Israel

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Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Taxis are common in Israel and ensure urban and interurban travel. It is common to give a tip to the driver. Shirouts (shared taxis with 7 to 10 seats) make interurban connections at a reasonable price. This is often the only means of transport available on Saturdays. The cost of a journey is similar to that of a bus trip. The city has a developed bus network. Train is less expensive than bus but much less developed.
Haifa has a metro (Carmelit) but the number of stations which it serves is less. It is thus an under-utilised mode of transport. Tel Aviv also has a metropolitan network. Shared or service taxis are the only means of public transport in the Palestinian Territories. The route presently possible is: Nahariya-Haifa-Tel Aviv-Beersheba. The Jerusalem - Tel Aviv line is closed for work.

Maps of urban networks

Train Plan
Plan of Carmelit of Haifa
Tel Aviv Metro Plan

Transportation from Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car rental
Jerusalem - Atarot (JRS)	10 km / 6 miles	Available	Available
Tel Aviv - Ben Gurion Intl (TLV)	19 km / 12 miles	ILS 90-115	NIS 16 / 25-30 min	USD 3 / 20 min	Available

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Ben Gurion Airport is the main international airport. Eilat is served either by its own airport (for small or medium carriers), or by that of Aqaba in Jordan(for large carriers), but Jordanian authorities do not require special formalities. Internal air services in Israel are provided by the Arkia Company with well maintained aircrafts.
Buses serve the entire country and cheaply, but the service is interrupted on Saturdays and the days of Jewish festivals. The train though less developed than bus is however less expensive. A service is provided between Tel Aviv and Beersheba, Tel Aviv and Nahariya and Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Rail companies

Israeli Railways

Airlines

You can consult the list of airlines banned within the EU. Look also the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

The road network in Israel is very dense and in excellent state. The traffic can sometimes be dangerous. There are no particular problem with the fuel supply. The traffic signs are in Hebrew and English. Insurance necessary for passengers travelling in their personal car, is normally included in the rental. Joint reports possible. Police intervention in case of physical injury. Throughout the Palestinian Territories, the roads are good. Service stations are rare in some regions of the West Bank.

Road maps

Israel road map

Find an itinerary

CT Atlas

Different forms of tourism

Historical

Numerous historical sites: archeological, cultural heritage sites, etc.

Cultural

List of monuments referenced as world cultural heritage sites of UNESCO.
Various museums : to see the list of museums in Israel, click here.

Nature

You can go trekking into the wild: in the green hills and streams in the North, on the Mediterranean coast in the West, around the Dead sea (the lowest point of the planet), in the deserts, barren mountains and old volcanic craters in the South. The Israeli Company for protection of nature manages a number of natural reserves. For further information, visit their website.

Religious

3 main religions are widely represented by sites mainly in Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias). At Nazareth there are a number of religous monuments (Church of Nazareans)

Thermal

There are a number of spas in Israel. The main spas are located at the the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) and near the Dead Sea.

Beach

Several magnificient beaches all along the Mediterranean coast, Red Sea and the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias). Activities like swimming, surfing, sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing are possible.

Winter sports

It is possible to ski on the Mount Hermon.

Outdoor activities

Trekking, Diving, Cycle Trekking, Golf, Waterskiing, Fishing, Mountain climbing.

Shopping

There are several commercial centers where you can do your shopping, like the Malha commercial center of Jerusalem. Picturesque markets, annual trade shows, street stalls or boutiques in the large cities shall allow you to bring back souvenirs For further information, visit the Tourism Office site.

Tourism organizations

Israeli Tourism Office

Health and safety

Health precautions

No requirement regarding vaccination for international travel. DT, Polio, Hepatitis A and B are advisable presently. Protect the passenger against diarrhoea. Visitors are strongly advised to carry their general medicines. Water should be boiled, filtered or consumed in encapsulated bottles. Avoid walking barefoot on sand or wet/muddy ground. Be careful of insect bites during rural stays : mosquito nets, mosquito repellants are advisable.

International hospitals

For further information on sanitary conditions

Israel Travel guide
WHO Recommendations

For further information on safety conditions

Warnings given by the American State Department
Advice of the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference

It is %T:%M %A in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem (GMT+2 in winter, GMT+3 in summer)

Summer time period

Summer time from March to October.