When: Two days in September or October, just before Yom Kippur. What closes: Both days close like Shabbat: shops, transport and most restaurants. The feeling: Festive and reflective: apples dipped in honey for a sweet new year, the shofar sounded, families together. Plan around it: A two-day pause; book ahead, and note it opens the solemn run-up to Yom Kippur.

When: About a week, a few days after Yom Kippur, ending with Simchat Torah. The first day and Simchat Torah are full holidays; the middle days are open. What closes: The first day and Simchat Torah close like Shabbat; the middle days are open, but it’s peak holiday travel. The feeling: Sukkahs (temporary booths) go up on balconies and outside restaurants. It ends with Simchat Torah, when the dancing with Torah scrolls spills into the streets. Plan around it: Peak domestic travel: book accommodation early and expect crowds and higher prices.

When: A week in spring (March or April). The first and last days are full holidays; the middle days are open. What changes: Bread largely disappears outside of Arab neighbourhoods: many restaurants change their menus or close, and supermarkets cover the bread aisles. The first and last days close like Shabbat. The feeling: Spring, and one of the busiest, most expensive weeks of the year as the whole country travels. Plan around it: Book far ahead; best avoided if you’re looking for a full culinary experience.

When: A single day in late spring (May or June), seven weeks after Passover. What closes: Closes like Shabbat for the day. The feeling: A dairy festival: the cafes fill with cheesecake and the markets with the first fruit of summer. Plan around it: Just a one-day pause; treat it like a Shabbat.

When: A summer day (July or August) of mourning for the destruction of the Temples. What changes: Restaurants, shops and places of entertainment close the night before but are open on the day; the Western Wall fills with mourners. The feeling: Solemn, particularly in the Old City of Jerusalem. Plan around it: Expect closures in Jerusalem; the Kotel is crowded and emotional.

When: A lunar month that shifts each year, so it drifts across the seasons. What changes: The Old City is at its busiest, especially on Fridays, when road access around it is limited. Access to the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif is often restricted for non-Muslims. Some eateries in the Muslim Quarter close during daylight. The month ends with Eid al-Fitr, a few festive days when Muslim areas are busy and many businesses close. The feeling: The Old City comes alive after dark once the fast breaks: lanterns, crowds, families out late. Plan around it: See the Old City and Temple Mount earlier in the week and earlier in the day; expect closures and heavier security on Fridays.

Plan your trip to Israel: practical guide

Q: What currency should I bring, and do I need cash?

Currency: Israeli New Shekel (ILS, ₪). Credit cards: Widely accepted: shops, restaurants, app-taxis, small kiosks. Cash needed for: Markets (the shuk), tips, and non-app taxis. Best exchange: Use ATMs at Ben Gurion Airport. Avoid the exchange desks. Before you fly: Notify your bank of your travel dates.

Q: When is the best time of year to visit Israel?

Best windows: Mid-September to mid-November · mid-March through May. Weather: Mild, dry, comfortable for full-day touring. Watch out: Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Passover) sit inside these windows and raise hotel prices. Transport impact: Public transport pauses on holidays and Shabbat. Avoid: The Dead Sea and Eilat in July–August (extreme heat).

Q: What clothing should I pack for an Israel tour?

Dress code: Informal and casual everywhere except holy sites. Holy sites: Shoulders, chest and knees covered for all genders. Sun: A hat is essential year-round. Footwear: Closed-toe walking shoes with grip; Old City limestone is polished and slippery. Layers: Jerusalem evenings stay cool, even in summer. Swimwear: Pack it. Dead Sea, Mediterranean, and most hotels.

Q: What do I need to know about electricity and adapters?

Voltage: 220 volts, 50 Hertz. Plug types: Type C (European 2-prong) and Type H (Israeli 3-prong). US travellers: Need a plug adapter and a voltage check on any non-dual-voltage device. UK travellers: Need a plug adapter. EU travellers: Type C works directly. USB charging: Standard in hotels and most cafés.

Q: Do I need a visa to visit Israel?

Requirement: Yes. US, UK and EU citizens must apply online for an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before boarding their flight. Cost: 25 NIS. Validity: Stays up to 90 days. Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry. Where to apply: The official Israeli government portal only; avoid third-party sites that mark up the fee. Always confirm current requirements on the official government site before you fly.

Q: What should I expect at Ben Gurion Airport security?

