8 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Israel

For a country the size of New Jersey, Israel’s natural beauty and diversity are immense. Israel is well known for its history, culture and religious diversity, which makes it a must-visit country. If you have already planned or planning to visit Israel, it is better that you don’t presume things as that could cost your adventure into a disaster.

Here are a few things that you should know before visiting Israel:

1. Find the entry requirement:

First things first, to enter the country you should read all about its requirements. You don’t want to get deported straight away after landing, and know that you will be interviewed before they let you enter. So, it is better to know whether you require a visa or not, you can also check if your passport is enough for tourism purposes.

2. Stay Connected

After or preferably before arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, the first thing you need to do is to start looking for a proper SIM card for tourists, because when you use your personal number in another country, you might get weak or maybe no signals at all. Now, this may sound stressful way to start your trip. Fortunately, you can get easy access to Israeli SIM cards in no time, which provide better communication and high-speed internet in efficient price.

3. The Best Time To Visit Israel

There is no specific time to visit Israel; there are no extreme weather conditions. But it is better to travel in spring (April-May) or Autumn/Fall (October-November) when the weather is mild and pleasant and you can relax and enjoy in beautiful beaches in Tel-Aviv. It is better to avoid the religious and pilgrimage dates as it can get quite crowded.

4. Know about the culture

Citizens of Israel are one of the most welcoming people. Israel is both conservative and liberal at the same time. The contrast between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv is quite remarkable. Jerusalem is orthodox and conservative while Tel Aviv is modern, liberal and one of the most important high-tech centres in the world.

5. No language barrier

Even though Hebrew is the official language of Israel, English is widely spoken and is mostly the first choice for some businesses. Road signs and documents are written in 3 languages, Hebrew, English and Arabic, making convenient for the tourist.

6. Carry electrical adapter

Before you head out, make sure you carry right electrical adapter because the electrical outlet in Israel requires a 3 round-pegged prong. You don’t want to waste your time in finding the right adapter.

7. Home to the lowest point on earth

Israel being a small country still offers you quite remarkable cites. It could be Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Ein Gedi National Park or Baha’i Gardens in Haifa but one that stands out is the Dead Sea (lowest point on earth) which is about 400 meters below the sea level. The water of the Dead Sea is 10 times saltier than the ocean water.

8. Expenses:

Staying, eating, drinking and shopping in Israel can be quite expensive. But you can always find a way to cut expenses. Transportation and communication can be reasonable; many tourists switch to Israeli SIM cards as mobile services are quite cheap there.

If small things are taken into account, then your trip to Israel can be one of the most memorable parts of your life. As John F. Kennedy said, “Israel was not created in order to disappear but to endure and flourish.”