and other small appliances may require adapters and/or transformers, which can be purchased in Israel.

WEATHER
Israel enjoys long, warm, dry summers (April-October) and generally mild winters (November-March) with somewhat drier, cooler weather in hilly regions, such as Jerusalem and Safed. Rainfall is relatively heavy in the north and center of the country, with much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the southern areas.

Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions; hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semi-desert conditions in the Negev.

Weather extremes range from occasional winter snowfall in the mountain regions to periodic oppressively hot dry winds that send temperatures soaring, particularly in spring and autumn.

Please read the information here, or visit the Israeli Customs and VAT web site.

GETTING THERE
Travel by Air
Most of the international airlines operate flights to Israel. El Al, operates many direct flights from the United States, Europe, the Far East, and Africa.
Other Israeli airlines such as Arkia and Israir operate flights from central locations in Europe. There are no direct flights to Israel from distant locations such as Australia or South Africa, or from countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel. It is therefore a good idea to reserve a connecting flight from these places, or to arrive in Europe and then purchase a ticket to Israel.

Which airlines fly to Israel nonstop?
El Al Israel air line
Continental
USAIR
Delta

What is the exchange rate of the Shekel?
Please read the information here, or visit the Israeli Customs and VAT web site.

CUSTOMS
What are the laws for bringing valuable items to Israel?
Please read the information here , or visit the Israeli Customs and VAT web site.

What are the regulations regarding bringing pets into Israel?
Israeli Requirements for arriving pets can be found by clicking here.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Find a tour guide
Find accommodations
Tourist attractions in Israel
Suggested itineraries
Information about museums in Israel

How much money would I need to live on in Israel, on a daily\weekly basis?
The Israeli economy is very similar to European standards, although food products are normally less expensive. The economic traveler may get by on 50$ a day (accommodations not included).

RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS
Are all the restaurants in Israel kosher?

Places offering kosher food usually display a kashrut certificate granted to them by the local rabbinate. Most hotels serve kosher food, as well as some restaurants. But there is no binding law. So if kashrut is important to you, you must check it out at each separate place where you dine.

For more information, visit this page

Is everything closed on Shabbat in Israel?
Shabbat, or Saturday, is the Jewish holy day of the week. Shabbat starts on Friday afternoon/evening and ends on Saturday evening. All public offices in Israel are closed on Shabbat, as are most private businesses such as stores. In most cities, public transportation (trains and buses) does not operate. In mainly secular cities, like Tel Aviv, a lot of the restaurants and cafes are open but throughout the country many restaurants are closed. It is recommended to check in advance if you are planning on visiting a specific location. Radio and TV broadcasts operate as usual.

Where can I rent a car in Israel?
Call us at 800 247 7235 and we will set it up for you.

Do I need an international driving license?
If you wish to drive a car in Israel, you must hold a valid international driver's license.

COMMUNICATIONS
Can I rent a cellular phone in Israel or before I depart ?
Call us at 800 247 7235 and we will set it up for you.

How do I dial to my country from Israel?
When dialing overseas, dial the three-digit dial code of the company you choose to dial from (012, 013, or 014) followed by the country code, area code, and telephone number.

ISRAEL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Considerable efforts and resources have been invested in Israel to enable disabled persons to access any destination and to receive service that is equal to that received by the rest of the public.
For more information, cal us at 800 247 7235 l or contact us at info@israeltours.com

Is there a temporary parking permit for disabled tourists?
No, unfortunately there isn't. Please use the ordinary parking meters or parking lots.

CULTURE
Where can I get general information about culture life in Israel?
Please visit this page

Is there an Israeli opera?
A few years ago, the Israeli Opera was reopened as The New Israeli Opera. They reside in Tel-Aviv and perform with many famous productions, including non operatic shows. Visit their web site.

In addition, you can send an email to the following address and request the next year's program to be sent to you: opera@mail.israel-opera.co.il

ARCHAEOLOGY
Click here all information about archaeological sites.

Where can I see the famous Dead Sea Scrolls?
Read here about the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Shrine of the Book and Qumran

Is the Western Wall Tunnel open for visitors?
Yes, it is. Read about the Western Wall tunnel here .

Click here for full size version of this chart

Tour Destinations: Beit Guvrin | Caesarea | Eilat | Galilee | Golan Heights | The Haas Promenade | Haifa | The Herzl Museum | Jaffa | Jerusalem | Jerusalem's Old City | Masada | Nazareth | Tel Aviv | Tiberias | The Dead Sea | Petra