Anda
This is a bit of a guide for your first trip to Israel. I was a little unprepared for traveling to Israel, so I thought I’d share a few tips for your first visit to the Holy Land. We’ll talk about the best time to visit Israel, visas, and safety in Israel.
Tips for traveling to Israel
There are a few things to keep in mind when you travel to Israel for the first time. You’ll find the important ones right here.
Visa Information
Before getting to Israel, check here if you need a Visa to enter the country. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day of arrival in Israel, and you can stay for up to 3 months as a tourist.
Airport Experience
You will probably arrive in Israel through Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Expect some waiting and some questions upon arrival. Be patient and calm as it might take a while.
Instead of a passport stamp, you will get an entry card that you have to keep with you at all times. It’s very convenient in case you are planning to visit any Arab country that doesn’t have a diplomatic relationship with Israel. Don’t lose the card!
Leaving the country, you will get through the airport experience again. This time they might search your luggage and ask a bunch of personal questions. I know: you would expect worse when entering than when leaving the country. Same advice, be calm and patient, they will be very polite and explain it is all for your safety.
Is traveling to Israel safe?
Israel is generally safe to visit. However, that is not to say that you should venture to the Occupied Palestinian Territories without a guide. When you visit Jerusalem, you need to be aware that the city is divided between Israeli and Palestinian authorities. You will see a strong military presence visiting the Old City of Jerusalem. Don’t panic – armed soldiers are there to ensure the stability and safety of the area. However, the situation is always delicate in Jerusalem.
Avoid the very crowded places and walk away at any sign of unrest while visiting Jerusalem. Tel Aviv feels much more relaxed in every aspect.
Shabbat
The Shabbat is the Jewish resting day. It starts as the sun sets on Friday and lasts until early evening, on Saturday. During this time, the Jewish people won’t work, and most businesses will be closed. Also, no public transport is running during Shabbat. Plan your days carefully. You can still take some tours on a Saturday, but it is difficult to travel on your own during this period.
Money in Israel
The currency in Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (ILS). There are a lot of ATMs, virtually everywhere. Keep in mind that Israel is one of the most expensive countries, so you will probably use those ATMs a lot.
Accommodation
My suggestion is that you find a place to stay in Tel Aviv and take tours to visit any other part of the country that you are interested in. Find a place to stay within walking distance to the 14 km long promenade.
Best time to visit Israel
The weather in Israel is great year-round, but the summer months might be a little too hot. In my opinion, the best time to visit Israel is in May or October. However, traveling to Israel is comfortable during the autumn and spring months.
These are just a few tips to help you plan your first trip to Israel. Read the news, find out if there are any holidays at the time of your visit, plan your tours and be ready to enjoy a sunny trip.
Quick recap before traveling to Israel
Ready to pack? Check your passport expiry date, check your visa, your power adapter, grab the flip flops, and you’re good to go. Have fun!
Oh, and the most important issue: read my post about the amazing street food in Israel.
Disclosure
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Anda awesome breakdown here. We plan to visit Israel down the road when things open up a bit. The key is for laxer standards; I am sure they will overcome their fears and eventually reach that point. What a magical place. Israel has long been on our travel list. Mesmerizing.
Ryan
I hope you will be able to visit Israel soon, Ryan! There is plenty to explore over there and I’m contemplating a second trip too.
Very useful tips, interesting to read that they don’t stamp your passport! Hoping I’l visit Israel in the near future, assuming travel gets back to normal in the coming months.
I want to visit again too. There are many other places to explore in Israel besides Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Thanks for reading, Jason. I hope we will be able to travel again soon.
Israel is on my bucket list of places to travel. Thank you for sharing these helpful tips. It was interesting to find out how expensive it is as well as places to stay.
Thank you for reading, I’ll get back with more detailed posts on Israel these next few weeks.
This was so interesting! Israel isn’t a country I know a great deal about so thanks for clarifying a few things. I had no idea that it was so expensive either! For some reason I had it in my head that it was a more affordable country. Your photos are stunning too! x
Sophie
Thank you so much Sophie! I didn’t know much about it either but I came back with a lot to say (coming up in a few more posts) and a wish to explore more of Israel.
Anda
Nice travelogue and pictures.
Nice tips for those of us that have never been. Israel is on my list for sure. Great know before you go information.
Thank you Mark for your comment. I hope you get to visit Israel soon. In the mean time, I’m preparing a few more posts about it 🙂
I had no idea how expensive Israel was! Thanks for shedding a little light on this. Definitely a major consideration for travelers.
It is something to consider. While you can book and budget your accommodation and tours beforehand, leave some extra room on your budget for meals and all other expenses.
I adore Israel. It’s definitely a country I would love to see more of in the future. I found travelling in early December a great time to visit – and this time of year is also perfect 🙂
There is definitely more to see than what I had time for on a long weekend. I love visiting a warm and sunny destination in winter 🙂