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Israel is overall very safe; violent crime is low and people walk the cities alone late at night.
The harder question is the broader security situation, and I won’t pretend there’s no risk: there’s a real threat of terrorism and, more recently, rockets and missiles.
For tours, I take the latest guidance into account for planning, and make adjustments on the day as needed to keep us all safe.
Last updated: 12 July 2026
This is the question I’m asked more than any other at the moment, and it’s a hard one to answer, because everyone weighs risk differently. So instead of a flat yes or no, let me tell you how I see it, and you can decide what’s right for you.
The practical answer based on latest developments
In some ways Israel is extremely safe. Violent crime is very low. I don’t know anyone who’s been mugged, and women walk around the cities alone late at night without thinking twice.
But that isn’t usually what people mean when they ask. The real concern is security, and there I won’t pretend. There is always a threat of terrorism. The security services do a remarkable job of stopping most of it, much of which never makes the news, but some does get through.
More recently we’ve had rocket and drone attacks from Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen, and ballistic missile attacks from Iran. That’s a lot more frightening, although the combination of robust air defences and many public shelters means very few people have actually been hurt.
Still, a low chance of being harmed isn’t the same as wanting to go through the experience of a siren or a night in a shelter. So the bottom line is this: until things are properly resolved with Iran and Lebanon, there’s an element of risk to a visit.
In fact, as I write, tensions are rising again significantly. Donald Trump has indicated that the ceasefire is over, the Iranians have closed the Strait of Hormuz, and a few days ago targeted neighbouring Jordan. There seems to be a significant risk of full-scale war starting again which means multiple ballistic missile attacks a day and airport closures.
At the same time there are thousands of people visiting here for the 2026 Maccabiah Games as well as thousands of teenagers travelling the country on summer programmes. Only you know how much risk you’re comfortable with.
What it’s actually like here day to day
The thing I’d most want you to know is that, most of the time, life goes on. The sites are open, so are the restaurants, the bars and the attractions, and the country is very much getting on with itself. That can change quickly if there’s a sustained missile barrage from Iran, but in between, normal life continues.
There’s even a silver lining for a visitor right now: the sites are quiet. Places that are usually packed are almost empty, so you can have some of the most remarkable spots on earth more or less to yourself.
What I do to look after you
I stay on top of all the latest guidance and restrictions, and at tense times I’m checking several times a day. If needed, I adjust the itinerary in real time, always keeping you in the loop, and involving you in the decisions.
Hopefully it won’t be necessary, but if relevant, I’ll talk you through exactly what to do if there’s a siren warning of a missile attack, and in a worst case I can help you leave the country even if the airport is closed, as it was during the war with Iran earlier this year.
I’ll also help you set up the Home Front Command app so you get alerts in English on your phone. And if you’d feel more comfortable with a security guard on our tour, I can arrange that too.
So should you come?
There is always risk in travelling, and sadly terrorism is something we’ve seen all over the world in recent years. I’d completely understand if you preferred to postpone until things here are more sustainably calm.
But it will never be Switzerland here, at least not in the short term (we can hope for a better long term!); that’s just the neighbourhood we’re in.
We all take risks all the time. Statistically, you’re more likely to be shot in several US cities than in Israel.
None of that decides it for you, though. Only you can weigh what’s right for you and the people you’re travelling with. Honestly, as much as it pains me to say it, unless you have a specific reason to come right now (like a family visit) I’d suggest holding off until things are calmer.
Having said that, if you do decide to come, I’ll do everything I can to keep the risk as low as possible.
If you come, a few practical things
Until things are more stable, I’d fly only with the Israeli airlines (El Al, Arkia, Israir). When things get difficult they keep flying, whereas many other carriers cancel and leave you scrambling. Also, book hotels on a flexible cancellation policy.
For what it’s worth, my own cancellation terms are very flexible at the moment because of the increased tension right now.
Take out travel insurance and read the terms carefully. Keep an eye on your own government’s travel advisory: it’s useful information, and it can also affect whether your insurance is valid.
And once you’re here, follow the news, download the Home Front Command app and at tenser times make sure you know where your nearest safe space is.
Useful resources
For local news in English, the Times of Israel is a good thing to keep an eye on. For official guidance, the Home Front Command publishes the latest instructions in English. And your own government’s travel advisory is always worth a read before you book.
What I promise, and what I don’t
I won’t overpromise. I can’t tell you it’s safe; nothing anywhere is completely safe, and everything is relative.
What I do promise is to be straight with you: to explain honestly how I see the risks, both before you come and while you’re here, and to support you in whatever you decide. Everyone’s sense of risk is different, and I respect that completely.
If you’re thinking about a trip and want to talk it through honestly, get in touch and I’ll tell you exactly how things stand.