israel tourist pass

The ISRAEL PASS & Ride

Money-saving card for your israel tour.

About the ISRAEL PASS  & Ride

The ISRAEL PASS & Ride card is the ultimate choice for making your Israel trip smooth and easy, granting up to a 40% discount!

The ISRAEL PASS  & Ride enables entry to variety of national parks and nature reserves (for example, Masada, En Gedi, Caesarea, Qumran and many others), as well as (when loaded) travel on public transportation throughout Israel, enjoying RAV KAV ride card benefits. It also provides discounts on various tourist attractions throughout the country.

The ISRAEL PASS & Ride is a joint product of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety and the Ministry of Tourism.

Benefits of the ISRAEL PASS  & Ride  

 Public transportation throughout Israel

 Entry to the leading national parks and nature reserves

   Discounts on leading tourist attractions

Save money on your entrance fees and public transport

Parks entry package

* RAV KAV (transportation) card costs additional 5 NIS

Where to Get

At present, ISRAEL PASS & Ride cards are available at:

Additional locations will be announced in future.

 Featured Parks – and many more….

Eilat Coral Beach

Qumran  

Hermon Stream (Banias)

  Herodium

T el  Megiddo

Discounted Attractions

ISRAEL PASS holders are entitled to a 20% discount on regular prices at any of the attractions on the list of discounted attractions. Discount applies only to the ISRAEL PASS holder.

Questions and Answers

• Which parks are included? Up to 70 national parks and nature reserves are included. For full list please see https://www.parks.org.il/en/map/ Note: the City of David National Park is not included.
• How many parks can I enter with the card? Three options are available for purchase: 3 parks entry, 6 parks entry and All parks entry. Each park or reserve can be entered once.
• For how long can I use the card? Park entries are valid for two weeks from the first entry. Ride card can be reloaded.
• What is the cost of ISRAEL PASS card? Parks entry package: 3-site entry costs 78 NIS. 6-site entry costs 110 NIS. All-site entry costs 150 NIS. RAV KAV (transportation) card costs additional 5 NIS.
• Where can I get the card? At present, cards can be purchased at: Ben-Gurion Airport - The Ministry of Transport and Road Safety booth in the arrivals hall, ground floor, Terminal 3 (Open 24/6). Ramon airport - Ministry of Transport and Road Safety booth in the arrivals hall (Open 24/6). Abraham Hostel Jerusalem, 67 HANEVI’IM STREET, DAVIDKA SQUARE, JERUSALEM (Open 24/7). Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv, 21 LEVONTIN STREET, TEL AVIV (Open 24/7) Selina Tel Aviv Beach, 2 Shenkar street, TEL AVIV (Open 24/7). Selina Tel Aviv, 6 Frishman street, TEL AVIV (Open 24/7). CHRISTIAN INFORMATION CENTER, Jaffa – Gate – Old City (across from the Tower of David), Jerusalem (9:00 – 17:00 Monday – Saturday). Additional purchase locations will be announced in the near future.
• How can I load the card for public transportation? Card can be loaded at the purchase booth, or at any of thousands of load stations across the country, mainly at ATM machines, central bus stations and train stations.
• Can I re-load the card once it is empty? Yes, The ride card can be reloaded at any load station across the country. At present, park entries cannot be reloaded.
• Can I use the card to visit Masada? Yes, the card can be used for entry to Masada National Park as well as the Masada Museum. Note: The card is not valid for the Masada cable car.
• What is the RAV-KAV ride card? Rav-Kav is a smart card that may be loaded with a various options of travel fares. The card may be reloaded with a multi-trip ticket and accumulated value granting a 20% discount, as well as with a weekly and daily pass. The card is not insured: In case of loss, theft or damage, no refunds are possible.
• Do kids get a break on the price? Yes, kids up to 5 years old are exempt from entrance fees to national parks and nature reserves. According to the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety rules, one child up to 5 years old per Rav-Kav card is also exempt from the ride fee.
• Can I purchase the ISRAEL PASS online? Park entry packages can be purchased online at www.theisraelapss.com. You will get an email with a barcode to use at park entrances. RAV-KAV cards cannot be purchased online.
• How can I enjoy the discount on attractions? ISRAEL PASS holders are entitled to a 20% discount on regular prices at any of the attractions on the list of discounted attractions. Discount applies only to the ISRAEL PASS holder.

Touring Israel

Where to sleep, book one of our campground sites.

Where to go?

Choose from over 70 nature and heritage sites.

UNESCO Sites

See these fascinating world-class sites.

Regular   site tours

Check for our great regular tours.

Where to load  RAV-KAV?

Thousands of load stations are available. for the full list,  click here.

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Notes and Conditions:

Card holder is entitled to enter only the official parks as listed on the map .

The price is the same for all ages.

Card includes entrance to Caesarea and the Masada Museum.

The cable car at Masada is not included.

City of David National Park is not included.

Park entries are valid for only two weeks from the first site entry.

Each card entitles holder to one-time entry to each park.

Israel National Park Pass – Visit 68 Sites in $50!

You can have unlimited entrance to all 68 national parks and nature reserves in Israel for only $50!  This is one of those best-kept secrets of Israel and an underrated deal. Since 2016, the National Park of Israel introduced this thing called “Annual Pass” , for locals and tourists alike.

Places such as Masada, Qumran Cave, Beersheva, City of David and Ein Gedi are all included in this package. And there are many more sites worth visiting! And seriously, $50 is nothing! Let me share more in details and a little bit about the tourist cards (not as good as Annual Pass though).

📚Annual Pass for National Parks in Israel

Israel, due to safety concerns, is generally an off-beaten country for tourists. But there are numerous sites in this tiny country. Best of all, most of these sites are managed under Israel Nature and Parks Authority. You buy this card, and you have access to all 68 sites! (or is it 55?)

With this Annual Pass, I went to 28 sites in 2 weeks. That’s less than $2 for a site! No way!!!! That’s too cheap! That is why I strongly recommend this pass if you plan to visit at least 5 sites (and if the City of David is one of them).

✅ How To Purchase “ Annual Pass”

1. buy it online.

Simply go to https://fe.sales.parks.org.il/subscriptions

Remember to enter your passport number correctly!

You’ll get the bar code once the purchase is done!

2. Buy it at the park

Go to any national park WITH your passport!

Tell the ticket counter that you wish to purchase the “Annual Pass” . It’s for locals and tourists alike, but you need an Israeli address (a hotel address is fine). The actual card will be sent to that address, but you will get a handwritten card like this and with receipt. This can be used as the annual pass immediately.

 The Fees for Annual Pass

It’s pretty cheap. And the crazy part is…..   For one adult is ₪181 ($50). For two adults is ₪275 ($75)。  (The name of the second person will not be registered) 

And 2 adults with 1 kid is ₪340 ($94), and 2 adults with 2 kids are ₪396 ($109)。 Anyone less than 20 years old is considered “kid”. 

For details please go to their website, English version is available now! 

👉How to Use Annual Pass?

You present the barcode OR present that handwritten card and receipt at the ticket office, and you’ll get an entrance ticket and possibly a new map! 😉

📍What’s Included? Is the City of David Included?

Yes, the City of David is included in the annual pass.

The exceptions are the following (not free, but 50% discount is available): Akhziv, Horshat Tal, Gan Hashlosha, Beit Yanay, and Palmachim. Probably tourists won’t find interests in going these parks anyways.

And of course, cable car rides and night activities are not included . And Poleg Nature reserve and Jerusalem Wall Promenade are not included.

🙋‍♀️What about the Israel Pass?

The new option, Israel Pass ,  is a combined ticket designed for tourists, you can save some shekels with this pass if you only intend to visit 3/6 parks within 2 weeks! But as a park lover, it isn’t as good as an annual pass in my opinion.

Let’s take a look:

• 3 sites: 78NIS ($22)
• 6 sights:110NIS  ($30)
• Unlimited sites in 2 weeks 150NIS ($42)

Though these combined tickets are transferable, the city of David is NOT included in this ticket, and these tickets    are good for 2 weeks only. 

The City of David ( ₪29) is where the Hezekiah Tunnel and Siloam Pool is, so when you cannot use this ticket for the site, then go for the annual pass!! In terms of pricing, the annual pass is better.

It looks like this (2019)

It can also come with   Israel’s oyster card called Rav-kav card.  This is called “Israel Pass& Ride”

But there’s no further discount, you still need to pay 5NIS to get the unloaded card.

There’s a small feature of 20% discount on some sites, which I don’t find so relevant for tourists who are visiting Israel for just 2 weeks. (The logic is, if you have more than 2 weeks, there’s a ton of more important sites that can be used with annual pass). But here’s a list:  https://www.israelpass.biz/north

You can buy Israel Pass online, here at  https://fe.sales.parks.org.il/tickets 

And since March 2019, you can purchase the new at the airport!

And also from the following places

The Israeli national park annual pass is a GREAT option!! If you are in Israel for more than 2 weeks or if you are traveling as a family, consider the annual pass option!

* Anyone less than 20 years old is considered “kid”. 

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National Parks Discounts with Israel Pass

With IsraelRail you can visit all of the major cities in Israel and more! The new cooperation with Israel Pass gives you access to over 70 different National Parks that you can discover independently. All by using one card for trains, buses, book day tours and now, receive discounts at all the National Parks.

Access & Discounts to Nature and National Parks in Israel

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority work to preserve and manage the special look of typical landscapes throughout the country. This is beneficial to all inhabitants while protecting the balance between economic, social, cultural and environmental needs. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority protect habitats, ecosystems, plant and animal diversity in most open spaces in Israel.

Whether you are in Israel for a few days or several weeks, we have a pass for you. The ISRAEL PASS & Ride gives access to up to six national parks and nature reserves. For example, Masada, En Gedi, Caesarea, Qumran , etc.

Israel Pass & Ride

Multi-Entry options — 3 / 6 / All sites Public transportation — Yes Validity — Two weeks – From 1st entry Purchase Options — Ben Gurion Airport, Ramon Airport and selected hostels

Steps 1, 2 & 3!

National Parks in Israel: Do kids get a break on the price?

Yes, kids up to 5 years old are exempt from entrance fees to national parks and nature reserves.

Notes and Conditions

• The cardholder is entitled to enter only the official parks as listed on the map.
• The price is the same for all ages.
• The card includes entrance to Caesarea and the Masada Museum.
• The cable car at Masada is not included .
• The City of David National Park is not included .
• Park entries are valid for only two weeks from the first site entry.
• Each card entitles the holder to one-time entry to each park.

The ISRAEL PASS & Ride is a joint product of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The Ministry of Transport and Road Safety and the Ministry of Tourism.

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Everything you need to know about traveling to Israel as a vaccinated tourist

Update (11/29/2021) : Israel has closed its borders to all tourists for at least two weeks due to the Omicron variant. As we learn more information about the variant and Israel's reopening plans, we'll update the story below.

Around the world, we've seen countries adopt different strategies and timelines for reopening their borders. Some welcomed back tourists just months after the virus came stateside, and others took much longer.

