Home

Welcome
About Me
What's New?
Free Newsletter

In Jerusalem
Where to Stay
Where to Eat
Transportation
Israeli Food
Speak Hebrew

Sightseeing
The Old City
The One Day Tour
Holy Sites
Modern Jerusalem
 Museums
Kids Activities
YOUR Jerusalem

About Jerusalem
In the News
Map of Jerusalem
Photos of Jerusalem
Jerusalem History
Jerusalem Song

Shopping
The Jerusalem Store
Greeting Cards

Travel Info
Useful Info
Is It Safe?
Emergency Numbers
Other Destinations
Travel Resources

About This Site
Contact Us
Site Policies
Site Map

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

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:

Emergency Numbers



Below you'll find a short summary of holy land travel facts. For more detailed information about travel to Israel in general and to Jerusalem in particular, follow the links to each of the topics below to find out more.


Weather in Jerusalem

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.

Many travelers actually prefer the winter season here, when they avoid the summer's high temperatures.


For a season-by-season look at our climate and a daily forcast, see our Jerusalem weather page.


What to Pack

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.

Here's a list of must-bring-with-you items:

  • Comfortable, durable walking shoes, no matter what the season.
  • In the summer:

  • A sun hat

  • Plenty of sunscreen. You can get it here, but it's expensive.

  • A light jacket or sweater. Although days can be scorching, even at the height of summer (July and August) the evenings are mild, sometimes chilly.

  • A swimsuit. After a day of sightseeing, a dip in the hotel pool might be right up your alley. If your hotel has no pool, Jerusalem has a beautiful public pool set in the pine forest of the Jerusalem Mountains.
  • In the winter:

  • Waterproof boots or shoes

  • Warm, waterproof coat

  • An assortment of layering clothing. Because Jerusalem buildings are made of stone, they take a while to adjust to outside temperature changes and central heating is rare. You might have a perfectly warm, sunny day - and then step into a building that's freezing inside. So the best way to go is to wear layers that can be added or removed as necessary.


  • The Time in Jerusalem

    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

    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 Week in Jerusalem

    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

    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.



    Israeli Languages

    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.


    Facts about Israel

    Are you a numbers buff or need some statistics for a school report? Check our page dedicated to Israel facts.





    Return from Jerusalem Travel Information to Home page


    footer for Jerusalem travel page