1. I'm a tourist in Israel and I am concerned that I may have COVID-19, where should I go?

If you have a fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher, cough, trouble breathing, or other respiratory symptoms, you must immediately enter self-isolation and call the 101 MDA Emergency Services Hotline for medical advice.
Do not go to an HMO clinic or emergency ward.

You may bring standard medication (over the counter) into Israel with you (asprin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, hayfever medication, etc…) but also know it is available to purchase locally. However, if you have specific prescription medication, vials that need cooling, or anything that requires syringes, it’s best to speak to your doctor and get an official list of your medications to bring with you

Yes, you may do so at the airport upon your arrival in to Israel or you may select one when you get to your destination.

Find comprehensive information about tourist destinations in Israel on our website under Tourist Information.

You can find a list of some of the tour operators that have organised tours from India to Israel here.

If you wish to drive a car in Israel, you must hold a valid international driver's license.

International car rental chains have offices in Israel, and there are multiple Israel-based car rental companies as well. You can rent a car in all of Israel’s major cities and also at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, though it is recommended to reserve a car before you arrive.

Driving in Israel is on the right-hand side of the road, and most signage is written in Hebrew, English and Arabic. While driving, do not use a hand-held phone as it is against the law.

Jerusalem

Address: Jaffa Gate, Omar Ibn Katab Square in the Old City

Telephone: 02-6280403 ; 02-6271422 ; 02-6260576

Opening hours: Sat-Thu : 8:30am-5:00pm; Fri: 8:30am-1:00pm

Eilat

Address: 8 Bridge House, North Beach Promenade, Eilat

Telephone: 08-6309111

Opening hours: Sun-Thu : 8:30am-5:00pm ; Fri. 8:00am-1:00pm

In addition, many Tourist Information Centers are operated by Regional Councils, Municipalities and local Tourism Boards throughout Israel. 

 

Golan

Address: P.O.Box 175, Katzerin 12990

Telephone: 04-6962885

Fax: 04-6961844

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 9:00am-15:45pm

 

Upper Galilee

Address: 70 Tel Hai Blvd. Kiryat Shemona

Telephone: 04-6817152

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 9:00am-4:00pm

Closed Friday Saturday.

 

Tiberias

Address: Habanim st. Archaeological Park

Telephone: 04-6725666

Fax: 04-6724489

Opening hours: Sun-Thu : 8:00 -15:45

 

Nazareth

Address: Han Al Basha Building

Telephone: 04-6106611

Opening hours: Mon-Thu: 8:30-17:00

Fri : 8:30-17:00 Sat: 8:30-14:00 Sun: Closed

 

Jordan Valley

Jordan Valley Regional Council

Address: Comercial Center, Zemah Junction

Telephone: 04-6752727

Fax: 04-6709454

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 8:00am-4:00pm : Fri: 10:00- 12:00  Sat & Holidays: 10:00am-3:00pm

 

Haifa

Haifa Tourist Association

Address: 48 Ben Gurion st., The German Colony

Telephone: 1-800-305090, 04-8535606

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 9:00am-5:00pm : Fri: 09:00am-1:00pm ; Sat: 10:00am-3:00pm

 

Carmelim

Carmel Beach Regional Council

Kibbutz Ein Carmel

Tel. 04-8136239

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 9:00am-4:00pm

Closed Friday Saturday

 

Carmelim

Address: The Cave Strean Nature Reserve

Telephone: 04-9841750/ *3639

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 8:00am-3:00pm : Fri: 08:00am-3:00pm ; Sat: 8:00am-2:00pm

 

Netanya

Address: 12 Ha'atzmaut Square, Netanya

Telephone: 1-700-709292 ; 09-8827286

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 8:00am-4:00pm

 

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv Tourism Association

Address: Tel Aviv Promanade, 46 Herbert Samuel st.

