Sample HotelName
4
Departing from
Arriving to
Price : £300 - £1000
Star Rating : 3 - 5
Sample HotelName
4

Language

Hebrew and Arabic are the two official languages of Israel. Hebrew is the native tongue of two-thirds of the population and Arabic is spoken by one-fifth of the population. English is the most widely spoken foreign language because it is taught within the Israeli education system. Most locals, not only those who work in the tourism industry, are able to communicate with foreigners in English.

Currency

The official currency of Israel is the Israeli new shekel (ILS). In major destinations, tourists may be quoted in US dollars or euro, especially for credit card transactions. Major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are available throughout major cities. As for travellers’ cheques, it is best to carry them in US dollars. Finally, foreign money can easily be exchanged in the many exchange shops, banks and hotels in the country.

Visas

Visitor visas to Israel are valid for three months of travel within the country. However, nationals of the UK, most EU countries, the US, Canada and Australia can enter the country visa-free. These nationals only need to present a passport which is valid for six months beyond the entry date and a return ticket.

Climate

The climate of Israel is Mediterranean. Winter (November to March) can be chilly, especially in the north. Winter is also when occasional rains occur. Summer (April to October) is warm to hot. In the major city of Tel Aviv, located along the Mediterranean coast in Central Israel, winter temperatures average 9 to 17°C, while summer temperatures average 24 to 30°C. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit.

Main Airports

The main gateway to Israel is Ben Gurion International Airport. The airport services the two major cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It is located 25 miles from Jerusalem and only seven miles from Tel Aviv. It receives flights from all over Europe, North America, Asia and a few countries in Africa. In the country’s far south, the secondary gateway, Ovda Airport, receives international flights and services the Red Sea resort of Eilat.

Flight Options

There are three major carriers which use Ben Gurion International Airport as their hub. They are national carrier El Al, including its subsidiary Sun d’Or, Arkia Israel Airlines, a largely domestic airline, and Israir. El Al flies to and from London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and New York. From London, British Airways flies from London-Heathrow and EasyJet from London-Luton direct to Ben Gurion. A direct flight from London to Ben Gurion usually takes 4 hours, 30 minutes.

Travel Advice

It is best to check with El Al for deals as this carrier sometimes offers discounts and upgrades, especially when travel is low. As always, tour packages are worth a look. They often include great deals on not only flights, but transfers and accommodation. Israeli Railways operates trains from the station at Terminal 3 of Ben Gurion International Airport, taking visitors to Tel Aviv, Haifa, Modi’in and many other cities. Buses, private shuttles, shared taxis and regular taxis are also available at the airport.

Other Transport Options

Land routes are open for travellers coming from Egypt and Jordan but not from Syria and Lebanon due to the political situation. There are buses from Amman in Jordan to Tel Aviv, Nazareth and Haifa in Israel. From Cairo, Egypt, there are buses to Jerusalem.

Overview

Domestic air travel is impractical given the high quality of overland transport. Buses are cheap and reliable, while trains are modern and often faster. Car hire is available and the roads are developed, but accident rates are fairly high.

Air

Israel is easy to navigate overland. If you add the fact that getting to the airport, going through security and deplaning takes a lot of time, air travel in Israel becomes impractical. That said, Israel has a couple domestic airports which receive commercial flights. They are Eilat Airport in the south and Haifa Airport in the north. Both airports are connected to Tel Aviv.

Bus

Buses are arguably the most popular form of transport for those travelling to and from major destinations in Israel, such as Tel Aviv, Haifa and Eilat. Buses are fast, reliable and cheap. The main operator of the bus network is Egged, a public corporation. The second largest bus company, Dan, operates buses in and around Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva.

Train

Rail travel in Israel is fairly new and thus, quite modern. The trains are operated by Israel Railways and the current network consists of nine lines. Trains are more expensive than buses. However, they are faster and more comfortable. The main railway lines run up and down the densely populated coast, with three lines going inland to Hod HaSharon, Modi’in and Jerusalem.