Despite one of the world's most aggressive vaccine rollouts, Israel has been one of the slowest to reopen. Throughout much of the pandemic, the country was closed to tourists, only allowing certain foreigners to enter through an in-depth application process that could take weeks — only to require those with approval to undergo a two-week quarantine upon arrival.

Israel finally reopened its borders to foreigners on Nov. 1 after inoculating much of its population with a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

While the country is officially open for business once again, there are still plenty of hoops to jump through if you're planning to visit. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of everything you need to know about visiting Israel as a tourist.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Vaccination requirements to enter Israel

To enter Israel as a tourist, each traveler must meet one of the following criteria:

• Been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO)
• Have recovered from a positive COVID-19 infection

Though these are the general conditions for entry, Israel has some additional regulations for each criterion.

Vaccines recognized by Israel

Israel recognizes vaccines approved by the WHO, including:

• Johnson and Johnson
• AstraZeneca
• The Serum Institute of India

As of Dec. 1, 2021, those vaccinated with the Sputnik-V vaccine may enter Israel, though you'll also need to receive a positive result on a serologic (antibody) test once you land, in addition to all of the other requirements below.

Fully vaccinated under Israeli law

Israel has a very strict definition of "fully vaccinated."

To be eligible for entry as a fully vaccinated tourist, you'll need to have received at least two doses of the vaccine (or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine). Additionally, at least 14 days must have elapsed from your most recent dose on the day of arrival in Israel. Finally — and this one is perhaps the most onerous — your most recent dose of the vaccine must have been given no more than 180 days before your day of departure from Israel.

For example, if you received your second shot on March 1, 2021, you are not eligible for entry to Israel (until you receive a booster dose). Similarly, if your second dose was on May 30, 2021, you're only eligible to visit Israel until Nov. 26, 2021, before needing a booster dose.

Those who've received a booster dose must wait at least 14 days from the date of the booster to land in Israel.

Related: Some countries are setting vaccine expiration dates for travel

Recovered from COVID-19 under Israeli law

To be considered recovered under Israeli law, you must present a certificate of recovery that's digitally verifiable by the Israel Ministry of Health, on the basis of a positive result on a NAAT test.

This applies to those who visit Israel anytime after 11 days have elapsed since their positive result, but no more than 190 days after the positive test, measured from the date of departure from Israel.

In addition to the recovery certificate, you'll also need to show proof of at least one dose of a WHO-approved vaccine, either before or after recovery.

Israel publishes a list of countries from which it accepts a digital certificate of recovery, and while much of the Europe is included on the list, the United Status is not. You can find the full list here .

Unless Israel changes its regulation, those who received a positive test in the U.S. will need to be fully vaccinated according to the conditions above in order to enter Israel.

A word of caution

Note that entry regulations can change at any time, so TPG recommends that you consult with the Israeli guidance for the most up-to-date information. The regulations above are accurate as of the date of publication and apply to individual tourists, not to group tours or those who've received special exemptions.

Finally, if you don't meet the above criteria, you can submit a petition to the Exceptions Committee with the details of your reason for travel.

Step 1. Pre-departure PCR test

In addition to being either fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19, there are some additional requirements before entering Israel.

The first is a PCR test taken within 72 hours of your scheduled departure for Israel. Only those who've received a negative result can board their flight. Note that if you're traveling on a connecting flight, the 72-hour timer applies from the departure time of the final leg of your journey.

Each traveler must present a negative test result (in English) that also specifies the traveler's passport number. Rapid tests and other at-home tests are not accepted.

The only published exceptions to the 72-hour rule are for those who've stayed outside of Israel for less than 72 hours, as well as those who have recovered from COVID-19.

For recovered travelers, you can instead present a positive PCR test result taken no more than three months before the day of departure and no less than 11 days after testing day. (Note that everyone, including recovered travelers, needs to take a mandatory PCR test on arrival in Israel, which you'll see below.)

Related: Here's where you can quickly get a COVID-19 PCR test for travel

Step 2. Entry declaration form

Within 48 hours before departure for Israel (based on the last connecting flight to the country, if applicable), you'll need to complete an online entry declaration form .

The form asks for your personal information, travel itinerary, health declaration, vaccination/recovery information and isolation information. Filling out the form should be self-explanatory, and I've included screenshots of the entire process below.

You can add your travel companions to your form, but you'll need to input their personal and health information, too.

Note that when you check "Vaccinated/Recovered outside Israel" on the form, you'll be asked to input your vaccine information (or a recovery letter), and then upload a digitally verifiable document.

If you were vaccinated in the U.S. with a certificate issued by the CDC, you should not upload a picture of your card. You should instead manually input your vaccination details, as I did below.

After completing the online form, you'll receive a confirmation email from [email protected], which will include a PDF version of the processed entry declaration form. You'll need to present this form (digital or hard copy) during check-in, and possibly again on arrival.

Assuming that you filled all the details correctly, your confirmation will have a green highlight stating that "you may board, you must complete reduced isolation."

In addition to the confirmation PDF, you should also receive a second PDF with a large QR code, titled tav yarok in Hebrew, which translates to "green pass." More on this below.

Step 3. On-arrival PCR test

The final requirement to enter Israel is a mandatory PCR test on arrival. This is a requirement for everyone of all ages, regardless of vaccination or recovery status. This test is in addition to the one you took in your country of origin before departure.

This test is conducted in Ben Gurion International Airport after clearing customs. You cannot physically leave the airport without completing this test.

After filling out the online entry declaration form, you'll be able to pre-pay for your on-arrival PCR test.

Prepaying costs 80 ILS ($26). Those who pay on arrival are charged 115 ILS ($37). I prepaid for my on-arrival PCR test and received an emailed payment confirmation code and barcode, which I presented upon arrival at the testing counter.

The test itself took less than three minutes, and you can read more about my entry experience in a follow-up story.

Those who've been vaccinated with the Sputnik-V vaccine must also take a serologic (antibody) test on arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport. This costs 126 ILS ($41) for those prepaying.

After completing the PCR test, you can then leave the airport and head to your final destination for a shortened isolation period. (Any method of transportation is acceptable, including public transportation.)

Step 4. 24-hour quarantine

All travelers arriving in Israel must go into isolation, but for those who've been vaccinated or recovered, the quarantine period is significantly reduced to (at most) 24 hours.

Once you arrive at your final destination in Israel, you'll need to immediately enter isolation until you receive a negative result from the PCR test taken on arrival in Israel, or up to 24 hours, whichever is earlier.

Additionally, those vaccinated with the Sputnik-V vaccine must also receive a positive result from the serologic test taken on arrival in order to exit isolation.

My test was conducted at 6:39 p.m. local time, and I received the (negative) result in my email the next morning at 6:18 a.m.

Step 5. Green Pass (Tav Yarok)

Israel limits all indoor activities to those who've been vaccinated, recovered or recently tested negative through the country's green pass tav yarok system.

To access the indoor space at restaurants, museums, gyms and any other cultural institutions or attractions, you'll need to present a valid green pass, along with a form of photo identification (a foreign passport will suffice).

Tourists should receive a temporary green pass after filling out the online entry declaration form. The pass includes a large QR code, along with your passport number and validity period.

The green pass I received was valid for one month from one day after my flight arrival (due to the 24-hour isolation requirement).

It was checked at the entrance to my hotel in Tel Aviv and throughout my stay in Israel at most restaurants and museums.

Bottom line

Though Israel is officially open, it still has one of the strictest COVID-19 entry policies of the countries I've visited during the pandemic. Taking two tests, along with a one-day quarantine, isn't seamless.

But, like me, if you've been waiting for almost two years to visit the country, Israel is once again ready to welcome you — though you'll have to jump through a few added hoops to get in.

To learn more about the guidelines about travel to Israel - click here

Passports and Visa

All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they are departing the country. People with no nationality must hold a valid laissez-passer, as well as a visa back to the country that issued it.

Visitors are entitled to remain in Israel up to three months from the date of their arrival, in accordance with the conditions of the visa issued to them. Visitors intending to work in Israel must submit a request to the Ministry of the Interior for a special visa.

Israel no longer stamps passports at airports and most Land Crossings. Nonetheless, because at times technical difficulties arise, and at times, the border control must revert to back to the method of stamping passports, we recommend that tourists continuing from Israel on to Arab countries officially request that an Israeli stamp does not appear on their passport. The tourist must notify the clerk of this request before documents are stamped.

The “Electronic Gate Pass”

In accordance to section 13 of the law regarding entrance to Israel of 1952, an official inspector or police officer can request identification and proof of legal status in Israel. With this in mind, at a press of a button the Border Control station will print a card including the principle details of the traveler as in the first page of the passport. The card will also depict the date of arrival and visa information. This card is called The “Electronic Gate Pass” and it is a new and modern technological system instrumental in meeting the needs of the various Immigration, security, Airport and Tourism authorities as well as providing the tourist with the credentials necessary to prove his visa status. The “Electronic Gate Pass” replaces the system whereby passports were stamped. At the airport, this card allows the traveler to exit the arrival terminal without further delays.

The Gate Pass is an official form of identification while in Israel. We ask all tourists to keep the card at hand at all times as proof of their visa status. At the airport and designated Land Crossings, this card allows the traveler to exit the arrival terminal and continue to the luggage pickup area.

The tourist is asked to keep the card at hand at all times.

​Tourist Visas

We welcome visitors to Israel. Many countries have a Visa Waiver Program with Israel, which allows their citizens to visit Israel without a visa arranged in advance. Before embarking on a trip, visitors desiring to stop in Israel on their way to other destinations must check if they need a prearranged tourist visa. The list of countries in the following link specifies from which countries tourists are required to present a prearranged visa.

https://www.gov.il/en/subjects/certificates_and_passports/tourist_visas

All Visa Waiver Program travelers must present a machine-readable passport at the port of entry in order to enter Israel without a prearranged visa; otherwise, a visa is required. This applies to tourists arriving with a passage card from countries with a Waiver Program.

Extension of Your Stay ​Your visa can be extended (fee required) at the Ministry of the Interior office closest to you, please call their call center at: *3450 or dial 12223450.

Immigration & Customs

Passport Control

Upon arrival in Israel, visitors go to passport control and must present a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of their departure. Please note, Israel has incorporated a new and modern technological system instrumental in meeting the needs of the various Immigration, security, Airport and Tourism authorities as well as providing the tourist with the credentials necessary to prove his visa status without stamping the passport. At a press of a button, the Border Control station will print a card including the principle details of the traveler as in the first page of the passport. The card will also depict the date of arrival and visa information. This card is called The “Electronic Gate Pass”.

The Gate Pass is an official form of identification while in Israel. We ask all tourists to keep the card at hand at all times as proof of their status. Arrival by Air and Land Crossings – Incoming travelers continue to the passenger luggage area after having their passports inspected. Carts are at their disposal. From there, they continue to customs control and to the airport exit.

Information Regarding Israel’s Land Gateways​

General information regarding the laws and policies of the Customs Authority can be downloaded: https://taxes.gov.il/English/Pages/Guides.aspx

Please make note that travel through Allenby Bridge Crossing has specific limitations and directives. For example, visitors passing through the Allenby Bridge between Israel/Jordan may carry no more than the cash value of 2000 Jordanian Dinars.

