Travel Guide to Israel 2026: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea & Galilee
Thinking of a trip to Israel? This travel guide to Israel covers everything for planning a visit in 2026: the current security situation, where Israel is, the best time to go, ETA-IL entry rules, the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, safety tips, and the best hotels and universities. From the Old City of Jerusalem and the beaches and Bauhaus streets of Tel Aviv to the desert fortress of Masada, a float in the Dead Sea and the shores of the Sea of Galilee, this guide helps you weigh up a trip and plan it safely.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and costs in this travel guide to Israel were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Israel
- Capital: Jerusalem💡 Its status is disputed; most embassies are in Tel Aviv
- Currency: Israeli new shekel (ILS)💡 Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere. Check today's rate
- Languages: Hebrew and Arabic💡 English is widely spoken
- Population: About 10 million💡 About a fifth are Arab citizens
- Area: About 22,000 km²💡 Roughly the size of Wales or New Jersey
- Time zone: UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer)💡 Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 9💡 Including Masada, Acre and the White City of Tel Aviv
- Power: 230 V, plug types C and H💡 Type H is unique to Israel; C plugs fit most sockets
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Israel are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Israel?
Israel lies on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan and the West Bank to the east, and Egypt and Gaza to the south-west, with a short Red Sea coast at Eilat. In a small area it packs a fertile coast, the hills of Galilee, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea (the lowest point on land, about 430 m below sea level) and the Negev desert.
Tel Aviv is about 5 hours by air from London; Jerusalem is under an hour by fast train from Ben Gurion airport. Check distances with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Israel
The best time to visit Israel is March to May and September to November, with days of about 20–28°C, ideal for Jerusalem, Galilee and desert hikes. Summer is beach season in Tel Aviv but very hot at the Dead Sea and in Eilat. Winter is mild with some rain, and good for the desert. Public transport stops from Friday evening to Saturday evening for Shabbat, and the country largely shuts down on Yom Kippur.
Wildflowers in Galilee and pleasant city walks.
Tel Aviv beaches and Red Sea diving in Eilat.
Warm sea, but check the dates of the Jewish holidays.
Mild weather for the Negev and the Dead Sea.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Israel to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Israel Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
ETA-IL required: citizens of visa-exempt countries, including the USA, UK, EU, Canada and Australia, can visit for up to 90 days but must first get an ETA-IL online (25 shekels, valid for two years). Apply only on the official Population and Immigration Authority site at least 72 hours before you fly.
- PassportValid for at least 6 months from arrival.
- Entry slipYou get a small blue entry card instead of a passport stamp; keep it.
- SecurityExpect detailed questioning at Ben Gurion, especially on departure.
- NeighboursSome Arab and Muslim-majority countries refuse entry to people who have visited Israel.
🔗 Official sources: ETA-IL (Population and Immigration Authority) · Israel Ministry of Tourism. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Israel were last checked in October 2026.
🏛️ 10 Best Places to Visit in Israel
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Israel, with the best months to see each one.
The Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: All yearBeaches, Bauhaus architecture of the White City (UNESCO) and old Jaffa port.
💡 Best time: Apr–OctHerod's cliff-top fortress above the Dead Sea, best at sunrise (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–AprFloat in salty water, then hike to desert waterfalls.
💡 Best time: Sep–MayCapernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes and lakeside towns.
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Oct–NovTerraced gardens down Mount Carmel (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: All yearCrusader halls, tunnels and sea walls (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: All yearA Roman harbour, theatre and aqueduct by the sea.
💡 Best time: All yearA huge erosion crater in the Negev, great for stargazing.
💡 Best time: Oct–AprCoral reefs and diving on the Red Sea.
💡 Best time: Oct–May🗺️ 7-Day Israel Itinerary: Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Galilee & Tel Aviv
Trains link Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and the airport; a hire car or tour is easiest for the Dead Sea and Galilee. Check security advice for each area before you go.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Israel day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Jerusalem: the Old City, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
- Jerusalem: Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum and Mahane Yehuda market.
- Masada and the Dead Sea: sunrise on Masada, Ein Gedi, then a float.
- Galilee: drive north to Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee.
- Haifa and Acre: the Bahá'í Gardens and Acre's Crusader city.
- Caesarea to Tel Aviv: the Roman harbour, then the beach promenade.
