←Israel travel guide
Jerusalem District, Israel
Jerusalem
Three faiths, one ancient walled city of stone and meaning
ArchitectureCultureHistory & Heritage
Jerusalem's Old City packs the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock into a single square kilometre of limestone lanes and covered markets. Beyond the walls, the city spreads across hills of light-coloured stone, connecting millennia of history with a lively modern culture.
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Best time to visit
March to May and September to November
Region
Jerusalem District
Main airport
Tel Aviv TLV (TLV)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Jerusalem
UNESCO World HeritageHistory
Masada
Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site set atop a dramatic mesa rising from the Judean Desert above the Dead Sea, where Herod the Great built a fortified palace complex in the first century BCE. The ruins include storehouses, bathhouses, mosaic floors, and a three-tiered northern palace cantilevered over the cliff face. A cable car and a steep footpath both reach the summit, where the views across the desert and the shimmering salt lake below are among the most striking in the country.
Nature
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea sits at the lowest point on the surface of the earth and is nearly ten times saltier than the ocean, making it impossible to sink in its calm mineral-rich waters. The shoreline is lined with resorts and public beaches where visitors float effortlessly and apply the locally harvested mineral mud that has long attracted health-focused travellers. The surrounding desert landscape, with its ochre cliffs and haze-softened light, gives the site a distinctive otherworldly character.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Jerusalem
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Israel
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Israel page at Yoogo.
Israel's currency is the New Israeli Shekel (ILS). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops across major cities, though it is advisable to carry some cash for smaller markets and rural areas.
Israel has well-developed tourist infrastructure and millions of visitors travel there each year. The security situation can vary by region and period, so it is worth consulting your government's official travel advisory before and during your trip.
Israel has an expanding intercity rail network connecting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Be'er Sheva, supplemented by a comprehensive intercity bus service operated primarily by Egged and Dan. Car hire is widely available and practical for exploring the Galilee, the Negev Desert, and the Dead Sea region at your own pace.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing, with pleasant temperatures and relatively few crowds compared with the busy summer peak. Summer is hot and humid on the coast and extremely hot in the desert interior, while winters are mild but can bring rain, particularly in the north.
Hebrew and Arabic are the two official languages of Israel. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, particularly in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, making it straightforward to navigate as an English-speaking visitor.
No vaccinations are required for entry to Israel. Routine immunisations should be up to date, and health authorities typically recommend Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations for travellers; a polio booster is also advised given recent detection of vaccine-derived poliovirus in environmental samples. Consult a travel health professional at least four to six weeks before departure.
Tipping in restaurants and cafes is customary, with 10 to 15 per cent of the bill considered standard for good service. Tipping taxi drivers is not obligatory but rounding up the fare is a common courtesy.
Israel has strong mobile coverage with 4G LTE nationwide and 5G available in major urban areas including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. Airalo and other eSIM providers offer data plans for Israel, which can be activated before departure for immediate connectivity on arrival.
Modest dress is expected when visiting religious sites, including covering shoulders and knees at synagogues, mosques, and churches; some sites provide coverings at the entrance. The Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) runs from Friday sunset to Saturday night, during which many businesses, restaurants, and public transport services operate on reduced schedules or close entirely.