Customs and V.A.T. for Tourists:

https://taxes.gov.il/English/Vat/Pages/VatLobby.aspx Aside from Allenby Bridge Crossing, and for all other Gateways including airports, the following tourist guide is relevant for visitors as defined by the Customs and Tax Authority: https://taxes.gov.il/English/Vat/pages/guides/vat-refund-for-tourists.aspx https://taxes.gov.il/English/customs/PersonalImport/Pages/CustomsTuristGuide.aspx Please note: there is a two-lane customs transit system, one green and the other red, at Ben Gurion Airport and the various Crossing Points. Visitors who do not have goods to be declared may go through the green lane at the exit from the passenger arrival hall.

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The Blue, Green, and Orange Cards 

Passes to israel's national parks and reserves .

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority offers a special tourist passes that afford you entry to a fixed number of national parks. The passes are valid for two weeks from first entry and come in three versions:

Blue (3 entries) - 78 Shekels

Green (6 entries) - 110 Shekels

Orange (all parks) - 150 Shekels

The passes do not include the Masada cable car. Cards may be purchased at many of the parks or reserves and are not available online. There are 65 National Parks and Reserves in Israel. You may want to call ahead to make sure the park or reserve you wish to visit has these cards in stock (see link below).

Most park and reserve hours are as follows, winter 8 AM - 4 PM (Friday until 3 PM). Summer hours: 8 AM - 5 PM (Friday until 4 PM).

Some locations are open until 6 PM during the summer. Check for holiday hours. For recorded information, you may call a toll free number in Israel, 1-800-546-666, or visit the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

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Rav-Kav is the Israeli public transportation card and if you’re planning on using public transportation on your trip to Israel then this post is going to be extremely helpful.

Rav-Kav in a nutshell

• If you plan on using buses in Israel, you must have a loaded Rav-Kav! You can’t buy one from the bus driver
• Each individual needs their own card. You can’t pay for two rides with one card
• As a non-Israeli, you will need the anonymous Rav-Kav card
• I recommend getting the Rav-Kav card at the airport
• You can load either a day contract or stored value
• Once you charge the card, you can’t get the money back

Where can you purchase a Rav-Kav?

There are loads of places where you can get a Rav-Kav card: bus stations, train stations, and shops like Super-Pharm (a chain of pharmacies) and AM:PM (a city-wide supermarket). I would recommend getting one at the airport when you land. In the welcome hall, next to the exit, there’s a ticket counter called the ‘Public Transportation Information Center’. Here there will be someone who can sell you a Rav-Kav card. If the office is closed, there’s also a machine you can buy it from. I recommend getting a Rav-Kav as soon as you can because while you can buy a paper ticket for the train, you can’t pay for a bus ride on the bus. A card costs 5 shekels, which is around a dollar and a half, and once you have it you will need to charge it. Each individual person needs a card, so if you are a couple you will need two cards. Children under the age of five don’t need to pay for public transportation.

How do you charge your Rav-Kav?

As a non-Israeli tourist, you will need to purchase the anonymous Rav-Kav, which is the simple card without a photo and Israeli ID. This means you won’t be able to get a student or pensioner discount, but that’s not really a big deal as public transportation is so cheap.

Stored value

You can also charge your card at all the places where you can buy a Rav-Kav. You can charge your card with two different kinds of tickets. The card itself is useless if it hasn’t been charged, so let’s charge it now. There are three options. The simplest is ‘New single ride contract’, which is basically a card with one ride. It costs 10.5 shekels as the card costs 5 shekels and a single ride costs 5.5 shekels.

You also have the option of charging value onto the card and storing it for future rides. So you can choose to charge 30, 50, 100, 150 or 200 shekels onto the card. You should be aware that you can’t get your money back if you haven’t used it all up. So if you charged the card with 100 and used only 30, then you have lost 70. You can try to work out approximately how much you will use before charging the card.

Daily contract

If you’re planning on using public transportation a lot, for example, taking the light rail to the bus station and taking a bus to Masada and back, you can save money by buying a daily contract. Another option on the ticket machine is a ‘New Daily Contract’. If you’re in Jerusalem and planning on using the light rail and the buses in Jerusalem more than twice a day, it is better value to buy a daily pass. A daily pass in the city costs 12.50. There are two important things you need to know: you have to validate the ticket on every ride you take if you have 30 shekels of stored value, you can’t use that to buy a daily contract. A daily contract and stored value are two different things.

If you’re in  Jerusalem  and want to take the train to  Tel Aviv , use the buses there, and then get back to Jerusalem, which daily ticket do you need? There are different daily tickets depending on the distances you’re going to travel. You can either go to the ticket office and ask or you can use the  Rav-Kav app , which you can download and play with before you arrive. You can load it either at the machine or via your phone. You need to hold your card next to your phone and then it tells you that it’s been successfully charged. If you’re next to the main station, you can also do it at the ticket office.

Validating your Rav-Kav

Whether you have bought a daily pass or are using stored value, you will need to validate your Rav-Kav when you get on the bus or the light rail. You can do that by holding your Rav-Kav close to the validation machine.

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Full Guide to Public Transportation in Israel

“How will I get around?” That’s one of the main questions people ask before arriving in an unknown country. In Israel, you can choose to explore the country in various ways. You can join an organized tour, rent a car, or use different forms of public transportation. In this post, I’ll try and make public transportation in Israel a bit easier for you.

Let’s start with the two most important things you need to know when using public transportation in Israel: Shabbat and the Rav Kav.

Table of Contents

Public transportation on Shabbat in Israel

Shabbat is the holy day of the week for the Jewish people. It begins on Friday evening and ends on Saturday night. According to the Jewish religious laws, you cannot ride or drive a vehicle during Shabbat. Israel is a Jewish democracy. That’s why most public transportation does not operate on Shabbat.

Taxis operate on Shabbat. There are also some places where there is public transportation. For example, Palestinian buses operate in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Some public transportation lines also operate in Haifa because it is a city of both Jews and Arabs. And some private transport companies operate in the main cities. Lately, Tel Aviv has started operating free public lines on Shabbat (read more on their website – Weekend Transportation ). But other than those, most public lines do not operate from Friday evening to Saturday night. You should take this into account when planning your trip.

Need to travel on Shabbat? Learn about transportation options on Shabbat in Israel.

The Rav Kav, Israel's public transport card

The Rav Kav is Israel’s public transportation smartcard. It is how you pay for bus and train rides in Israel. On some buses (like the bus to Eilat ) and on trains, you can still buy a ticket in the ticket office. But on most buses, you will need a Rav Kav or a public transport payment app , which I’ll write about later.

Where can you get the Rav Kav?

Are you landing at Ben Gurion Airport? If so, you can get the card at the Public Transportation Service Center at the airport. It’s located in the Arrivals Hall. The service center is open Sundays to Thursdays from 8 AM to 1 PM and from 1:30 PM to 6 PM.

If you’re landing at Ramon Airport, there’s supposed to be a service center there, too. And if you can’t make it to any of those centers, you can get the card at any service center in the main cities or central bus stations. Tourists can pick up a special Rav Kav for tourists at Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Read more about this Rav Kav here.

How much does the Rav Kav cost?

Someone told me that tourists can get the card for free by showing their passports. If not, it costs 5 ILS to purchase the card. Then, you will need to load it with money to use it.

You can load money in several ways:

• Daily Pass: This all-day pass is good if you’re planning to take at least three rides in one of the cities. Keep in mind that you can board as many buses as you want in the city within 90 minutes and still pay the same price. Following the “ One Way ” revolution, there are multiple daily passes based on distances, each one in a different color. If you’re traveling within a city, the yellow one should be enough. If you’re traveling outside the city, check your travel distances. It is a personal pass, so there is no way to share it with other people.
• Nation-Wide Monthly Pass: Now, you can use a nationwide monthly pass to travel all around Israel for only 225 ILS! If you want to use the train, too, you will need to purchase the unlimited monthly pass, which includes both bus and train, so you will need to pay more. It starts from 255 ILS. If you’re going to travel more than 225 km, you will need to pay 610 ILS for the pass. And it’s personal, so there is no way to share it.
• “Stored Value”: With stored value, you can load 30, 500, 100, 150, or 200 ILS to the card. With the “stored value” you can buy several tickets using the same card on the bus. On the light-rail train in Jerusalem, it isn’t possible to do that. In the past, you got additional value when loading the “Stored value”, but since the “ One Way ” revolution in public transport, you only get what you load.

For more information about options and prices, check out the Rav Kav website.

Where can you load your Rav Kav?

I recommend loading it in central bus stations and train stations. But, there are loading points all around the main cities, wherever you see the “Charge your Rav Kav here” sign. In Jerusalem, there are plenty of points on Jaffa Street and inside the Old City. In Tel Aviv, there are some points around Rothschild Boulevard and a lot of points near Gordon Beach. You can also load your Rav Kav by using the machines at the new Dan Kal light rail stations. You can load money with shekels or a credit card.

If your phone has an NFC feature, you should also be able to load money using the HopOn  app or the official Rav Kav app . Make sure to load before getting on the transportation. 

How do you validate your ticket?

There are several ways to validate your public transport card:

• On buses – There are several Rav Kav scanners on every internal bus. Place your card on the card scanner and wait for the green light, which confirms you’ve paid for the ride.
• On trains – Simply place your Rav Kav on the station barrier, and it should open. You’ll need to swipe the card again at your exit station so it can calculate how much you need to pay. If you don’t have money on your card, you’ll need to load it at the station.
• On the light-rail train in Jerusalem – Place your Rav Kav on the scanner when entering the train and wait for the green light, which confirms you’ve paid.
• On the Dan Kal light-rail train in Tel Aviv –  At the underground stations, there are station barriers.  You need to place your loaded Rav Kav on the barrier or scan a barcode with your public transport application to open the gateway. At the regular stations, there are validation stands where you need to validate your ticket before boarding the train. There is no way to validate your ride on the train itself. 

Useful public transportation apps for your trip in Israel

Google Maps – This is my favorite. It has great maps in English and you can use it to see exactly where you need to go. It also shows the LIVE bus arrival times. You can also try the Offline Maps.

Moovit – A good navigation app for public transportation. It is possible to type destinations in English, but the map is in Hebrew. It shows you approximate LIVE bus arrival times, but I’ve noticed that it’s less accurate than Google Maps. Also, it underestimates the time it takes to get from one point to another. I always multiply the time it shows, so I won’t be late. Lately, Moovit has also added an option to pay on public transportation rides directly from the app.

HopOn (Rav-Pass)- I downloaded this app a few months ago and use it every time I use public transportation. It’s a great app for paying for public transportation! Instead of using the Rav Kav card, I use HopOn to pay directly through the app. Paying on buses is a bit complicated because you need to scan a barcode, choose the bus line, and then choose your destination. But, paying on the train or light rail is very easy. The payment is reduced from my credit card at the end of every month.

More public transport payment apps include Pango and Cello, which are originally parking payment apps.

