Israel Travel & Tourism

Edwin Thomas, Leaf Group

A small country on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, Israel should easily rank among the world's top tourist destinations. The country enjoys a lovely Mediterranean climate and has a lot to offer in terms of culture and history, as so many important events in human history have transpired there. Yet Israel is not the easiest place to travel to or in, and there are considerations that all visitors should keep in mind.

Entry Issues

Americans are eligible for a 90-day tourist stamp upon arrival in Israel, but as a practical matter entry may be more complicated than that. According to the US State Department., visitors are "subject to security and police record checks by the Government of Israel, and may be denied entry or exit without explanation." Americans who have visas from countries like Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, or who are of Middle Eastern and particularly Palestinian extraction, are especially at risk.

Getting There

Most international flights arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), roughly 20 minutes from Tel Aviv and 45 minutes from Jerusalem. Eliat, in the extreme south of Israel, also has an international airport, but it is primarily an entry point for charter flights to the Red Sea beaches. Cruise ships from Cyprus also call on Hafia.


Israel basically has two seasons: winter and summer. Winter runs from late October to mid-March, and is marked by cool, rainy weather. Summer is hot, sunny and dry. The weather near Eliat and Israel's tiny Red Sea Coast is warm all year.

Safety and Security

While suicide bombings and rocket attacks in Israel grab headlines, the truth is that terrorism is now a worldwide phenomenon. In some ways, Israel is actually safer than other destinations because the Israelis are used to being the target of terror attacks and have a well-developed security infrastructure in place. According to Frommer's, visitors can expect guards to conduct "bag and body checks at the entrances to shopping malls, markets, shops, cafes, restaurants, transportation hubs, and hotels." The risks are real, but no more or less so than for London, Madrid, Bali or New York.


Israel is first and foremost known for its religious attractions. From Bethlehem to the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem itself, the city figures prominently in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is famously full of sites that are sacred to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. This heritage has, in turn, given rise to other sites of historical significance, such as the Crusader fortress at Acre or the fortress of Mosada that figured so prominently in the Jewish revolt against the Romans. The south is home to Israel's own beach resort, the aforementioned Eliat.