What happens: Thorough, polite interviewing by trained security officers on both arrival and departure. Arrive: 3 hours before your scheduled departure. How to handle it: Answer questions truthfully, calmly, and concisely. What they’re after: Inconsistency in your story; not the contents of your itinerary. Have ready: Passport, printed return ticket and where you stayed.

Q: What is the tipping culture in Israel?

Restaurants: 12–15% is standard and expected. Method: Leave cash. Tips usually cannot be added to a credit card. Taxis: Not tipped by default; rounding up is appreciated. Guides & drivers: 10–15% of the daily rate is customary on private tours. Hotel staff: 10–20 NIS for porters and housekeeping.

Q: Do people speak English?

English: Widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Signage: Most road signs and museum text are trilingual: Hebrew, Arabic, English. Useful phrases: Shalom (hello), toda (thank you), bevakasha (please / you're welcome).

Q: Where should I stay in Israel, and can you help me book?

Strategy: 2–3 short bases over a single hub. Tel Aviv: Mediterranean coast, food, nightlife, art scene. Jerusalem: Old City, religious sites, the Dead Sea region. Galilee / Golan: 1–2 nights for the calmer north. Negev / Eilat: Mitzpe Ramon for desert nights and stargazing; Eilat for the Red Sea. Booking help: I recommend and book on your behalf (boutique, family-friendly, kibbutz guesthouse or five-star) often at rates lower than the public ones.

01 Money

Money & payments

Israel runs on cards almost everywhere, but some market vendors, taxis and tip jars are still cash-only.

What currency should I bring, and do I need cash?

Currency: Israeli New Shekel (ILS, ₪).
Credit cards: Widely accepted: shops, restaurants, app-taxis, small kiosks.
Cash needed for: Markets (the shuk), tips, and non-app taxis.
Best exchange: Use ATMs at Ben Gurion Airport. Avoid the exchange desks.
Before you fly: Notify your bank of your travel dates.

02 Weather

Weather & what to pack

Two narrow shoulder seasons give you the best weather of the year. Holidays inside them push prices up.

When is the best time of year to visit Israel?

Best windows: Mid-September to mid-November · mid-March through May.
Weather: Mild, dry, comfortable for full-day touring.
Watch out: Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Passover) sit inside these windows and raise hotel prices.
Transport impact: Public transport pauses on holidays and Shabbat.
Avoid: The Dead Sea and Eilat in July–August (extreme heat).

What clothing should I pack for an Israel tour?

Dress code: Informal and casual everywhere except holy sites.
Holy sites: Shoulders, chest and knees covered for all genders.
Sun: A hat is essential year-round.
Footwear: Closed-toe walking shoes with grip; Old City limestone is polished and slippery.
Layers: Jerusalem evenings stay cool, even in summer.
Swimwear: Pack it. Dead Sea, Mediterranean, and most hotels.

03 Tech

Tech & daily logistics

Pack one good adapter and you’re set. Israel uses European voltage with its own three-pin standard.

What do I need to know about electricity and adapters?

Voltage: 220 volts, 50 Hertz.
Plug types: Type C (European 2-prong) and Type H (Israeli 3-prong).
US travellers: Need a plug adapter and a voltage check on any non-dual-voltage device.
UK travellers: Need a plug adapter.
EU travellers: Type C works directly.
USB charging: Standard in hotels and most cafés.

04 Visas

Visas & airport security

A new pre-flight authorisation (ETA-IL) is now required for most visa-waiver travellers. Plan a generous airport buffer.

Do I need a visa to visit Israel?

Requirement: Yes. US, UK and EU citizens must apply online for an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before boarding their flight.
Cost: 25 NIS.
Validity: Stays up to 90 days.
Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry.
Where to apply: The official Israeli government portal only; avoid third-party sites that mark up the fee.

Always confirm current requirements on the official government site before you fly.

What should I expect at Ben Gurion Airport security?

What happens: Thorough, polite interviewing by trained security officers on both arrival and departure.
Arrive: 3 hours before your scheduled departure.
How to handle it: Answer questions truthfully, calmly, and concisely.
What they’re after: Inconsistency in your story; not the contents of your itinerary.
Have ready: Passport, printed return ticket and where you stayed.

05 Etiquette

Tipping & etiquette

Tips are expected in restaurants and are customary on tours when you feel you’ve had great service.

What is the tipping culture in Israel?