Should you pay with the Rav Kav or use a payment app?

The prices are the same on Rav Kav and the payment apps. The only difference is that with the payment apps, you don’t have to know your travel plans in advance. The app will calculate the most profitable price for the travels you made and deduct that price from your credit card. So, personally, I would use the payment apps.

Main public bus companies in Israel

Where will you find Egged buses?  Almost everywhere. Egged is the biggest bus company in Israel. They usually operate as intercity buses, except for some cases in Northern Israel. Egged is also the main player in most Israeli cities, except for the Tel Aviv area. Their buses are completely green. Lately, they’ve also added a fleet of greyish buses.

Check for routes and timetables through the Egged website.

Where will you find Dan buses? In the central area of Israel. This bus company is the strongest in the Tel Aviv area. The Dan buses are white, with a blue stripe all along the bottom.

Good to know:  You can use your credit card or Google Pay to pay for the ride on Dan buses in Tel Aviv. Using a Rav Kav or public transportation app would be better if you’re using public transport a lot, but if you only want to take a one-time ride or you still don’t have the Rav Kav, it’s useful. From what I know, Dan is currently the only bus company in Israel that permits paying with credit card. 

Nateev Express

Where will you find Nateev Express buses? In the northern regions of Israel. You will need to take it to reach Safed, for example. There’s no Nateev Express line from Tel Aviv or from Jerusalem. so if you need to use this bus company, you’ll need to take a bus ride to a different northern town, such as Karmiel or Afula, and take Nateev Express from there. The Nateev Express buses are white and orange.

Arab-run buses

Those buses operate in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. They are mostly colored white with blue or green stripes of them. Most of those buses depart from the East Jerusalem Central Bus Station on Sultan Suliman Street near Damascus Gate. Check the main East Jerusalem lines here.

Taxis in Israel

Taxis are very common in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and you can hail them down from the street. Outside of those cities, you’ll see fewer taxis on the streets. If you plan to use a taxi, you should download Gett, which is the leading app for ordering taxis in Israel. With Gett, you can order a taxi wherever you are and pay through the app. You can also use Uber, but in Israel, it’s just like ordering a regular taxi.

Rides inside cities will usually cost between 25 to 70 ILS, depending on the distance. The fare goes up during Shabbat. Taking a taxi from the airport to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv should cost around 150-300 ILS. There are also Sherut Taxis (Shared Taxis) from the airport, which are much cheaper. Learn more about transportation from the airport.

Taxis in Israel are white with a yellow cap. Sherut taxis usually have more yellow on them. Starting 18 August 2019, you can use your Rav-Kav on sherut taxis number 4 and 5 in Tel Aviv (but not on Shabbat, only on weekdays).

Getting around Israel with public transportation

Egged buses run regularly between the main cities in Israel. You can catch them from the main bus stations in each city. Some towns are reachable only by other bus companies. For example, Safed is reachable by Nateev Express. You can find suitable routes by using Google Maps or Moovit app.

Prices between the cities change. Between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the price is 18 ILS per way. But, if you take a bus to a farther distance, it will cost you more. For example, a bus from Jerusalem to Eilat costs 70 ILS. You can check the price beforehand by using the Egged website.  

Buses also stop at main attractions such as Masada and Ein Gedi. Again, it is best to check the route on the Egged site.

If you are traveling to or from Eilat

It’s recommended to book a seat in advance. If the bus will be full, the driver might not let you board the bus. If he or she will, then you might find yourselves standing the entire way. If you plan to take a ride to Eilat and back, it’s also recommended to book the return ticket when booking the first ticket because that will save you a few shekels. Learn how to buy a bus ticket to or from Eilat in advance.

The Israel Railway is well-connected throughout the country. It can take you from Nahariyya or Acre (Akko) in the north to Be’er Sheva in the south. Though, you’ll need to change some lines for that route.

If you want to visit Haifa, Netanya, Acre, Beit She’an, Tel Aviv, and Be’er Sheva, this could be a good option for you. There’s also a new train to Jerusalem that passes through Ben Gurion Airport. Prices change according to destination. If it’s farther away, it’s more expensive. You can check fares on the Israel Railway site. See the full list of stations and lines here . 

Public transportation in Jerusalem

Most main attractions in Jerusalem are very near each other. This means you can easily walk between them. You may want to use public transportation from the central bus station to the city center. Or, you can use public transportation to reach far points, like the Israel Museum, Yad Vashem, and Mount Herzl.

Learn more about getting around Jerusalem here .

In Jerusalem, there are three types of transportation:

The light-rail train (or the tram)

This is the easiest way to get around Jerusalem. It costs 6 ILS for a one-way ride. You need a Rav Kav or a payment app to ride the tram. You must validate your Rav Kav or payment app the moment you board the train. Ticket inspectors get on the train very often, sometimes even twice during one ride.

The light-rail train currently (July 2023) has only one line that connects most main points around the city. It is very frequent during the morning and afternoon hours. At night, its frequency drops, and a train arrives every 15 minutes or so. It drives a bit slow, but during rush hours (7-9 AM and 2-6 PM) it is the best way to get around, as it skips all the traffic jams. During these hours, it can be very-very crowded on the tram and there are never enough seats for everyone, so be ready for that.

The train operates from around 6 AM to midnight. On Fridays, it operates only until around 3:30 PM and on Saturdays, it operates only from around 8 PM.

The main bus company operating in Jerusalem is Egged. You have to use the Rav Kav to take a ride on the buses in Jerusalem, and the card must be preloaded before you board the bus. A bus ride costs 6 ILS. If you get on another bus within 90 minutes of your first boarding, you get a free pass. But you still have to validate your card.

Buses in Jerusalem can get you anywhere, but it can be a bit tricky to take them. Most stations don’t have English signs on them. You will also need to figure out which bus direction you need for your destination.

One of the destinations which you’ll probably need a bus to is the Israel Museum. Line number 66 or 66א goes from the city center to the museum. Try checking possible routes with Google Maps or Moovit.

Another popular way of transportation in Jerusalem is the taxis. Like mentioned before, taxis are white cabs with yellow tops. You can hail them down, but the best way to get a taxi is by ordering it through the Gett app . 

Public Transportation In Tel Aviv

Main attractions in Tel Aviv are a bit farther away from each other compared to Jerusalem. But, you can still walk between most of them if you’d like. The main way to get around Tel Aviv is by bus and the sherut taxis. 

In Tel Aviv, there are five types of transportation:

The light-rail train (Dan Kal)

The light-rail train opened in Tel Aviv in August 2023, so it’s pretty new! Currently, there is only one line – the Red Line – running through five different cities, including Tel Aviv.  It costs 6-12 ILS per ride, depending on your destination. Visit NTA’s website for more information about the Dan Kal in Tel Aviv .

The main bus company in Tel Aviv is Dan. The ride costs 6 ILS, and you have to use a Rav Kav, so make sure to load it before boarding the bus. Bus stations don’t always have signs in English. Try checking which station and which bus line you need through one of the apps I suggested at the beginning of the post.

Sherut taxis

They look like big taxis and have room for about 10-12 passengers. They have specific routes, which they take through Tel Aviv. You can see their line number on the windshield and if it’s good for you, you can wave for it to stop and get on it. Then, you can sit down and ask the driver how much to pay him for a ride to your stop (it should be around 7-10 ILS for a ride inside the city). It is not possible to use Rav Kav on the sherut taxis. Edit : Starting from 18 August 2019 it is possible to use Rav-Kav on sherut lines 4 and 5 (not during Shabbat, only on weekdays).

The sherut taxis have fixed routes, so it’s not like regular taxis. The two most popular lines are line number 4, which goes from Central Bus Station through Allenby and Ben Yehuda streets to the Tel Aviv Port, and line number 5, which goes from Central Bus Station through Rothschild avenue, the Dizengoff Center, Dizengoff street Nordau Street, Ibn Grvirol Boulevard to Weitzman Street and Kikar Hamedina.

What’s good with the sherut taxis is that they operate on Shabbat.

Of course, there are also the regular taxis, which are very popular in Tel Aviv. While Gett is the most popular taxi ordering app in Jerusalem, the most popular one in Tel Aviv is Yango.  

The Israel railway has four stations in Tel Aviv: University, Savidor Center, HaShalom, and HaHagana. Most likely is that you’ll only use it to get into the city and out of it. But, as I’ve already mentioned, you’ll need to buy your ticket at the ticket vendor area using the ticket machines or through the vendor, and only then will you be able to proceed through the train station barrier. You can also use your Rav Kav.

Taking public transportation might take you more time to travel around Israel, but it will usually be cheaper. There are plenty of ways to get around, including buses, taxis, trains, and even trams. Hope you’ll have an easy trip in Israel!

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[…] do about it? If you have plenty of time in Israel, you can use public transportation (check out my Full Guide to Public Transportation in Israel), but if you don’t have too much time and want to see as much as you can – don’t […]

[…] And if you need to know more about public transportation, check my post – Full Guide to Public Transportation in Israel. […]

[…] We planned on taking a train from Ben Gurion Airport-Station to Jerusalem Central-Bus-Station, From Tel Avis Airport to Jerusalem – Tips you need to know (youtube) A friendly guard at the entrance to the train station helped us purchase a ‘RAV KAV’ smartcard at one of the electronic kiosk’s, which accepted our US credit card. We added the amount for a Daily Pass to our card, which we used later that day. Full guide to public transportation in Israel. […]

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How to Visit to Israel Like a Pro: 20 Essential Travel Tips

Last Modified: April 8, 2024 //  by  Anda //   32 Comments

Israel is a very controversial country, guaranteed to raise tensions and emotions, regardless of your political views or religious convictions. War and political turmoil have been the norm here for thousands of years, so traveling to Israel can be a little intimidating. But if you know what to expect, you’ll have a great experience when visiting Israel. In this post I will give you some travel tips that will help you better understand Israel and make the most of your visit here.

Table of Contents

1. Getting acquainted with Israel’s history really helps

2. food is really good, 3. everything in israel is expensive, 4. prices are negotiable, 5. renting a car vs. using public transportation, 6. tipping is not mandatory, but is expected, 7. english is spoken almost everywhere, 8. israel is really small, 9. everything closes down on shabbath, 10. religious holidays are very strictly observed, 11. jerusalem is dead on weekends, 12. there is an obvious military presence, 13. getting in and out of israel is a lengthy process, 14. what’s the best time to travel to israel, 15. what to pack for israel, 16. is it safe to travel to israel, 17. what plugs to pack for israel, 18. is wifi widely available in israel.

• 19. Are drones allowed in Israel?

20. What time zone is Israel on?

Essential travel tips for israel.

If this is your first time in Israel you probably have many questions on your mind. So did I when I started planning our trip. And although I tried to inform myself the best that I could, there were still a few things that caught me by surprise when I arrived. Therefore I decided to put together a list of tips and useful information for traveling to Israel.

Planning to visit Jordan while you are in Israel? Read these useful travel tips for traveling to Jordan .

This guide will cover some of the most common questions asked before traveling to Israel. Like what to expect, when is the best time to go, or what costs are involved. So here is what every visitor should know before going to Israel.

