Tourist Information for Israel
Information for a tourist visiting Israel – Don’t say we didn’t tell you!
Things you should know before landing in Israel…
Welcome! It’s wonderful you are here! Now you can get started trying to make sense of everything without encountering any difficulties – the money, the language, the electricity, the traffic and more …
So, just before something happens to put a damper on your fun, here are some rules, guidelines, and tips to help you more easily integrate into the Israeli landscape:
Money! You can’t live without it…
The currency in Israel is shekels. But as is the case in any developed country, credit cards are also gladly accepted everywhere. And if you have an international card, you can also withdraw cash from any ATM.
So first of all, save yourself a headache and don’t come with a foreign currency that you will need to exchange. But if you’ve already arrived with money from your home country – you can find exchange stores and banks almost everywhere. Just make sure nobody tries to cheat you out of the correct exchange rate.
The Weather
If you come from a cold country, take into account that it is always relatively warm in Israel (unless you go up to the Hermon Mountain on a snowy winter day).So make sure you dress in layers that you can put on and peel off as needed.
Have you arrived in the summer? Come equipped with lots and lots of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and clothes that are as light and airy as possible. Apart from the heat, many areas of the country also suffer from high humidity, and sweating is never fun…
Electronics Devices
No one travels around the world without a charger for their mobile device, and if you are well-organized, you probably have a shaver and even a small iron in your suitcase… Make sure they are compatible with 220 V outlets. And if not, bring along a transformer or adapter. Most of the electric sockets in Israel have 3 holes, but they are also fully suitable for European plugs.
If you get stuck without a charger or adapter, both can be purchased in stores around the country. But you have to admit that it’s best to get equipped in advance.
Transportation
How will you be getting around? Public transportation in Israel is quite impressive. You can choose between trains, buses and even flights (to Eilat…).
But remember! Public transportation on Friday afternoon and Saturday is almost non-existent, so don’t count on it for weekend travel. However, you can hire a driver through a local app called “Get Taxi”, which offers a service similar to the American “Uber”.
Are you considering renting a car? No problem!
You are permitted to drive in Israel with a foreign driver’s license, but you must still be familiar some important traffic rules. Otherwise you might get slapped with a fine…
In Israel, all passengers in the car must be belted from the beginning to the end of even the shortest trip. Children up to the age of 8 must travel in car seats or boosters.
Did you drink? Have you smoked anything for fun? Don’t drive. It is both forbidden and dangerous.
Make sure the vehicle you are renting comes with a hands-free kit for your cellphone, or purchase a Bluetooth headset. In Israel, it is forbidden to hold or even touch a phone while driving.
Follow the traffic signs and do not exceed the speed limit.
Inside the cities make sure you don’t travel in the yellow-painted lanes – they belong to public transport only.
With that we conclude this brief post about information for tourists visiting Israel. To learn more about Israel, and specifically about the Dead Sea, visit the blog home page, at the following link: Dead Sea Information