Car

Many major car hire companies are present in Israel, namely Avis, Hertz and Budget, with some prominent local brands such as Eldan, Traffic and Tamir. The road network is modern and well-maintained, connecting all the major cities in the country. Road accident statistics are quite high so foreign drivers need to take caution as local drivers tend to be impatient and aggressive.

A trip to Israel is a trip to the cradle of civilization that defines the world today. The lands here have been occupied by Jews, Persians, Babylonians, Romans, Greeks and many others. Perhaps this history is most felt in Jerusalem, one of the oldest cities in the world and whose old quarter, simply called the Old City, is a World Heritage site.

Devout Christians or just about anyone interested in history, biblical or otherwise, may want to visit the cities of Nazareth and Bethlehem (Palestine territory accessible from Jerusalem). Both places were significant in Jesus’ life, with Bethlehem being his birthplace and Nazareth his hometown.

There are many other historical sites in Israel. In the Judean Desert, visitors can go to Masada, a castle which served as the final stronghold of the Jews against the Roman invaders. There’s also Caesarea National Park, the site of the well-preserved remains of an ancient Roman city.

Of course, most tourists will likely pass through Israel’s modern economic capital of Tel Aviv. Located along the Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv is a vibrant, cosmopolitan urban centre that is home to several markets, malls, amusement parks, museums and an exciting nightlife.

Haifa is Israel’s third city and a good place to visit. It is the largest metropolitan area in the north and home to the Bahá’í World Centre, the administrative and spiritual capital of the Bahá’í religion. The beautiful terraces and gardens here are listed by UNESCO World Heritage.

When done visiting religious and historical sites, holidaymakers in Israel can head to Israel’s far south. The tiny strip of coastline facing the Gulf of Aqaba is the location of the country’s premier beach resort, Eilat.

Religious, historical and even natural landmarks often intertwine in Israel, a country with a past even older than most religious scriptures.

In the Old City of Jerusalem stand a number of landmarks which are significant to the major religions that originated here. Temple Mount is a hill in Jerusalem that is home to the Western Wall, the remains of an ancient temple and sacred to Hebrews worldwide. It is also home to the Dome of the Rock, with its golden dome and blue walls, the most prominent landmark of Jerusalem and important to believers of Judaism and Islam. Christians, on the other hand, have the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, said to be the site where Jesus’ remains were interred.

Another significant landmark in Jerusalem worth mentioning is Mount Zion, a hill located just outside of the Old City. Located on this mountain are a number of sites including King David’s Tomb, said to be the burial place of the great King of Israel, the Cenacle, said to be the room where Jesus’ last supper took place, and the Chamber of the Holocaust, Israel’s first Holocaust museum. The Catholic cemetery here has the tomb of Oskar Schindler, the German who saved more than 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust.

In Nazareth, visitors will find the Basilica of the Annunciation, the site of a sunken grotto which is said to be the place where the Virgin Mary was given word that she would give birth to Jesus Christ, and St Joseph’s Church, believed to be the site of Joseph’s carpentry shop.

As for natural landmarks, Israel has the vast and arid Judean Desert, with its dunes and canyons occupying central and southern Israel and the Sea of Galilee, the country’s largest freshwater lake, often mentioned in the Bible.

Israel’s vibrant and open nightlife is widely known throughout the Middle East and Europe. The centre of everything is the bustling economic capital, Tel Aviv. Nightlife in Tel Aviv is legendary. Visitors will find it easy to locate bars, pubs, nightclubs and other party venues to have a fun night out.

Hip and happening areas full of night-time entertainment establishments are scattered throughout the city. Some districts worth checking out are Tel Aviv seaport, the beach area of the Boardwalk and Dizengoff, and Ben Yehuda Street, which is popular with young Israelis and foreigners alike.

Jerusalem, also being a touristy town, has nightlife in the form of pubs, traditional watering holes as well as nightclubs. The Israeli chain of nightclubs, Haoman 17, has a location here and this particular venue in Jerusalem has been rated by some as of the best of its kind in the world.