Telephone: 03-5166188

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 10:00am-5:30pm Fri: 10:00am-2:00pm

 

Beer Sheva

Address: Abraham Well, 1 Hevron Rd. Beer Sheva

Telephone: 08-6464900

Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 8:00am-4:00pm

Fri - Sat: 10:00am-2:00pm

 

Dead Sea

Tamar Regional Council

Address: Public Solarium, Ein Bokek

Telephone: 08-9975010

Opening hours: Sun- Thu: 9:00am-4:00pm  Fri: 9:00am- 3:00pm

Sat : Closed

 

Arad

Address: "Paz" gas station, Industrial erea, Arad

Telephone: 08-9954160

Opening hours: Thursday-Saturday, 09:00am-04:00pm

 Read here to know more about the Dead Sea.

There is a two-lane customs transit system, Green and Red, at Ben Gurion Airport and the various crossing points in to Israel. Visitors who do not have goods to be declared may go through the Green Lane at the exit from the passenger arrival hall.

Articles that do not need to be declared:

• Personal clothing, shoes and cosmetics – in quantities that can usually be carried in the traveller’s hand baggage.
• Alcoholic beverages – up to one liter for hard liquor, and up to two liters for wine, per person aged 17 and over.
• Tobacco of all types – up to 250 grams per person aged 17 and over.
• Presents and other commodities – items other than alcoholic beverages, alcoholic perfumes, tobacco, television sets - costing up to $200, as determined by the clerk at the entrance terminal, according to lists in his possession.
• Food – up to a total weight of three kilograms, on condition that the weight of each type of food does not exceed one kilogram.
• Additional items such as cameras, binoculars, personal jewelry, musical instruments, camping or sports equipment, bicycle and other like articles.

 

Visitors with items not appearing in the list of duty free items or in the list of taxable items must also go through the Red lane and declare them.  Visitors with goods for which a deposit must be paid, which will be returned to them when they leave Israel, must go through the Red lane.  In case of doubt, the tax authorities recommend going through the Red lane. Failure to declare taxable items represents an offense, for which the traveller will pay an administrative fine, be prosecuted or have the goods confiscated.

It is forbidden to import the following items into Israel without a license issued in advance: plants, firearms, raw meat, raw materials, counterfeit currency or documents, knife or penknife not intended for professional use, etc.

It is permitted to import vehicles for personal use. Visitors are also allowed to purchase a tax-exempt vehicle in Israel on the condition that they take it out of Israel upon leaving the country, and this is no later than one year from the date of the tax exemption or its purchase. In order to receive a tax exemption, a foreign license and an insurance policy that are valid in Israel must be presented. Address:

Department of Customs

5 Bank of Israel Street,

The Government Complex,

Jerusalem.

Telephone – 972-2-6664000

Import or export of funds (cash, cashier's checks, traveller’s checks) the equivalent of 80,000 shekels together and more must be logged in.
The corresponding "inch form no. 84" can be requested by phone on:
+ 972-2-658 7777.

Not at all. Israel is an entirely western country with an advanced level of hygiene, health care, diagnosis and medicine that is the envy of much of the world and on a par with the best of North America and Western Europe.

Magen David Adom (MDA) is the national rescue and blood transfusion service in Israel. MDA is accessible 24 hours under the 101 phone number and has a fleet of ambulances, intensive care and emergency responders throughout Israel where patients are treated and taken to the nearest emergency room.

MDA is part of the International Organization of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the Israeli Red Cross National Society.

Yes, it is. Read about the Western Wall tunnel here

A few years ago, the Israeli Opera was reopened as The New Israeli Opera. They reside in Tel-Aviv and perform with many famous productions, including non-operatic shows.

No, unfortunately there isn't. Please use the ordinary parking meters or parking lots.

Considerable efforts and resources have been invested in Israel to enable disabled persons to access any destination and to receive service that is equal to that received by the rest of the public.

When dialling overseas, dial the country code (India: 0091), area code (Delhi: 11), and telephone number (XXXX-XXXX)

The Rav-Kav is a smart card that contains passenger's personal information and details of the discount program for which passenger is eligible. The Rav-Kav can be recharged in the bus and in certain stations with an appropriate payment package: multiple ticket (Kartisiya), monthly pass (Khofshi Khodshi) etc.

