As a place of historical significance, Jerusalem, Israel is of great religious importance. In addition, Israel is a modern and advanced country in the fields of science, technology, and economics.
1. Israel Quick Facts
Language Hebrew, Arabic
Religion Judaism
Currency Israeli New Shekel (ILS)
Visa Visa required outside of the 90-day visa-free agreement countries.
Power Plugs 230 V 50 Hz(C/H/M Type)
Capital Jerusalem
ATM ATM are also readily available, allowing you to withdraw local currency using your credit or debit card.
Use card
Credit cards are widely accepted, and if you have a credit card that works internationally, you should be able to use it locally. Credit cards are accepted at most places, including hotels, restaurants, car rentals, and shopping, but it’s useful to have a small amount of cash on hand, as credit cards are sometimes not accepted in small shops and on some public transportation.
Useful APP
Google Maps
Moovit
Get Taxi
Waze
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
DOLLAR FLIGHT CLUB has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Ben Gurion Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
Transportation is by city rail, bus, taxi, and private car. The transportation infrastructure is quite underdeveloped.
Rivkav card(tram, buses, etc.)
Buses
City bus fares are around 6 ILS(shekels), and transfers can be made within an hour. The main bus companies in Israel are Egged and Dan, Egged mainly operates intercity and Jerusalem city buses, and Dan operates Tel Aviv city buses.
You must purchase a bus card (Rav Kav) and pre-load it before boarding the bus, as you cannot pay for your ride with cash. You can top up your Rav Kav at card issuers, airports, bus terminals, and Super-Pharm.
On the bus company’s website, you can check the fare for each mode of transportation, as well as the cost and time from departure to destination.
Egged Bus go to http://www.egged.co.il/
Dan Bus go to http://www.dan.co.il/
Trains (Israel Railway) cost around 6 new shekels, and from Ben Gurion International Airport to Tel Aviv around 10-13 new shekels. You can buy tickets at the station or use the Rav Kav card, which is also used as a bus card. There are 66 stops throughout the country.
Taxis
The base fare for a taxi in all areas of the country, except for the city of Eilat, which is a tax-free city, is 10.48 ILS. There is no extra fare for luggage, and the fare is calculated by choosing either the time of day or the distance traveled.
The regular fare is available from 5:30 a.m. to 21:00 p.m., and the surcharged fare is available from 21:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., on Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), and on holidays.
The most convenient way to get a taxi is to download and use the Get Taxi application. When using the app, a 5 ILS call fee is added.
There are also shared taxis called Sherut in yellow bongos, with a total of 100 routes in and around the city. Fares vary depending on the route and are paid in cash. They are more flexible than buses on regular routes and operate year-round, except on Yom Kippur
4. Safety
Be aware of the possibility of terrorism in Israeli urban centers
With the exception of Palestinian terrorism, there is a relatively good level of security against thieves, robbers, etc. Remote areas of Jerusalem and Arab neighborhoods are generally not well-secured and are prone to robberies and thefts, so we recommend avoiding these areas as much as possible and traveling in groups if you must. Carry valuables such as cameras in a discreet bag, and be prepared to use small denomination currency when making purchases.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Ambulance: 101
Fire Department: 102
Country dialing code: 972
5. Climate
The Mediterranean climate has an average annual temperature of 19°C (66°F)to 29°C (84°F), with August being the hottest month, with daytime highs ranging from 33°C (91°F) to 37°C (99°F), and January being the coldest month, with temperatures ranging from 6°C (43°F) to 12°C (54°F).
The average annual precipitation is 508 millimeters (mm), with no precipitation (0 mm) during the May-September period, and the average annual precipitation (133 mm) during the January period.
6. price
In Israel, staples such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and wine are more expensive than in Europe, and manufactured goods are more expensive than anywhere else.
Gasoline (1 liter) 7.00 ILS
McDonald’s Combo Meal: 55 ILS
Water (1.5 liters): 4.80 ILS
Milk (1 liter) 6.10 ILS
7. Travel precautions
If you invite someone over for dinner, in Israel, the one who invites you first pays for the meal.
Tourist Tax: To get a tax refund at the airport after your trip, you must keep at least one item you bought.
During the Palestinian conflict
Evacuation times by region
– Sderot, Kiryat Shmone, and other areas near Gaza: 15 seconds
– Ashkelon and areas near Israel’s northern border, including Tzfat, Acco, and Karmiel: 30 seconds
– Ashdod: 45 seconds
– Tel Aviv: 1 minute
– Eilat: 3 minutes
– The rest of the country: 1 minute 30 seconds
If you are in an unprotected building, take the stairs in case of an alarm, but do not take shelter against an outside wall. In particular, do not stay in rooms with windows or glass that could break. If you are outdoors, take shelter inside the nearest air defense facility or building. If there is no building nearby, get down on the ground with your hands covering your head. If you are driving, pull over to the side of the road, get out of the car, cover your head with your hands, and get down on the ground. Make sure you are below the level of your car window.
Once the alert has ended, wait in the evacuation area for about 10 minutes, and if no further alerts are issued, you may leave the evacuation area. If you are injured during the evacuation or need psychological support, call Magendavidadom (101) for assistance.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
When visiting Christian, Jewish, and Muslim holy sites and mosques, dress modestly and be respectful.
Tip
Tipping is usually around 10% in restaurants and other places, but you don’t have to tip in taxis.
9. Holidays
The public holidays in Egypt in 2024
23 Apr Tue Passover
29 Apr Mon Seventh day of Passover
14 May Tue Independence Day
12 Jun Wed Feast of Shavuot
3 Oct to 4 Oct Thu to Fri Rosh Hashanah
12 Oct Sat Yom Kippur
17 Oct Thu First Day of Sukkot
24 Oct Thu Simchat Torah
2025 National Public Holidays:
Sunday, 13 April : Passover
Saturday, 19 April : Seventh day of Passover
Thursday, 1 May : Independence Day
Monday, 2 June : Feast of Shavuot
Tuesday to Wednesday, 23 to 24 September : Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, 2 October : Yom Kippur
Tuesday, 7 October : First Day of Sukkot
Tuesday, 14 October : Simchat Torah