Welcome to Israel

With its complex political history, centuries of religious heritage and breathtaking beauty, Israel stirs the soul and satisfies our inner curiosity. Explore the hallowed regions of Galilee, Bethlehem and Nazareth, then shift gears to enjoy the beaches and café culture of Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Pull up a chair at a table loaded with mezze plates and Galilean wine. Visit the Dome of the rock, the Western Wall, the Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Sepluchre. Have an adventure in the Negev and Judean deserts of the Golan mountains.

Visit Yad Veshem, Israel’s sobering memorial to Holocaust victims. Shop alongside local residents at Carmel Market and Levinsky spice market in Tel Aviv, or the Machane Yuhuda Market in Jerusalem. Float in the salty Dead Sea and avail yourself of the healing mud’s therapeutic properties. Here, where the events of the Bible unfolded, live out your own pilgrimage.

Unique Facts

• There are more museums per capita in Israel than in any other country – it’s also home to the world’s only underwater museum.
• Look for this quote from Leviticus in some bus stations around Israel, intended to encourage courtesy: “You shall rise before the aged and show deference to the old.”
• Israel has one of the highest levels of bird traffic in the world, with more than 500 million migrating birds passing through the sky.
• The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the world’s oldest continuously used cemetery.
• Israel is on a “green” trend – it is the only country to have more trees today that it did 50 years ago.

Language

Israel’s official language is Hebrew.

When To Go

The best time to go to Israel is during the spring or fall, when the days are warm and the nights are cool. The temperature averages 90°F during June, July and August.

Airports

Ben Gurion Airport, Lod

Passport Validity

Passport must be valid at time of entry for duration of stay.

Visa Required By US Citizen?

None for stays of 90 days or less.

Vaccinations

The CDC recommends the following vaccines for most travelers when visiting Israel: Hepatitis A. Depending on where you are traveling, you may also need Hepatitis B, Rabies and Typhoid vaccines.

Electrical Outlets

Power plugs and sockets: types C, H and M. Standard voltage: 230V. Frequency: 50Hz.

Currency

Official local currency: New Israel Shekel (NIS)

Getting Around

Road conditions may differ significantly from those in the US. Israeli roads and highways can be crowded, particularly in urban areas, the West Bank and Gaza.

Buses are the main form of public transportation. Trains service the Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv, Haifa, Akko and Be’er Sheva (not Jerusalem).

Monit Sherut, or shared taxis, are vans that seat around 10 passengers. They follow the main bus line routes.

Driver’s License

A valid US driver’s license is required.

US Embassy Info

U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
14 David Flusser Street
Jerusalem 93392
Telephone: +(972) (2) 630-4000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(972) (3) 519-7551
Fax: +(972) (2) 630-4070
JerusalemACS@state.gov

U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv Branch
71 HaYarkon Street
Tel Aviv Israel 63903
Telephone: +(972) (3) 519-7575
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(972) (3) 519-7551
Fax: +(972) (3) 516-4390, or 516-0315
TelAvivACS@state.gov

Local Visitor Info

Visit https://info.goisrael.com/en/tourist-information for a list of Tourist Information Centers throughout Israel.

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

Ambulance: 101
Police: 100
Fire: 102

Safety and Security

The crime rate is moderate in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Parked vehicle break-ins are common at public beach areas, national parks and major tourist sites.

Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics in Jerusalem’s Old City and other tourist areas. In some cases, vendors have not disclosed the true cost of an item and convinced the buyer — who is unfamiliar with the exchange rate — to unwittingly sign a credit card sales receipt worth thousands of dollars.