Are you thinking about going to Israel? Have you begun planning your trip to Israel? My entire website is about Israel, its main attractions, how to plan your trip, the best places to stay, and Israeli society. However, I wanted to write one post—this post—that summarizes everything you need to know about traveling to Israel. Israel has peace. It is essential to first emphasize that Israel is a safe destination because no one wants to fly to a location where they do not feel safe. I’ve written a long post about why Israel is a safe place to travel, but in summary, I’ll say that if you can fly to New York, you can fly to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem without worrying. Travelers often worry about safety before visiting Israel, but once they get there, they find that Israel is really expensive…
Flying To Israel
The airport that Israelis refer to as Natbag is known as TLV, or Ben Gurion Airport, in English. It is most likely where you will land. The airport is perfectly situated between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, in the middle of Israel. Depending on traffic, it typically takes 40 minutes to reach Tel Aviv’s center, and Jerusalem is a little further away. I would advise you to start your trip to Israel in one of the cities.
Getting To Jerusalem
Jerusalem is reached by bus number 485. It runs 24 hours a day, excluding the period between Friday afternoon and Saturday night. Because taxi drivers won’t tell you about the bus, just follow the signs if you want to take one. If you land between Friday afternoon and Saturday night you can take a shared 10-seater taxi or a private taxi to Jerusalem.
Getting To Tel Aviv
You can take a train to Tel Aviv. There are a few stations in Tel Aviv: HaHagana lies the furthest south and is close to the central bus station but this is not an area you will want to hang around in, especially at night. I would suggest taking the train to the Savidor station in Tel Aviv. It is also convenient for numerous bus routes because it is in the city’s center. But the best way to choose your route on public transportation is perhaps to write to the hotel or hostel in question asking for advice on how to get there.
Israel Is Not Cheap
Go for the best if money is not an issue: stay at the King David or Mamilla Hotels in Jerusalem and The Norman in Tel Aviv, hire a private tour guide every day, and eat at the best Israeli restaurants (they are really good!). But you’ll need to make a budget if money is a factor. The good news is that there is something you can do about it!
Accommodation
The biggest expense is accommodation, and hotels in Israel are expensive (averaging more than $200 a night). But why not stay in a hostel instead? Israel has seen the rise of some excellent hostels in recent years. They all have private rooms with bathrooms, so you can feel like you’re in a hotel but for much less money and with a more open lobby. In a good hostel, a night’s stay costs about $25 for a dorm room and $100 for a private room with a bathroom.
Food On A Budget
Israel’s excellent street food is another way to save money. Order a plate of hummus, shawarma, falafel, or sabich for 25-35 shekels for lunch and you’re set until the evening.
Guided Tours And Knowledge
Power comes from knowledge (and much more). You need to know what you’re looking at in order to enjoy the sights in Israel. In contrast to Egypt’s pyramids, which will amaze you regardless of your prior knowledge, many of Israel’s attractions, including the most well-known ones like the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, are not particularly impressive on their own. In order to fully appreciate them, you need to know their history. As a result, hiring a private guide or participating in a tour for a few hours is the best option.
Exploring Tel Aviv
Buy my booklets or any other gbrew, visit Carmel Market, the Tel Aviv Art Museum, the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot, many Bauhaus buildings, and, of course, the beaches. Although I may not be objective, I think they are great. Although there is a lot to see, Tel Aviv doesn’t have the important sites that Jerusalem does, and many of the buildings look rather neglected. However, the atmosphere, not the significance of the buildings or sites, is what makes Tel Aviv so appealing. You will always feel it on a warm summer night.
Exploring The Judaean Desert
The closest and easiest desert to visit is the Judaean Desert, which is about an hour’s drive from Jerusalem and two hours from Tel Aviv. Here, you can see nature at its most magnificent, just outside of the big cities. The Dead Sea, Masada, and the Ein Gedi nature reserve are the main attractions.
Suggested Itinerary
If you plan to spend five days traveling in Israel, then these places are more than enough. I would suggest spending three nights in Jerusalem, one in Tel Aviv, and one in the Judean Desert. If you want to visit in the winter and enjoy the desert, spend two nights in the Judaean Desert. If you prefer the beaches and nightlife, stay in Tel Aviv for a little longer.
Exploring Other Regions
The Negev Desert, Nazareth, Haifa, the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, Akko, Caesarea, and much more. It really depends on your interests and the activities you enjoy, whether it’s going to religious or archeological sites, long desert hikes, relaxing in nature preserves, or taking in city life.
Seasonal Travel Tips
If you come in winter, try to make the most of the sun in the desert, and if you are a practising Christian, then a tour to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee is a must.
Transportation
The fact that there is no public transportation from Friday afternoon to Saturday night is the most important thing to keep in mind. Because they are less expensive than flights that land before noon on Friday, people frequently book Friday afternoon flights without realizing that they will have to take a taxi that will cost more than the cheaper flight.
Getting Around Cities
It’s best to get around the big cities on foot, by bus, or in a taxi. In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, you should drive as little as possible. Believe me! It’s easier to drive in the north (Galilee) or south (Negev Desert), but public transportation is also an option.
The Meals
From street food like falafel and sabich (pita bread with tahini, fried eggplant, boiled egg, and an Israeli salad of tomato, cucumber, and onion) to fine dining restaurants, the food in Israel is absolutely delicious. Additionally, it is healthier than street food in Europe or the United States. It has a lot of olive oil and vegetables, and very little meat.
Kosher Food
Another thing to be aware of is that places are open until late, very late. Walk around Tel Aviv in summer on a normal weeknight at one o’clock in the morning and you will see people sitting down to meals on restaurant terraces. In Israel, most restaurants, food stands on the street, and supermarkets are kosher. They do not serve pork or seafood (as opposed to fish, which you will find), and dairy and meat products are not served together.
The People And The Land
Israel is a corridor. A corridor that connects Europe, Asia, and Africa, where the three Abrahamic religions meet, and through which the great empires of Egypt, Europe, and the East marched. And just like the land and its history, the people are restless, always on the move, intense. Israel is probably the most interesting piece of land in the world.
I would even say it is too interesting!
Come and see for yourself.
Everything You Need To Know About Israel That’s Boring
- The shekel, also known as the New Israeli Shekel or the Israeli Shekel, is the currency. The value of one euro or dollar is between 3.5 and 4.5 shekels.
- The official languages are Hebrew and Arabic, but many people also speak English well. But don’t let the middling English fool you…
- Jafa St, Yafo St, Jaffa Road, Rechov (‘street’ in Hebrew) such are the different names for the same street on different maps and street signs. Both Israelis and government officials are terrible spellers. The Hebrew name will sometimes be anglicized or translated, as in King George Street or HaMelech, which means “king” in Hebrew. Also, the letters s, c, and q might get switched around, so if it looks kind of like what you are looking for, it may well be it; just ask the closest Israeli you can find to let you know.
What Should I Bring Back?
So, you have been to Israel and want to take something back home with you to remind you of Israel, or get a present for those who were not lucky enough to join you. Dates, spices, and tahini (sesame paste) are typically things I recommend. In the event that you discover that you have forgotten someone once you have returned home, there is also a very good cookbook called Jerusalem written by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. You can order it online.
