What you need to know when travelling to Israel
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What you need to know when travelling to Israel

  •   What you need to know when travelling to Israel
  • 3/26/2019
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    We all know the stresses that come when you are planning your next destination holiday. We have decided to make life just a bit easier by breaking down exactly what you need to know when travelling to Israel.

     Visas:

    If you are a South African citizen with a valid passport, you do not need a Visa to travel to Israel. Why? Israel has a visa free agreement with South Africa. You will receive a 90-day tourist visa upon entry in Israel. You must keep this safe, as you will need to present this to airport security when you fly back to South Africa.
    Non-South African Citizens need to find out if their country needs a Visa to enter Israel. You can find this out by clicking here and searching your country, which will inform you if you need a Visa or not.
    As the Embassy of Israel in South Africa we only offer Consular Services to the following countries, countries not mentioned in this list will need to find the closest Israeli Embassy to them.
    Flights:
    There are 3 direct flights to Israel from South Africa, making it convenient for those who don’t want a long layover. If you are religious – do your research if you are travelling on other flights to make sure they offer a kosher meal option.
    Weather:
    Even though Israel is the same size as the Kruger Park, every cities temperature is different. The temperature in summer ranges from 26 degrees – 40 degrees if you are at the Dead Sea. In winter, you are looking at temperatures ranging from 5 degrees to 25 degrees depending where you are staying. Jerusalem is a few degrees colder during the evening even in summer, so it would be wise to take a jacket with you.
    Transport:
    When travelling to a new country, it can be very daunting not knowing where to go. Israel's public transport is very efficient and will get you to where you need to be. Israel has an information desk at the airport that is ready to assist those who are not familiar with transport options. Just outside the Ben Gurion Airport is a train which will take you straight through to Tel Aviv Station. If the train is not open due to maintenance, then the best option would be to download a taxi app as there is wifi at the airport. Israel does not have Uber so keep this in mind, but there are plenty of taxi service apps available. Taxi's are very expensive in Israel so if you can use public transport that would be the best option. If you want to go to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, taking a bus from Tel Aviv's main bus station will take you straight to Jerusalem and from there the light rail is very effective. Alternatively, your hotel can also order a taxi for you if needed.
    Safety:
    Whenever looking at a new destination to travel too, safety of a country is always one of the first "googled" questions. Let us ease your mind! Israel's is very safe. If you find yourself walking back to your hotel in the early hours of the morning after a few beers in Dizengoff Street, you should feel completely safe.
     
    We are sure you might still have some unanswered questions or might want to ask us something we have not covered. Feel free to visit our website: https://embassies.gov.il/pretoria/ConsularServices/Pages/FAQ.aspx or email pr@pretoria.mfa.gov.il