One of the biggest travel mistakes people make when visiting other countries is not getting themselves acquainted with the local history. Of all the travel tips that I’m about to give you, this is perhaps the most important one: learn a little about Israel’s history!

The archeological sights in Israel are not particularly impressive, unless of course you know what you are looking at. Unlike the pyramids of Egypt that will impress regardless of how much you know about them, in Israel you’ll encounter places infused with religious and historical meaning that will make no sense to you unless you know their history.

Israel’s history goes back to ancient times and much of what we know about it comes from the Hebrew Bible. According to it, Israel’s origin starts with Abraham, who is considered the father of both Judaism (through his son Isaac) and Islam (through his son, Ishmael).

Although the Land of Israel was occupied by many nations over the centuries, the Jewish people have always been a physical, cultural, and religious presence here.

Food in Israel is extremely diverse and generally very good. A well known favorite is falafel – small fried balls of mashed chickpeas, usually served with pita bread and humus.

There are many other Middle Eastern and Arabic dishes whose names I can’t even pronounce, but they are good. Kosher refers to the food that complies with the standards of the Jewish law (for instance, pork and shellfish are not kosher).

Do try all the food in Israel! The worse that can happen is that you won’t like it. For those less adventurous, there is also regular Western style food available. Alcohol is available at many hotels and restaurants, but is rather expensive.

Street food is safe to eat in Israel, but I would stat away from fresh fruit and produce that I didn’t wash and prepare myself. Exercise caution even with cooked food. If it doesn’t look or smell right, don’t assume that’s how it’s supposed to be. Just don’t eat it.

Israel is an expensive country to visit. Almost everything here costs a lot: hotels, food, entrance fees, clothes, electronics, etc. Basically you pay more for the same commodity than you would pay in other parts of the world. Besides that, they have a huge sale tax of 17% that is applied to most goods and services. A trip to Israel will cost you a lot, so be prepared for that.

One thing I noticed is that speaking English will make prices go a little higher that they actually are.

You can exchange money almost everywhere in Israel. The exchange rate for the US Dollar is currently around 3.5 – 3.7 Israeli Shekel, but of course this will vary according to the time of your travel.

Bartering I one of the most important tips for people who travel to Israel. Learning to bargain will save you not only money, but also a lot of frustration. Exactly like in Istanbul , where you don’t walk into the Grand Bazaar and pay the first price you are asked to pay, in Israel almost everything is negotiable.

Israeli people expect to get a discount on all major purchases, so the listed price is calculated accordingly. Except for cars, almost everything else is open to negotiation. That’s counterintuitive if you are coming from the USA, where you can only negotiate the car or the real estate prices.

If you are not an expert driver with nerves of steel, don’t drive in Israel. Although roads are in good condition, getting in and out of any city is a nightmare! Leave alone driving in places like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or Haifa! Road signs are bad and traffic if always heavy.

Using planning public transportation on the other hand works really well. Bus schedules are set up very conveniently and the train system is simple and easy to use. It’s hard to get lost.

You’ll most like have to use Taxis in some situations, so be prepared to negotiate the price before you hop on the cab.

Hitchhiking is definitely not recommended in Israel, especially in the current political situation.

Tipping in Israel is discretionary but expected, similar to most of the Western world. Unlike in the USA, where you are expected to tip between 15% – 20%, in Israel the tip is between 10 -15%. The minimum is at least 10%, the average is 12% and maximum is 15% (for exceptional service).

Waiters and bartenders get a relatively low salary, so the majority of their earnings coming from tips. Tips are usually left in cash not on card, so it is useful to carry some small change with you.

Tipping the taxi drivers, hotel personnel and other people in the travel industry is not usually expected. However, they will not mind a tip if you decide to be generous.

Unlike in Morocco , where English is rarely spoken, in Israel is widely spoken. The country’s official language is Hebrew, but you’ll also hear Arabic, English, Russian and some other languages.

Although English doesn’t have an official status, most Israelis can speak it fairly well as it’s a required second language in schools. As such, you’ll be able to communicate in English almost anywhere you go. However, learning a few Hebrew words will put you ahead of the game in Israel.

• Shalom  – is used as a salutation, but it actually means peace
• Bevakasha  – please
• Slicha  – sorry/excuse me
• Boker Tov – good morning
• Erev Tov – good evening
• Mazel Tove – congratulations/good luck
• Toda/Toda Raba  – thank you/thank you very much
• Lehitra’ot – good bye/see you later

It’s surprising to discover how small Israel really is. The total area of the State of Israel is 22,145 square kilometers (8,630 square miles), just slightly bigger than the state of New Jersey. Getting from one end of the country to the other doesn’t take long, which means it’s very easy to take day trips. You can use either Jerusalem or Tel Aviv as a base for exploring the important sights in Israel.

If you are not completely ignorant about the Jewish religion, you’ve probably heard about Shabbath before. Sabbath (or Shabbath ) is Judaism’s most distinctive practice – a 25-hour celebration that starts at sundown on Friday and ends after sundown on Saturday.

In Israel Shabbat is more than just a day off from labor. It’s a unique and special time of physical respite meant to be spent with family and loved ones or for worship, if you are a religious person.

Wherever you go when you travel in Israel, make sure you get there before 4 o’clock on Friday. On Shabbat all public services are closed (except for emergency ones). There are no train and no busses working.

Traveling in Israel during any of the Jewish holidays can be a very frustrating experience for a tourist. Especially for those of us living in America, who became so accustomed to 24 hour open stores!

In Israel religious holidays are very strictly observed. Most places close down, including restaurants, cafés and public transportation. On Yom Kippur (the Hebrew Day of Atonement) everything closes down. Even Ben Gurion International Airport! No one drives on that day, and the roads are completely empty. So be prepared to do nothing on this day if you are in Israel.

If you are not religious and you are a tourist for which every single day counts, don’t stay (or travel to) Jerusalem on weekends. From Friday night to Saturday night everything closes down in Jerusalem, so there is not much you can do here.

Instead, plan to go to a more secular place like Tel Aviv or to Haifa, where everything stays open on weekends.

You are going to be seeing a lot of armed soldiers while visiting Israel, so don’t be alarmed. The presence of barbed wire and armed soldiers is nothing new in this country that has been in political turmoil for so long.

Despite the many frictions in the region, Israel is a pretty safe country to visit and the weapons you see are there for defensive purposes.

Not all the soldiers you’ll come across are on active duty however. Some are young people doing their military service. Army service is mandatory in Israel. Both girls and boys are drafted at 18 and serve a minimum of two years.

Border control is way lengthier and more thorough in Israel than in any other countries we visited so far. You’ll need to get an Israeli passport stamp , so the best advice I can give you is to arm yourself with patience when traveling to Israel.

When entering Israel you have to answer a series of routine questions (why are you there, how long will you stay, etc. etc. If you don’t look suspicious the process will be very smooth. But if you have passport stamps from certain Muslim countries (such as Iran, Lebanon, or Pakistan), you’ll have to go through a special interrogation process that will take quite a while.

Israel no longer stamps your passport on arrival, which is good news if you plan to visit other countries in the Middle East for which an Israeli visa may be a problem. Instead, you’ll get your visa on a piece of paper which you need to keep this safe, as you’ll need it for your departure.

You may expect an even lengthier process as you are leaving Israel, so plan to be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure. At the Security Check they will ask you to open your bag of electronics and they will check each and every one of them.

Practical Travel Tips for Israel

Deciding when to go to Israel depends in large part to what you are interested in doing while you are there. While there is no wright or wrong time to go, there are however a couple of things that you need to consider when planning your trip: climate and Jewish holidays .

There are basically two seasons in Israel: summer (April to late October) and winter (November to March). Summers are hot and humid in Israel, bur rain free. Winter starts when it gets from cool to cold and it begins raining). Generally it doesn’t snow in Israel, except for the mountain areas in the Golan Heights.

Another important tip to consider when you travel to Israel are the Jewish holidays. In Israel there are two calendars: the Gregorian calendar and the Jewish calendar, but most religious holidays are based on the Jewish calendar.

Even though it’s interesting to be in Israel during some of these holidays, you’ll have to remember everything closes down during that time: public transportation, banks, stores, etc. Also, hotel prices will be much higher.

When traveling to Israel it’s important to be conscious of what you wear. While places like Tel Aviv, Jaffa, or Haifa are more open-minded and fashion-forward, in cities like Jerusalem modest clothing is recommended. Don’t bring tank tops, shorts or anything above the knees.

With very few exceptions, just about everything you would pack for Europe you can pack for Israel as well. As a general rule however, think convenience before fashion. Here are a few tips on what to pack when you travel to Israel:

• A scarf and a long-sleeve top, if you are a woman and plan on visiting the religious sites. Some sites may provide a cover up, but it’s better to have your own.
• Light-weight clothing is the best for summer months. We traveled here in mid October and the temperatures were above 30ºC and very humid.
• A light jacket and some sweaters for colder months.
• Comfortable shoes are a must in Israel, especially in Jerusalem.
• Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion. You won’t be able to get by without them in this torrid sun.
• Wet wipes, small roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer. Carry some in your pockets at all times. Many times the public toilets will not have toilet paper or soap.
• A small umbrella. Rain may come totally unexpected in Israel, but it usually stops just as sudden as it started.

Israel is overall a pretty safe country. However, considering its fast changing security situation, it’s important to exercise a some caution when traveling to certain areas, like East Jerusalem, or the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah.

If you want to visit the West Bank, I would advice hiring a cab from the Muslim quarter in Jerusalem, or booking an organized tour. Many cab drivers in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem will offer to take you to the West Bank, but I’m not sure how safe that is. If you are not in an organized group, you may have issues at the border.

One thing to be mindful in Israel is that authorities are always on high alert. So don’t leave your purse, camera, or anything else unattended. People will assume it’s a bomb and the bomb squad will come and search your purse and interrogate you.

The standard voltage in Israel is 220 volts and 50 Hz. The primary socket is type H (plugs with three pins in a triangular shape), so you’ll need a Power Adaptor Type H . In many hotels you will probably also find the C type sockets (two pins, like in Europe).

If you are coming from the U.S. you’ll need both a plug adaptor AND a voltage converter. Coming from Europe or other countries that have 220-230 voltage systems, you’ll only need a plug converter . Most modern devices such as mobile phones and laptops have a built-in converter, but it’s safer if you bring a voltage converter as well.

WiFi is widely available throughout Israel and is usually offered free of charge in most hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. Some small hotels may charge for Internet though.

19. Are drones allowed in Israel ?

Technically, yes. However, there are very many restrictions and you’ll need a permit for using it. Also, like everywhere else in the world, you won’t be able to use your drone in places that are of interest.

If you want to bring your drone to Israel, my advice is to register with the Aero Club of Israel and get a permit. They will provide you with a map of the places where you can fly, and also give you with up to date information about their rules and regulations.

Israel is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT). Daylight Saving time starts on the Friday before the 02 April. The move back to standard time can take place in late September/early October according to the Jewish calendar (between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.)