Restaurants: 12–15% is standard and expected.
Method: Leave cash. Tips usually cannot be added to a credit card.
Taxis: Not tipped by default; rounding up is appreciated.
Guides & drivers: 10–15% of the daily rate is customary on private tours.
Hotel staff: 10–20 NIS for porters and housekeeping.

Do people speak English?

English: Widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants.
Signage: Most road signs and museum text are trilingual: Hebrew, Arabic, English.
Useful phrases: Shalom (hello), toda (thank you), bevakasha (please / you’re welcome).

06 Where to Stay

Where to stay

Israel is small enough to base from one city, but you’ll see more and rest better with two or three short bases.

How many days do you need in Israel?

For a first visit, a week is the classic answer, and for good reason: seven days let you take in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Galilee and the Dead Sea without it turning into a race (my Classic Israel itinerary shows how a week like that could fit together). With ten days you can add the Negev desert or simply slow the pace.

But not everyone has the luxury of endless vacation days. My promise to you is that I’ll help you make the most of however much time you have here, even if it’s just a few hours between meetings.

Returning visitors tend to go deeper into one region rather than covering the country again.

Where should I stay in Israel, and can you help me book?

Strategy: 2–3 short bases over a single hub.
Tel Aviv: Mediterranean coast, food, nightlife, art scene.
Jerusalem: Old City, religious sites, the Dead Sea region.
Galilee / Golan: 1–2 nights for the calmer north.
Negev / Eilat: Mitzpe Ramon for desert nights and stargazing; Eilat for the Red Sea.
Booking help: I recommend and book on your behalf (boutique, family-friendly, kibbutz guesthouse or five-star) often at rates lower than the public ones.

07 Shabbat

The Israeli weekend (Shabbat) & transport

A 25-hour pause runs from Friday sundown. Plan around it once and the rest of the week opens up.

How does Shabbat affect travel and tours?

When: Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
Public transport: Buses and trains cease nationally; resume Saturday after dark.
Closures: Many shops, restaurants and museums close; especially in Jerusalem.
Open: Tel Aviv stays partly open; beaches and seafront cafés operate.
Still running: Private tours and licensed taxis (sherut and app-based).
Plan: Book Friday-night dinner in advance.

Is there Uber in Israel?

Uber: Not widely used. Does not operate as a standard ride-hail service.
Use instead: Gett or Yango — download before you arrive.
What they do: Hail licensed metered taxis. English interface, card payment.
Coverage: Nationwide; best availability in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Backup: Street taxis are everywhere. Ask the driver to use the meter (moneh).

08 Holidays

Holidays & the religious calendar

Israel runs on three religious calendars at once: Jewish, Christian and Muslim. The big dates reshape where you can go, how busy it is, and what you’ll witness. These can be very special times to be here, though sites get busier and hotels pricier. Most of these dates are based on lunar calendars, so they move around: you’ll need to check them each year.

How the Jewish holidays work

When they start: Jewish holidays (and every Shabbat) begin at sundown the evening before the date in most calendars, and end at nightfall.
What closes: On a full-holiday day, expect a Shabbat-style pause: shops, public transport, most restaurants, and many museums and tourist sites close.
What stays open: Churches and Christian sites carry on as normal through the Jewish holidays, so the Christian Quarter and Bethlehem aren’t affected.
The middle days: Passover and Sukkot have open days in the middle (chol hamoed), but they’re peak holiday travel: busy and pricey.

Rosh Hashanah

When: Two days in September or October, just before Yom Kippur.
What closes: Both days close like Shabbat: shops, transport and most restaurants.
The feeling: Festive and reflective: apples dipped in honey for a sweet new year, the shofar sounded, families together.
Plan around it: A two-day pause; book ahead, and note it opens the solemn run-up to Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur: the day the country stops

When: A single 25-hour day in September or October (it moves with the Hebrew calendar).
What closes: Everything. Ben Gurion airport shuts, there’s no public transport, and shops, restaurants and businesses are closed.
The feeling: The whole country falls silent. The roads empty completely, and by afternoon the highways belong to kids on bikes.
Plan around it: Don’t plan a tour day on Yom Kippur, and sort any food before sundown. If you’re here for it, wander on foot or bike and enjoy the special atmosphere.