What will perhaps surprise visitors in Israel is that classical performances (music and theatre) are popular. There are a number of establishments that showcase the most talented of Israel’s classical performers. In Tel Aviv, visitors can see shows at the Habima National Theatre, the HaCameri Municipal Theatre and the Suzanna Dellal Centre. In Haifa, the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the Haifa Auditorium. The orchestra also performs in Tel Aviv’s Mann Auditorium and Jerusalem’s ICC Center.

Fans of the art of moving pictures will discover that Israeli cinema is a thriving industry. Movie-going is a favourite pastime here and visitors will be glad that films in Hebrew are subtitled in French and English. There are several cinemas in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, the latter two cities hosting annual international film festivals.

Even with dietary restrictions, Israeli cuisine is quite developed. Elements and styles of not only Jewish cooking, but that of the Middle East and the Mediterranean cultures that surround Israel have shaped and continue to shape the food eaten in the country. Ingredients prominent in the cuisine include produce grown in the region, namely wheat, olive, chickpeas, eggplants and tomatoes. Fish and dairy products are also staples.

Any visitor to Israeli must take note of the word kosher. This refers to a set of laws and guidelines that govern what foods practising Jews can eat and how they can eat them. The laws are numerous and complex. However, it is particularly important to note that pork and shellfish are forbidden, and that meat and dairy products should never go together within a dish or within the same meal.

There are several kosher dishes which are absolutely worth a try when visiting Israel. The widely popular vegetarian dishes falafel and hummus came from Jewish kitchens. Falafel is mashed chickpeas or fava beans shaped into balls or patties and then deep-fried. They are typically wrapped in flat bread called pita. Hummus is, on the other hand, made by cooking chickpeas, mashing them and mixing them with olive oil, salt, garlic, lemon juice and tahini, a paste made from ground sesame seeds.

There are also certain foods which are popularly eaten during Jewish holidays. During Shabbat and Passover, many Jews prefer to eat gefilte fish, a dish which consists of seasoned fish meat formed into balls or patties.

Diners in Israel have several options as to where to have a fine meal. Street food stalls serving well-loved Israeli snacks are common. The same goes for traditional eateries, cafés and restaurants. Visitors will find that most restaurants here are reasonably priced, with the big cities having the widest choices and eateries in tourist areas featuring English language menus.

    Beach

    The beaches of Israel are those that can be found in areas facing the Mediterranean, the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee and the Gulf of Aqaba. Gordon Beach, a public beach which is easy to reach from Tel Aviv, is complete with showers and beachside establishments. The premier beach destination in Israel, however, is Eilat. This lively resort town on the Gulf of Aqaba offers great swimming, diving and partying.

    Romance

    Romance can easily be had in any couple’s Israel holidays by booking a spa and wellness trip to the Dead Sea. Couples can relax while being covered in therapeutic mud or they can float in the saline waters of the sea. Those who prefer to stay along the Mediterranean coast can head to Havatzelet HaSharon for horseback riding along the beach at sunset.

    Family

    The cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are enough to keep children busy on any family’s Israel holidays. After taking in the historical sites in Jerusalem, kids can then interact with the animals at the city’s Tisch Family Zoological Garden, locally referred to as the Biblical Zoo because it is home to creatures featured in the Hebrew Bible. In Tel Aviv, families can go to Luna Park, the city’s main theme park, or to Meimadyon, a large water park.

    Adventure

    Thrill and adventure in the wilderness can easily be experienced with a hike to Gamla. Located in the Golan Mountains of the north, Gamla is an ancient Jewish city which is now an archaeological site set within a beautiful nature reserve. In the deserts of the south, the best activity is camel trekking in the Ramon Crater, the world’s largest makhtesh, a deep closed valley with steep rock walls.

    *Terms & Conditions sample rates displaying above are for the travel period from 17 August 2013 till 24 August 2013. (Sample air/hotel packages above include accommodation plus roundtrip air for travel during the noted time period. Sample air/hotel package prices are per person, based upon double occupancy. Sample air/hotel package prices include taxes and fees. Airfares are based on lowest available fare for sample travel dates and are subject to change. Air/Hotel package prices vary by date, departure city, and availability. Offers are subject to availability and may be discontinued without notice. Additional restrictions and minimum stay may apply.