NOTE : As of June 30, 2023, NO Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination is required for tourists entering Israel.

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Anda is an award winning travel writer, avid globetrotter and passionate photographer. She is the voice behind "Travel Notes & Beyond," a collection of stories and travel impressions from her wanderings around the world. When she is not busy writing, traveling, or editing photographs, you can find her hiking in the foothills behind her house together with her husband and their dog.

Reader Interactions

Sreenandhana

April 2, 2024 at 2:00 am

This is the page that impressed me the most that I have visited, the beautiful description and the page is made in a way that is useful to benefit others without being stingy.

April 2, 2024 at 1:59 am

Time spent on this page is never wasted. Very nice presentation, very nice pictures. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

Santhosh Raghavan

November 2, 2023 at 7:54 am

Dear friend Superb guide you covered almost everything a traveler should look into. I’ve been thinking lately that I would love to visit I am glad to read your blog about your travel experience very interesting thanks. Your personal experiences and vivid descriptions truly bring the city to life, making me feel like I’m right there with you on this incredible journey. Your blog is a wonderful source of inspiration for fellow adventurers looking to explore the magic of. Keep sharing your stories and insights – they’re a delight to read!

November 4, 2023 at 2:15 pm

Thank you for your kind words.

July 16, 2023 at 7:39 pm

You should really educate yourself. Lebanon is NOT a Muslim country per se. There are probably more Muslims in Israel! Further, there are 18 officially recognized religions in Lebanon, Judaism being one of them. Please alter your article to reflect correct information. kind regards Joe.

July 17, 2023 at 8:48 am

What else would you call a country where the great majority of the population is Muslim, Joe? According to the U.S. Department of State, 67.6 percent of Lebanon’s population is Muslim (31.9 percent Sunni, 31 percent Shia, and small percentages of Alawites and Ismailis). Also, Lebanon estimates that only 32.4 percent of the country’s population is Christian. It seems to me that I’m not the one who needs to be educated here, lol!

Michael Guide

April 12, 2023 at 4:49 am

I appreciate you providing this important travel advice for going to Israel. Israel is a contentious nation that has the potential to cause unrest and arouses strong feelings, but I concur that knowing its background is essential to getting the most out of your trip there. Israel is a nation with a long political history and a rich cultural and religious heritage.

I like how you stressed the significance of researching Israel’s history before traveling there. It’s an excellent approach to understanding the significance of the numerous historical and religious places you’ll see while traveling. Keep in mind that Israel is a nation that is ever-evolving and that its history is still being written.

Anyone organizing a first-time trip to Israel will find your guide to be a valuable resource. I appreciate that you addressed often-asked issues like what to anticipate when to go, and the associated expenditures. Before travelling, it’s always beneficial to have a thorough understanding of these concepts.

Overall, I believe that your guide is an excellent place for anyone thinking about visiting Israel to start. It offers useful information that will enable tourists to more fully comprehend and value the rich history and culture of the nation. I appreciate you sharing these helpful travel suggestions!

April 12, 2023 at 9:44 am

Thank you for your thorough review of my article, Michael. I hope to revisit Israel sometime next fall.

April 11, 2023 at 3:17 am

Superb, very useful information. Keep sharing

March 24, 2023 at 10:19 am

Beautiful write and I am fascinated by your blog as much as anyone else. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and ideas here with others. I want to come here again. Thanks kindly visit my Kerala tourism blog, please

July 24, 2022 at 12:30 pm

Ana Hernandez Well , it’s a petty you didn’t enjoy of such an exiting country. Israel semmed to me the extraordinary convergence between history and modernity. Vibrant. and modern Tel Aviv vs traditional fascinating Jerusalem, beautifull beaches beside amazing desserts. Good bargains in “zoco” vs most famous fashion brands and jewelry. Tasty. and delicious food from almost alll around the world. I’m really sorry you didn´t get all that . Hope next time you will be able to discover the real country.

July 24, 2022 at 2:57 pm

I have to confess that your comment left me wondering whether you read one post but commented on another. I can’t figure out what part of this guide made you think that I didn’t enjoy visiting Israel. I absolutely loved this country and tried to give some tips to those who didn’t see it yet. You seem quite confused about what you read.

Patrick Morgan

February 17, 2022 at 8:02 am

Do you have an Amazon link to the power adaptor and voltage regulator?

February 17, 2022 at 11:21 am

I sure do, Patrick. Here it is: Power Adaptor Type H .

Pranita Purohit

September 16, 2020 at 10:05 am

Like me, there are many who want to travel to Israel, but fear due to the political conditions and tussle with the neighboring states. However, after reading your post, the notion that all have about this country will be put to rest forever. You have presented a useful guide in the form of this post. Thank you very much.

September 16, 2020 at 11:33 am

I’m glad to hear that. Hopefully you’ll be able to visit Israel sometimes soon.

August 24, 2020 at 11:40 pm

This is the right guide for those who want to visit Israel. You certainly put a new spin on a subject that has been written about for decades. Great stuff, just excellent!

August 25, 2020 at 2:45 pm

Thanks, Melanie.

July 29, 2020 at 8:06 am

Thank you so much for your the tips.! We are going at the end of the summer, found a good flight deal! I know it will be hot, but I am from the Caribbean so that’s not a problem! can not wait to visit beautiful Israel and experience the culture. Your insights are super helpful to thank you! Have a question! What about at the airport at entering the country is no issue with the drone that I have to register? Do u know anything about it? Thanks

July 29, 2020 at 8:50 am

Hi John, The end of the summer will be hot indeed, but you’ll have a blast in Israel anyway. In regards to the drone, you won’t be able to use it much. My husband is a drone enthusiast too and did a lot of research for that before we traveled to the Middle East. He even registered with aeroclub.org.il, but still didn’t help much. Like everywhere else in the world, the places where it would be interesting to use it, you can’t. He used it secretly a couple of times (once in Acra and once in Tel Aviv) while I was keeping watch, but it’s stressful to use it like this. At any rate, my advice would be to check their website and register anyway. They will provide you with a map of the places where you can use it.

November 6, 2019 at 10:50 am

This is a comprehensive post , I wished I had before visiting Jerusalem. I found the prices to be really expensive , much to my surprise. I was also nervous when seeing so many armed guards around. It is still worth a visit and I would recommend anyone going to read this post!

November 5, 2019 at 8:46 am

Totally agree with you that these are really good to know. My parents are planning to go to Israel and I just shared this post with them.

Thank you for the heads up regarding the prices. I will ask them to adjust their budget accordingly. 🙂

Vanessa Ball

November 5, 2019 at 5:15 am

I’d love to visit Israel and had no idea that it was this small or that things were expensive to buy. The food looks super tasty, I love Arabic dishes. It’s handy to know about the religious holidays and weekends when planning your trip too. This is a really useful article to read before going to Israel.

November 5, 2019 at 3:28 am

I traveled to Israel when I was 15 years old as part of a school trip. We spent 2 months in the country and experienced many facets of it. Many people asked me if I felt safe and I personally never felt safer. Like you mentioned the entire population goes to the army they are all trained and the military is always around. This provided me with a sense of security. Love the tips to learn about history so you understand what you are looking at. And to use public transport – it is very organized and easy to use. The food as you mentioned is great although pricy and I personally loved everything I ate. Wonderful post. Israel is a beautiful country and despite the turbulent history and current political climate it is a great place to visit.

Anda Galffy

November 5, 2019 at 8:24 am

It must have been a great experience for you as a teenager to see how other people live. Thanks for your comment.

Blair villanueva

November 4, 2019 at 9:17 pm

I truly enjoyed readinv your Israel travel guide. As a Philippine passport holder, we got privilege for free travel visa access. It would be great to visit Israel for faith tourism.

E. J Requina

November 4, 2019 at 7:37 pm

Well you pretty much covered everything about Israel. Israel is part of my top places to visit and getting a deep dive of the country helps a lot. Its a bummer when you mentioned that the place is dead on weekends but hey im pretty sure there a lot of things to do the rest of the week.

Linda (LD Holland)

November 3, 2019 at 3:47 pm

We visited Israel for a few days with a cruise ship. So we were probably prepared for some things. But not others. I was certainly surprised to find that it was the religious centre for so many different religions. It was a bit disconcerting to find so many marketing messages on religious souvenirs. We ate in markets when we were out during the day. Even if I am a very bad haggler. We found armed guards in Israel, Jordon and Egypt. So I guess we sort of got used to them. This was a very helpful post. We would like to return on our own to Israel. So I will keep this post for reference.

November 4, 2019 at 12:54 pm

Thank you, Linda.

Laura Axtman

November 3, 2019 at 3:19 pm

What an amazing adventure. I hope to one day be able to travel to Isreal. Your description of the city helped me to understand the current climate and how to navigate the area with the history of war as a consistent reminder. Your photos are great and made me want to visit the region even more.

November 3, 2019 at 1:00 pm

I loved reading all your tips for traveling to Israel. It is at the very top of my bucket list right now, and I’ve heard such wonderful things about traveling there recently. As a Christian, there is so much Religious history that I want to experience. I appreciate the tips you’ve included on tipping, transportation, and electric plugs. Those are things I always research in detail before leaving on a trip!

November 4, 2019 at 12:55 pm

Hope you’ll manage to visit Israel someday, Leah.

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Breaking news, horrifying photo shows college students passed out at mexican pool bar after sipping water they now think was spiked.

A horrifying photograph shows two Oklahoma college students passed out with their heads on a bar after they say they were potentially drugged at a swim-up bar at a resort in Cancun.

Zara Hull, her boyfriend Jake Sinder and their friend Kaylie Pitze were having a pool day with friends when the two young women suddenly passed out after ordering water at the bar.

“We both got water and within two minutes, Jake had turned around and we both hit the bar, heads down at the same time,” Hull told CBS News.

A shocking photograph taken moments after the two got their glasses of water shows both women holding hands with their heads lying on top of the bar, their drinks next to their limp arms.

Hull, who spoke with the outlet from the hospital, said she and her friends believe their drinks were drugged.

“When I tell you, I have never felt like that in my life. I was so heavy to the point where I could not lift up my head or anything. All of a sudden, I started having these seizing compulsions,” she added.

They were rushed to a private hospital, where they felt isolated — and were hit with a huge bill for treatment.

“Basically, it was just me and Zara in this hospital that had hundreds of rooms,” said Snider, Hull’s boyfriend.

“All the locks are on the outside of the room so they can lock you in,” Hull added.

Snider said he didn’t leave Hull’s side at the Mexican hospital, where Hull says she was heavily sedated.

“At this point, they have sedated me so much that I do not know where I am, I have not woken up, I don’t know anything. They put a catheter in me, they had put a ventilator in,” she recalled.

Soon after, the hospital demanded tens of thousands of dollars to provide Hull treatment.

“They had increased the money they wanted. The baseline was $10,000 for them to even look at me,” Hull said.

“They were holding me captive. We’re college students; we don’t have the money they’re asking for.”

Thirty hours later, she secured a private plane and was taken to Dallas, where she has been hospitalized since Saturday.

