Jerusalem Travel Information
People often ask us for useful information about Jerusalem travel. This is one of several pages on this website where you'll find answers to frequently asked questions. Can't find what you need to know? Ask us! If you need urgent help with a medical problem or need to contact your consulate or embassy, see:
Spring and summer are the peak times for Jerusalem travel with good reason: then, Jerusalem is blessed with sunny days and balmy nights and no fear of rain. Winters are mild and – in a good year – very wet, with an occasional fairytale like snowfall. When packing for Jerusalem travel, you should be aware that what you wear matters in Jerusalem more than in most other places you might have been. For important information, before you start packing, please read our comment about
modest clothing. In the summer: In the winter:
Jerusalem standard time is UTC/GMT +2. Daylight Saving Time begins on the last Friday in March. It ends on the Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During that the time in Jerusalem is UTC/GMT +3. Current time in Jerusalem:
Israeli currency is the new Israeli shekel. Its abbreviation is NIS. What’s is the Israeli shekel worth today? To use the currency converter below, enter the amount of shekels you would like to convert, then click the convert button. The converter is set by default to change shekels to U.S. dollars. To convert U.S. dollars to shekels, click on the grey drop-down arrows to choose a different currency for the From and To boxes. By changing the currencies in these boxes, you can also use the converter to convert shekels into any other currency or vice versa. Currency Converter The work week in Jerusalem depends on your neighborhood ... Sounds strange? Well, it does take some getting used to! Officially, Israel has a six-day workweek that begins on Sunday and ends on Friday afternoon. Saturday - the Jewish Sabbath - is the official day of rest. The Sabbath begins at nightfall on Friday and ends an hour after nightfall on Saturday. When making your Jerusalem travel plans, take into account that most businesses and restaurants will be closed from Friday noon until Saturday night. Government offices are closed Fridays and Saturdays. There is no public transportation from 90 minutes before the Sabbath until Saturday night. In Arab neighborhoods, however, the Muslim day of rest is Friday and shops may or may not be open. And in Christian areas, Sunday is the day off. For more, see
official and religious holidays.
Israeli food is a unique fusion of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, North African and Eastern European cuisines. One of the exciting things about Jerusalem travel is the opportunity to experience a wide variety of delicious exotic meals. Check out our primer on Israeli food to learn about dishes you ought to try while you're here and recipes so you can enjoy Israeli food at home.
The official Israeli languages are Hebrew and Arabic. Almost anyone you run into will speak some English, though, and if not English, Russian. Learn some
useful Hebrew phrases
or find out what's the best way for you to learn to speak Hebrew. Are you a numbers buff or need some statistics for a school report? Check our page dedicated to
Israel facts.
|