- Tel Aviv-Yafo: old Jaffa, the White City and Carmel Market.
➕ With more time: head south to Makhtesh Ramon and Eilat, or add a night at the Dead Sea; check the latest advice before visiting areas near any border.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Israel Cost?
Israel is one of the most expensive countries in the region. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding flights. Use our currency converter.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$80–130 | Hostels, falafel and hummus, buses and trains |
| Mid-range | US$180–300 | Good hotels, restaurants and day tours |
| Luxury | US$500 + | Five-star hotels and private guides |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Israel are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🚆 Load a Rav-Kav card or use the Moovit or Rav-Pass apps for buses, trams and trains; there is little public transport on Shabbat.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Israel
Day-to-day crime is low, but in 2026 the main risks are missile and drone attacks, terrorism and unrest. Follow Home Front Command instructions, learn where shelters are in your hotel, avoid demonstrations and border areas, and check your government's advice before visiting the West Bank. Expect strict airport security and keep travel insurance that covers conflict-related disruption.
For alerts and shelter guidance.
Most buses and trains stop Friday evening to Saturday night.
Cover shoulders and knees.
Keep water out of your eyes; wear water shoes.
Phone payments work almost everywhere.
"Toda" means thank you.
🏨 Best Hotels in Israel: 6 Top Picks
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have the widest choice; the Dead Sea hotels are clustered at Ein Bokek.
A 1931 landmark with views of the Old City walls.
Check prices on Booking.com →A restored 19th-century complex in old Jaffa.
Check prices on Booking.com →Two 1920s buildings with a rooftop pool.
Check prices on Booking.com →Spa pools and direct access to the Dead Sea beach.
Check prices on Booking.com →Villas with plunge pools on the lake shore.
Check prices on Booking.com →A remote eco-resort on a cliff in the desert.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Israel: chosen for location, reputation and a spread of city, Dead Sea, Galilee and desert stays. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Israel
Israel has world-class research universities, with growing English-taught programmes for international students.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Hebrew University of Jerusalem | Jerusalem | Public |
| Technion – Israel Institute of Technology | Haifa | Public |
| Tel Aviv University | Tel Aviv | Public |
| Weizmann Institute of Science | Rehovot | Public (graduate) |
| Ben-Gurion University of the Negev | Beersheba | Public |
Founded in 1918; Albert Einstein was among its founders.
Visit website →A leading science and engineering university.
Visit website →Israel's largest university.
Visit website →A world-renowned research institute.
Visit website →Known for desert research and medicine.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Israel: the highest-ranked research universities across the country. Last checked: October 2026.
🥙 Israeli Culture & Food
Israel brings together Jewish communities from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East with Arab, Druze and Bedouin citizens, and Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Tel Aviv is known for its nightlife, tech scene and the Bauhaus buildings of the White City.
Try hummus with warm pita, falafel, shakshuka, sabich (fried aubergine and egg in pita), jachnun on a Saturday morning and knafeh, with fresh juice from Mahane Yehuda or Carmel markets.
❓ Travel Guide to Israel: FAQ
Is it safe to travel to Israel in 2026?
The US rates Israel Level 3: Reconsider travel because of the regional war, terrorism and unrest, and several areas are Do Not Travel. Check current advice before booking.
Do I need a visa for Israel?
Not if you are from the US, UK, EU, Canada or Australia, but you must get an ETA-IL online before you fly.
How much does the ETA-IL cost?
25 shekels; it is valid for two years and for stays of up to 90 days.
Will Israel stamp my passport?
No. You receive a separate entry card instead.
What is the best time to visit Israel?
March–May and September–November.
Does public transport run on Saturdays?
Mostly not: most trains and buses stop from Friday evening to Saturday night.
Can you float in the Dead Sea?
Yes, at public and hotel beaches at Ein Bokek and Ein Gedi.
How many days do you need in Israel?
Seven days covers Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Galilee and Tel Aviv.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Israel
- Israel Ministry of TourismOfficial tourism site
- ETA-ILOfficial entry authorisation
- UNESCO: IsraelWorld Heritage Sites in Israel
Finished this travel guide to Israel? 🌍 More Mediterranean and Middle East guides: Jordan · Cyprus · Egypt · Greece · All of Asia
⚖️ Compare Israel with other countries in Compare Countries.
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