“When we got here, I could not breathe on my own. They would try to get me off the ventilator, and every time my lungs would just stop,” Hull said. 

Hull has suffered from at least 18 convulsions since the incident.

While her doctors have not found anything wrong yet, they say it is possible she was drugged.

The college student will now require physical therapy to learn how to walk again.

Hull and her friends have not shared the name of the resort or hospital in Mexico out of fear for their safety.

“There’s no telling, and that could put our entire families in jeopardy,” Hull said, adding that she hopes her story can serve as a warning to others.

“We’re not going to leave the United States ever again,” she said.

“They say the resort is the safest place; don’t leave it. That’s not true.”

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Israelis with active COVID-19 cases can print out Green Pass

Health ministry app allows covid-positive israelis to print out green pass, bot which conducts epidemiological investigations crashes..

Israelis who have official coronavirus diagnoses can still issue themselves a Green Pass on the Health Ministry's website and app, N12 reported Monday evening.

According to the report, the Health Ministry systems are supposed to be synchronized ad coordinated in a way which would negate the possibility to receive a Green Pass during the time that one is still contagious and in quarantine.

This coordination and synchronization worked up until now, but lately there have been many reports of it failing, resulting in a severe breach and allowing those who present a danger to the public to print out a Green Pass and enter various public venues.

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Also on Monday night, N12 reported that the Health Ministry's bot which automatically conducts epidemiological investigations for those who have WhatsApp crashed.

In addition, the Health Ministry's COVID-19 dashboard has not been updated since January 16 at 9:00p.m.

Canada raises travel advisory for Israel to 'avoid all travel' due to escalating violence

'the security situation can deteriorate further without warning,' department says.

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Global Affairs Canada on Saturday urged Canadians to avoid all travel to Israel due to "the ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation."

The department's previous travel advisory for Israel only urged against non-essential travel.

The advisory now reads : "Avoid all travel due to the ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation. The security situation can deteriorate further without warning."

Fears of a wider regional conflict and all-out war between Israel and Iran have grown in the wake of recent actions between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group based in neighbouring Lebanon and backed by the Iranian regime. Hezbollah is also allied with Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Tensions grew after a Hezbollah commander was killed by an Israel airstrike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on July 30. Israel alleges that the commander, Fuad Shukr, was behind a rocket strike three days earlier that killed 12 young people on a soccer field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Hezbollah has denied the allegation.

Fears of all-out Middle East war: How we got here

Just hours after Shukr's killing, the conflict spiralled further, this time in the heart of Iran itself. Ismail Haniyeh, the prominent political leader of Hamas, was killed in a targeted airstrike in the capital Tehran. Like Hezbollah, Hamas is also backed by Iran, which blamed Israel for the assassination. Israel refused to comment on it, but after the Oct. 7 attacks on southern Israel, the country said it would target Hamas leaders no matter where they were.

Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire along the border since that day last year, when Hamas and other Palestinian militants led the attack into southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw some 250 others taken into Hamas-controlled Gaza, according to Israeli officials.

Israel's subsequent siege of Gaza has killed more than 39,550 people, according to the enclave's Health Ministry.

• Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Tehran, Iran says
• Israeli military says it killed Hezbollah commander in Beirut airstrike in response to Golan Heights attack

Hezbollah has vowed keep launching rockets at Israel until the latter ceases operations in Gaza.

"If the armed conflict intensifies, it could impact your ability to depart by commercial means. It may result in travel disruptions, including airspace closures and flight cancellations and diversions," Global Affairs Canada said.

The department has previously urged Canadians to avoid all travel to Lebanon for the same reasons.

My comments on the current situation in the Middle East: <a href="https://t.co/zppPKZIfiA">pic.twitter.com/zppPKZIfiA</a> &mdash; @melaniejoly

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Dublin Bus: Free Travel Pass Eligibility

• Last updated Aug 09, 2024
• Difficulty Intemediate

• Category Travel

Dublin Bus is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), providing bus services in Dublin and the greater Dublin area. The company offers a range of services, including the Nitelink (late-night service), a 24-hour service, Airlink (direct routes to and from Dublin Airport), Xpresso (faster services with fewer stops), and more. When it comes to fares, passengers have several options, including purchasing tickets from the driver, using prepaid tickets, or taking advantage of the Leap Card or Free Travel Pass. The Free Travel Pass is a scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection, allowing holders to travel for free on various public transport services in Ireland, including Dublin Bus. This pass is accepted on all Dublin Bus services, and customers with an expired PSC Free Travel Card can still avail of free travel as a temporary measure due to COVID-19.

What You'll Learn

The free travel pass is accepted on dublin bus services, the free travel pass is also accepted by some private bus services, you must show your free travel paper pass to the bus driver when boarding, the free travel pass is valid on all services and children under 5 travel for free, the free travel pass is a card that can be used to pay for travel.

The Free Travel Pass is accepted on a variety of transport services in Ireland, including Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann, Luas, TFI Local Link, and Kilkenny Services operated by City Direct. It is also accepted by many commercial bus services.

If you are using a PSC Free Travel Card, you must hold the card to the validator until you hear a beep or see a green light. If you are using Luas services, you will need to validate your card at the beginning and end of your journey.

TFI staff have a duty to check that you are using a valid pass and that your identity matches the pass.

The Free Travel Pass is also accepted on Dublin Coach services, where holders can now reserve a seat online. To board the bus, you must show the driver your seat reservation ticket along with your Free Travel Pass.

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The Free Travel Pass is a scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). It allows holders to travel for free on public transport services in Ireland. This includes Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann, Luas, TFI Local Link, and Kilkenny Services operated by City Direct.

If you are using a PSC Free Travel Card, you must hold the card up to the validator until you hear a beep or see a green light. For Luas services, you must validate your card at the beginning and end of your journey. It is important to always carry your pass or card with you during your journey, as you may be asked to show it to a driver or inspector.

If you are using the Free Travel Paper Pass, you must show it to the bus driver when boarding the bus. You do not need a ticket to use bus services, but you must carry your pass at all times during your journey.

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The Free Travel Pass is a great way to get around Ireland without having to worry about the cost of transport. The pass is valid on a wide range of public transport services, including Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, Luas, and many commercial bus services. It's important to remember that when boarding a bus, you must show your Free Travel Paper Pass to the bus driver. This is a crucial step to ensure you can avail of free travel.

When using a bus service, you do not need to purchase a separate bus ticket if you have a valid Free Travel Paper Pass. Simply present your pass to the bus driver when boarding, and they will allow you to board without any additional payment. This applies to Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, and some private bus services. However, it's important to note that the Free Travel Pass cannot be used on Airlink services.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has confirmed that transport operators under the Free Travel Scheme will allow customers with a PSC Free Travel Card to continue availing of free travel even if the card has expired. This is a temporary measure due to COVID-19. So, if you have a PSC Free Travel Card, you can still board the bus by showing the expired card to the driver.

In addition to the Free Travel Paper Pass, there is also the option of the PSC Free Travel Card. This card can be used on various transport services, including buses, trains, and private ferry services. When using the PSC Free Travel Card on a bus, you need to touch the card against the validator on the right-hand side as you enter. You will hear a beep or see a green light flash, indicating that your card has been validated.

It's important to always carry your Free Travel Paper Pass or PSC Free Travel Card with you during your journey. This is because you may be asked to show it to an inspector or member of staff at any time. If you are found without a valid pass, you may be charged for your journey. So, remember to keep your pass safe and accessible whenever you're using public transport in Ireland.

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The Free Travel Pass is a fantastic way to get around Dublin, as it is valid on all services, and children under 5 travel for free! This means that you can use it on any Dublin Bus, Luas tram, or commuter train within the city. The Free Travel Scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection (DSP), so any queries about the scheme should be directed to them.

When using your Free Travel Pass on a Dublin Bus, you don't need to buy a ticket. Simply show your pass to the bus driver when you board, and you're good to go. If you have a PSC Free Travel Card, you can also use it on the Luas tram by touching it against the validator when you enter and exit the tram. Just make sure to hold it there until you hear a beep or see a green light.

The Free Travel Pass is also valid on Dublin's commuter trains, which include the DART and commuter rail services within zones 1 to 4 of the Short Hop Zone. This covers a large area of the city, so you can get around easily. Remember that if you're travelling with a companion, you may need to follow special instructions, which are available on the DSP website.

In addition to the Free Travel Pass, Dublin also offers a Leap Card, which is a smartcard ticket that saves you money on your travel. There are two types of Leap Cards: the regular version and the Leap Visitor Card. The regular Leap Card is perfect for commuters or anyone staying in Dublin for more than 7 days, as you can top it up with travel credit as needed. The Leap Visitor Card, on the other hand, is valid for 1, 3, or 7 days and offers unlimited travel on Dublin Bus, Luas, and rail services within the Short Hop Zone.

So, whether you have a Free Travel Pass or a Leap Card, getting around Dublin on public transport is easy and affordable. And with children under 5 travelling for free, it's a great way for families to explore the city too!

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To use the Free Travel Pass on a bus, you must show the pass to the bus driver when boarding. On trains, you must show the pass at the ticket booking desk to receive a free rail ticket. For Luas services, there is no facility to scan the pass, so you simply need to carry it with you during your journey in case an inspector asks to see it.

The Free Travel Pass is also available as a PSC Free Travel Card, which can be used on buses, trains, and private ferry services. To use the card on a bus, you touch it against the validator on the right-hand side as you enter, or place it on the card reader at the bus entrance or by the driver, removing it when you hear a beep. On trains, you touch the card against the validator on the gate or pole at your station, again removing it when you hear a beep. For Luas services, you touch the card against the validator at the beginning and end of your journey.

The Free Travel Scheme also includes a Free Travel Companion Card, which may allow a spouse, partner, cohabitant, or companion to travel with you for free. To use this card, you must follow the same instructions as for the PSC Free Travel Card.

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Frequently asked questions.

Yes, the Free Travel Pass is accepted on Dublin Bus services.

If you have a PSC Free Travel Card, touch the card against the validator on the right-hand side as you enter the bus until you hear a beep or see a green light. If you have a Free Travel Paper Pass, show it to the bus driver when boarding.

The Free Travel Pass is accepted on public transport services across Ireland, including Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Iarnród Éireann, Luas, TFI Local Link, and Kilkenny Services operated by City Direct. It is also accepted by many commercial bus services.

No, the Free Travel Pass cannot be used on Airlink services.

• Melissa Carey Author Reviewer Traveller

• Cagri Burak Author Reviewer Traveller

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Qantas reroutes Perth-to-London flights to avoid Middle Eastern airspace as threat of Israel, Iran and Lebanon conflict intensifies

Qantas has announced it will be redirecting one of its longest international routes over fears tensions in the Middle East could boil over and make it unsafe to fly over the region.

The Australian carrier's decision follows a number of other airlines suspending or altering routes as the threat of a broader conflict between Israel, Iran and Lebanon intensifies.

In recent weeks, Israel has assassinated Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in the Lebanese capital Beirut and hours later is believed to have killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Iran has vowed to retaliate for the killings, prompting fears of air strikes on Israel and a larger regional war.

