At a glance
Preparing your trip to Israel: formalities, safety, health, budget and tips for a worry-free stay
ISRAEL
Capital: Jerusalem
Languages: Hebrew and Arabic
Currency: Israeli shekel. Exchange rate: 1 ILS = ± 0.24 €
**Tourist Office: **goisrael.com
Did you know? Israeli banknotes have braille writing on them, allowing blind people to identify money.
Are you travelling to Israel? Here are a few useful tips:
Travel documents and customs formalities
No travel visa is required for a tourist trip to Israel of up to 90 days. You simply need a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the country.
Israel carries out very thorough security checks at the airport, both on arrival and departure, in order to verify the tourist nature of the trip. Your luggage may be inspected, as well as your electronic equipment. We would point out that stamps or visas from certain Muslim countries may have a negative effect during a check.
The healthcare system in Israel
The healthcare system in Israel is generally very good. However, it is strongly recommended that you take out travel insurance that also covers repatriation or transfer to another country. No compulsory vaccination is required to enter Israel.
Safety in Israel
Israel is in a delicate and rapidly evolving security situation. We advise you to check the current political situation in Israel before you leave and to follow it during your trip. Before you leave, read the latest travel advice for Israel on the website of the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs.
Make sure you respect local customs during your stay; for example, do not take photos of people when visiting places of worship.
It is recommended that you register your trip to Israel on Travellers Online. This allows the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs to contact you should an emergency arise.
Which travel insurance should I choose for a trip to Israel?
At Redion, you can take out either temporary or annual travel insurance.
All travel insurance policies include the following benefits:
- Reimbursement of medical expenses
- Organisation of, and assistance with, your repatriation and that of your travelling companions if necessary
- Early return in the event of hospitalisation or death of a relative in Belgium
- Assistance in case of lost documents
If you only travel abroad once a year, temporary travel insurance may be useful. If you travel several times a year, annual travel insurance will be the more cost-effective option.
Climate and religion
In April, May, September and October, the climate is mild in Israel, making these the best months to visit the country.
The most widely practised religion in Israel is Judaism, followed by Islam and Christianity.
Israeli cuisine
Jews from the diaspora who returned to Israel have contributed to enriching Israeli cuisine. This has fuelled the debate over the existence of a genuine Israeli culinary tradition. Debate aside, there are typical dishes not to be missed during your visit. To start, there's traditional falafel, vegetarian balls made from chickpeas and/or broad beans, often eaten with hummus, a chickpea-based purée. Pomegranate juice is also highly recommended. You'll find a wide variety of herbs and spices in all the food markets.