Sukkot

When: About a week, a few days after Yom Kippur, ending with Simchat Torah. The first day and Simchat Torah are full holidays; the middle days are open.
What closes: The first day and Simchat Torah close like Shabbat; the middle days are open, but it’s peak holiday travel.
The feeling: Sukkahs (temporary booths) go up on balconies and outside restaurants. It ends with Simchat Torah, when the dancing with Torah scrolls spills into the streets.
Plan around it: Peak domestic travel: book accommodation early and expect crowds and higher prices.

Passover (Pesach)

When: A week in spring (March or April). The first and last days are full holidays; the middle days are open.
What changes: Bread largely disappears outside of Arab neighbourhoods: many restaurants change their menus or close, and supermarkets cover the bread aisles. The first and last days close like Shabbat.
The feeling: Spring, and one of the busiest, most expensive weeks of the year as the whole country travels.
Plan around it: Book far ahead; best avoided if you’re looking for a full culinary experience.

Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)

When: The week after Pesach/Passover, normally late April or early May.
What happens: A two-minute siren sounds at 10am and the whole country stops: people stand still, cars halt on the highway. Restaurants, bars and shops close the night before but are open on the day.
The feeling: Other than the nighttime closures it feels like a regular day unless you attend one of the official ceremonies.
Plan around it: Plan ahead for meals/shopping in the night before. There are public events to hear Holocaust survivors speak, some in English, which can be very moving.

Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day for the fallen)

When: The day before Independence Day, a week after Yom Hashoah (April or May).
What happens: A siren sounds for 1 minute at 8pm and 11am and the whole country stops: people stand still, cars halt on the highway. Restaurants, bars and shops close the night before but are open on the day. Many public memorial events.
The feeling: A sombre day. Everyone in Israel knows someone who’s been killed in its wars. The moment it ends at sundown, the mourning flips straight into Yom Ha’atzmaut.
Plan around it: There are memorial ceremonies in English you can join. The main Tel Aviv ceremony is a moving sing-along with famous musicians. The flip into Yom Ha’atzmaut is a wild thing to witness.

Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day)

When: Begins at sundown as Yom Hazikaron ends (April or May).
What happens: Barbecues, street parties, an air-force flypast.
The feeling: Good vibes, packed beaches, the smell of barbecues, free public entertainment.
Plan around it: Expect crowds at the main tourist sites. Look for street parties to soak in the atmosphere.

Shavuot

When: A single day in late spring (May or June), seven weeks after Passover.
What closes: Closes like Shabbat for the day.
The feeling: A dairy festival: the cafes fill with cheesecake and the markets with the first fruit of summer.
Plan around it: Just a one-day pause; treat it like a Shabbat.

Tisha B’Av

When: A summer day (July or August) of mourning for the destruction of the Temples.
What changes: Restaurants, shops and places of entertainment close the night before but are open on the day; the Western Wall fills with mourners.
The feeling: Solemn, particularly in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Plan around it: Expect closures in Jerusalem; the Kotel is crowded and emotional.

Ramadan

When: A lunar month that shifts each year, so it drifts across the seasons.
What changes: The Old City is at its busiest, especially on Fridays, when road access around it is limited. Access to the Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif is often restricted for non-Muslims. Some eateries in the Muslim Quarter close during daylight. The month ends with Eid al-Fitr, a few festive days when Muslim areas are busy and many businesses close.
The feeling: The Old City comes alive after dark once the fast breaks: lanterns, crowds, families out late.
Plan around it: See the Old City and Temple Mount earlier in the week and earlier in the day; expect closures and heavier security on Fridays.

Holy Week & Easter (Jerusalem)

When: The week leading to Easter. Western and Orthodox Easter often fall weeks apart, so Jerusalem can have two busy Easter periods in one spring.
What it’s like: The city fills up. The Via Dolorosa processions on Good Friday and the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Orthodox Holy Saturday) draw enormous crowds.
The feeling: Extraordinary to witness, if you don’t mind the crush.
Plan around it: Book accommodation well ahead; expect a packed Old City and slow, tight access to the Holy Sepulchre.

Christmas in Bethlehem

When: 24 to 25 December for Western churches, early January for the Orthodox, mid-January for the Armenians, so Bethlehem has more than one Christmas.
What it’s like: Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity is special but heavily oversubscribed (you need a pass to go inside), and Manger Square is packed.
The feeling: A once-in-a-trip atmosphere.
Plan around it: Bethlehem is in the West Bank, so factor the crossing; arrange any Mass access well ahead.

Plan your trip to Israel: Essential travel guide