Qantas' service from Perth to London, which usually takes around 17 hours nonstop, will now make a refuelling stop in Singapore to allow it to carry extra fuel and take an alternative route onwards to London.

The return leg is unaffected by the changes, as are direct Qantas services between Perth and Paris, and Perth and Rome.

"We're making adjustments to some of our flight paths due to the situation in parts of the Middle East as a precaution," a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement.

"We'll contact customers directly if there's any change to their booking."

It is not the first time Qantas has made such a call during the recent conflict in the region, with a similar decision being made in April and in 2020 in the wake of missile strikes on US bases in Iraq .

While a relatively minor change to Qantas' operations, the decision is indicative of deepening concern about safety across busy Middle East airspace in the event Iran or Lebanon launch attacks on Israel in coming days.

The memory of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, shot down by Russian-backed forces over Ukraine more than a decade ago, continues to loom large for the international aviation industry.

Airspace warnings

Qantas' announcement comes as other airlines and countries suspend flights and issue their own warnings.

Air France extended its suspension of flights between Paris and Beirut until August 11, while Italy's ITA Airways further extended its pause on flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 10.

US-based United Airlines and rival Delta Air Lines have also stopped their Tel Aviv flights.

Egypt on Wednesday issued a NOTAM — a safety notice provided to pilots — instructing all of its airlines to avoid Tehran's airspace for three hours early on Thursday morning, later saying it was due to an Iranian military exercise taking place.

Hours later, Britain also issued an advisory to its carriers to avoid Lebanon's airspace. Flight-tracking websites now show no commercial planes are flying to the country.

Similarly, Singapore Airlines stopped flying through Iranian airspace last Friday and is using alternative routes.

On Sunday, Jordanian authorities asked all airlines landing at its airports to carry 45 minutes' worth of extra fuel.

Countries in the region, including Jordan, closed their airspace in April amid Iran's aerial attacks on Israel.

In 2020, Iranian air defence units said they mistakenly shot down Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752, killing all 176 people on board, shortly after it took off from Tehran airport. At the time, they were on heightened alert because of increased tensions with the United States.

A region on edge

All eyes are on Iranian and Lebanese officials after Israel killed the Hamas and Hezbollah top brass in Tehran and Beirut.

It is not clear when retaliatory attacks will begin, with some suggesting Iran may bide its time and hold off launching strikes in the near future.

On Tuesday, the leader of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, used a televised address to declare the response to the assassination of one of his senior commanders would be "strong, effective and impactful".

"Whatever the consequences, the resistance will not let these Israeli attacks pass by," he warned.

"The Israelis are the ones that chose this escalation with Lebanon."

Middle East latest: Israel bracing for attack after Hamas leader killed - as Britons in Lebanon told: 'Leave now'

Israel is bracing itself for a potential multiday attack from Iran and Hezbollah, officials have said, as fears grow over a wider escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the UK and US are among the countries urging citizens to leave Lebanon on "any ticket available".

Monday 5 August 2024 17:20, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Israel bracing for attack as 'wave of missiles' expected
• Iran says it doesn't want regional escalation but must 'punish' Israel
• Flights from Lebanon to London double in price as Britons told: 'Leave now'
• Eyewitness: Inside the inhumane 'safe zone' where Palestinians are crammed in
• Alistair Bunkall: Iran purposefully delaying retaliation against Israel
• Alex Crawford: Inevitable audacious assassinations will expand the war zone

We're pausing our live coverage for the day, but we'll return if there are any major developments later.

Before we go, here is a recap of what's been happening today as tensions rise in the Middle East:

• Israel is bracing for a potential multiday attack by Iran and Hezbollah, an Israeli official has told our US partner network NBC;
• The UK, US, Australia, France, Canada, Japan, Jordan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia have all recommended its nationals vacate Lebanon as soon as possible;
• Ultra-Orthodox Jews have clashed with Israeli police over a supreme court ruling saying their previous draft exemptions were illegal;
• Lebanon has received emergency medical supplies to equip its hospitals for possible war injuries. The World Health Organisation has delivered 32 tonnes of medical supplies;
• Israel returned the bodies of 84 Palestinians to Gaza, though Hamas says none are identifiable and were left in a "state of complete decomposition";
• Israel says it has killed Abdul Fattah Al-Zurai'i - an official in the Hamas-run government in Gaza who it says was involved in militant activities.

Israel hasn't ruled out sending its government to a command bunker that sits underneath the Jerusalem hills amid fear of attacks from Iran and Hezbollah.

The bunker, known as the National Management Centre, was built after the end of the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

It can hold hundreds of people and can reportedly sustain hits from a range of existing weaponry, while it is connected to the headquarters of Israel's defence ministry.

A spokesman for Israel's government was asked today whether the prime minister's office had activated the bunker amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

"I think, like almost every single government or any responsible government around the world, Israel does have procedures to protect the government of this country in times of difficulty," said David Mencer.

"Israel is, of course, no different, and we've had those things in place for many years now. 

"This is a tough neighbourhood to live in, perhaps the toughest neighbourhood in the entire world to live in. 

"We have unfortunately become used to genocidal terrorist regimes, organisations, but also genocidal countries like Iran that seek our destruction."

Israel is hoping it can band together another coalition of countries to help defend it from whatever attack Iran has planned.

There are fears in Israel that Iran is planning an attack with "waves of missiles and drones" fired over several days into the country (see 08.39am post).

The last time Iran openly attacked Israel was in April, when a coalition of countries including Britain, the US, France, and allied Arab states helped intercept missiles fired into the country.

Prior to that attack, Iran provided warning of what was to follow, giving Israel and its allies time to get military preparations in place.

But according to our  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall , it doesn't look like Iran will be so generous this time around.

"They are probably more likely to launch an attack without any forewarning," he says.

"Last time in April, they took about 13 days before launching an attack that kept Israelis on edge. That is happening again. This time, the country is very tense awaiting that."

This video report has more...

Earlier, we brought you news that Israel had returned the bodies of 84 Palestinians to Gaza (see 2.00pm post).

Hamas has since released a statement on its Telegram channel saying that none of the bodies are identifiable as they are in a "state of complete decomposition".

This, the group says, is an attempt from Israel to "double the suffering" of the families of the deceased who want to know the fate of their loved ones.

Hamas has called on the international community to "reject and denounce" what it has labelled as "heinous inhuman practices".

Foreign nationals have been told to leave Lebanon, with many expecting the Hezbollah group based there to be involved in the Iranian response to Israel over the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. 

The UK, US, Australia, France, Canada, Japan, Jordan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia have recommended its nationals vacate the country as soon as possible.

"Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly," David Lammy, the foreign secretary, said on Saturday. 

A group focused on the safe return of Israeli hostages has released an angry statement in response to Palestinian reports that Israel returned more than 80 bodies to Gaza.

Weam Fares, a spokesperson for the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, said today that 84 bodies were handed over at the Kerem Shalom crossing and were taken directly for burial.

"How can it be that the state of Israel gives 80 bodies and receives zero in return?" the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

"How is it possible that the state of Israel, under the leadership of Netanyahu, is returning bodies that are not part of a deal? What about our family members, how long will they be held captive by Hamas in Gaza?

"The prime minister actually shows maximum determination and efficiency in returning the bodies of the Gazans to their families."

There are 115 hostages believed to be held in Gaza, including 41 whose deaths have been confirmed by Israeli authorities. Of the total, 111 were abducted on 7 October.

Last week, the families of hostages held in Gaza held a march and rally in Tel Aviv, where the Hebrew words "300 days in abandonment" were lit up in flames on the beach.

Iran is purposefully delaying its retaliation against Israel to sow fear and give itself more time to coordinate, our  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  says.

Israel has been blamed by Iran for killing Hamas's political leader in Tehran last week, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowing revenge and saying it was Iran's "duty" to avenge the assassination.

It is expected to retaliate with a multiday attack on Israel. This will come from multiple fronts, including from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the north, the Houthis in Yemen to the south and proxies loyal to Iran in Syria and Iraq to the east.

Organising such an attack undoubtedly takes time and strict coordination, which is one reason why a large attack has not yet come.

Another reason is that Iran is able to sow fear into Israelis and the Lebanese, who are anxiously speculating over what might be on the horizon.

"The wait for Iran's response is in part deliberate, I think," says Bunkall.

"The Iranians know that it sort of plays into the psychology of Israelis as they speculate what might be coming. 

"It's also because I think the Iranians are trying to decide exactly what their response is going to be, how to coordinate it with Hezbollah and other proxies. 

"The delay does give particularly the Americans time to get more military assets into the region, to provide a defensive layer for Israel too."

Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign minister, said today that Tehran was not seeking a wider conflict in the region, but added that "punishing Israel is necessary".

Despite Iran's attempt to downplay the idea it would spark an all-out regional war, Bunkall says that decision might now be out of politicians' hands.

"It would not take a very big Iranian retaliation, or from Hezbollah, to force the region into an uncontrollable war," he added.

"And even though that's not what everybody wants, sometimes these events have a habit of running out of the control of the politicians and the commanders who try to orchestrate them."

Israel says it has killed an official in the Hamas-run government in Gaza who was involved in militant activities.

Hamas confirmed that Abdul Fattah Al-Zurai'i was killed alongside his mother in an airstrike yesterday. The statement identified him as the undersecretary of its economy ministry, with no reference to any militant roles.

Israel's Defence Forces identified him as the economy minister and said he also worked in the manufacturing department of Hamas's armed wing.

The IDF also said he had a "significant role" in directing efforts to seize control of humanitarian aid entering Gaza and that he was responsible for the distribution of fuel, gas and funds for "terrorist purposes".

In its own statement announcing his death, Hamas said the killing would not deter it from "performing our national duty towards our Palestinian people".

Lebanon has received emergency medical supplies today to equip its hospitals for possible war injuries.

Tensions in the region have spiralled in the past week after the killings of Hamas's political leader in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate against Israel for the killings, prompting concerns that violence could escalate into a full-blown regional war.

Hospitals in southern Lebanon, where most of the exchanges between Hezbollah and the Israeli military have taken place, have struggled to cope with wounded patients over the past 10 months.

Today, the World Health Organisation delivered 32 tonnes of medical supplies to Lebanon's health ministry, including at least 1,000 trauma kits.

"The goal is to get these supplies and medicines to various hospitals and to the health sector in Lebanon, especially in the places most exposed [to hostilities] so that we can be ready to deal with any emergency," said Lebanon's health minister Firass Abiad.

Israel's finance minister says that blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza might be "justified and moral" even if it causes two million civilians to die of hunger.

Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent leader of the nationalist-religious bloc within Benjamin Netanyahu's government, complained that international pressure meant Israel had "no choice" but to bring in aid.

Speaking at a news conference in Israel, he said the main factor extending the war was the aid sustaining Hamas.

"We can't, in the current global reality, manage a war," said Mr Gallant.

"Nobody will let us cause two million civilians to die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral, until our hostages are returned. 

"Humanitarian in exchange for humanitarian is morally justified, but what can we do? We live today in a certain reality, we need international legitimacy for this war."

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