What are the transportation options from the airport?

 Most visitors arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) located 30-minutes from the heart of Tel Aviv, 45 minutes from Jerusalem. If you are arriving without prior land arrangements, there are cabs at the airport, bus services – and trains are available from the airport station (take the airport elevator to the lowest level) to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Netanya and Haifa. 

How do I get around?

Israel has a sophisticated system of highways, buses, trains and domestic flights. Follow these links to know more.

Buses – The most popular form of transportation in Israel, you can buy tickets at any city’s central bus station or from the driver. Please note that most buses don’t operate in Israel on Saturdays (Shabbat)

Train – The Israel Railways is an affordable easy way to travel between major cities in Israel. Please note that the trains don’t operate in Israel on Saturdays (Shabbat)

Private Taxi – a more expensive option, taxis can be flagged down or ordered by phone almost anywhere, and they’ll take you around town or between cities.

Rent a car – International car rental chains have offices in Israel, and there are multiple Israel-based car rental companies. you can rent a car in all of Israel’s major cities and at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. It’s recommended to reserve a car before you arrive.

Driving in Israel is on the right-hand side of the road, and most signage is written in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

  Don’t use a hand-held phone while driving: it’s against the law.

Not all of the restaurants in Israel are kosher.

Places offering kosher food usually display a kashrut certificate granted to them by the local rabbinate. Most hotels serve kosher food, as well as some restaurants, but there is no binding law. So if kashrut is important to you, you must check when you dine.

The Israeli economy is very similar to European standards, although food products are normally less expensive. An economic traveller may get by on $60 a day (accommodations not included).

Israel is a thoroughly westernized country. You can make your own arrangements to travel independently and there are dozens of tour operators offering a multitude of options for trips to Israel. 

You can find comprehensive information on our website under our Best Deals Page.

For more information about your trip to Israel please contact us at info-israel@goisrael.gov.il

 More than 80 airlines operate flights to Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport from all over the world.

From India, El Al Israel Airlines operates between 3 to 4 flights per week, flying direct from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).  

Aeroflot Russian Airlines operates daily flights from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) via Moscow.

Turkish Airlines operates daily flights from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM)  to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) via Istanbul.

Ethiopian Airlines operates flights from both Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM)  to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) via Addis Ababa.

 

Please check for alternate Airlines that may operate flights to Israel.

What is the weather like in Israel, when is the best time to visit?

Israel is a year round destination that enjoys long, warm, dry summers and generally mild winters with somewhat drier, cooler weather in hilly regions, such as Jerusalem and Safed. Temperatures can vary widely so just pack for the "right" weather and you'll be fine. 

 

What kind of clothing should I pack?

In Summer, lightweight T-shirts, sleeveless shirts, shorts, and a bathing suit are recommended.

Pack a sweater or a jacket for nights in the mountains or the desert. In Winter, bring long sleeve shirts, sweaters and a scarf, gloves, a warm coat, and a raincoat and an umbrella.

Some religious sites require long pants for men and clothing that covers the shoulders and knees for women. ​ 

The electric current in Israel is 220 volts, C, single phase, 50 Hertz, the same as in India.

Most Israeli sockets are three-pronged but most also accept two-pronged plugs. Visitors who will use shavers, traveling irons and other small appliances may need transformers/ adaptor plugs. If your appliance does not work on 220 volts, you will need an adaptor. 

All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they are departing the country.  

Travellers with no nationality must hold a valid laissez-passer, as well as a visa back to the country that issued it.  Visitors are entitled to remain in Israel up to three months from the date of their arrival, in accordance with the conditions of the visa issued to them.  The State of Israel does not require a US or European passport holder to apply for a visa.

Not at all. Israel is an entirely western country with an advanced level of hygiene, health care, diagnosis and medicine that is the envy of much of the world and on a par with the best of North America and Western Europe.

Absolutely, tap water in Israel is safe, but, you will also find bottled mineral water everywhere.

(It’s important to make sure you drink a lot, especially if you are walking, hiking or exercising during hot weather.)