Things to Know Before Visiting Israel for the First Time

Israel rewards travelers who arrive with a little local knowledge. It is a small country where Mediterranean beach culture, ancient holy sites, and some of the best food on the planet sit within an hour or two of each other, but the everyday rhythms can surprise a first-timer. The working week runs Sunday to Thursday, the weekend pivots around Shabbat, and a single afternoon can take you from the relaxed cafes of Tel Aviv to the stone alleys of Jerusalem's Old City. This guide covers the practical basics: money and tipping, the weekend slowdown, what to wear at religious sites, language, electricity, and staying sensible on the ground.

Think of it as the briefing we wish every guest had before they landed. Once you have the essentials down, dive deeper with our Tel Aviv destination guide and Jerusalem destination guide, which break each city down neighborhood by neighborhood. If you want to know who you'll be walking with, our about page introduces the local guides behind these tours.

Money, cards and tipping

The currency is the Israeli new shekel, written ILS or with the symbol shekel and agorot. Card payments are accepted almost everywhere, including small cafes, market stalls, and taxis, and contactless is the norm in cities. Still, it is worth carrying a modest amount of cash for tips, small market purchases, and the occasional vendor who prefers it. ATMs are widely available in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; withdraw from bank-affiliated machines rather than the standalone currency kiosks, which tend to carry poorer rates and higher fees.

Tipping is customary in restaurants, where roughly ten to fifteen percent is standard and often expected; check your bill first, since a service charge is occasionally added. For tour guides, drivers, and hospitality staff, a tip is appreciated but at your discretion. Taxi drivers do not generally expect a tip, though rounding up is common. Always agree on a metered fare or a price before a taxi ride to avoid confusion.

Shabbat shapes the week

The single most important thing to understand is Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, which runs from sunset Friday to nightfall Saturday. During those roughly 25 hours, much of the country slows down: most public buses and trains stop, many shops, markets, and government offices close, and intercity travel gets harder. Crucially, the local week runs Sunday through Thursday, with Friday a half day, so Sunday is a normal working day, not part of the weekend.

How much this affects you depends on the city. Tel Aviv is Israel's secular heart, so plenty of cafes, bars, beaches, and independent shops stay open and Saturday on the sand is a local institution. Jerusalem observes Shabbat far more strictly, with most businesses and transit shut down. Plan markets and intercity trips for weekdays, and lean on taxis, ride-hailing, and walking on Saturday. We cover the details in Shabbat in Tel Aviv: what to know and how to get around Tel Aviv.

Dress and etiquette at holy sites

Israel's religious sites are living places of worship for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and modest dress is expected at all of them. The general rule is to cover shoulders and knees, for both men and women. Carry a light scarf or wrap that you can throw on quickly; it doubles as sun protection. At the Western Wall, men cover their heads, with paper kippot provided, and the prayer area is divided by gender. At churches along Jerusalem's Via Dolorosa and at mosques, remove hats as appropriate and keep voices low.

Photography is fine in most public areas but be discreet around people praying, and avoid photographing the Western Wall on Shabbat out of respect. A little quiet awareness goes a long way. A guided visit takes the guesswork out of it: our Via Dolorosa sacred path tour from Tel Aviv handles transport, timing, and etiquette so you can focus on the experience.

Language, plugs and connectivity

Hebrew and Arabic are the country's main languages, but English is very widely spoken in tourist areas, restaurants, and hotels, and most signs in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem appear in English alongside Hebrew. You will get by comfortably with English, though a few words like toda (thank you) and shalom (hello and goodbye) are always welcome. Hebrew reads right to left, which is worth knowing when you glance at a menu.

Electricity runs at 230 volts with the Type H plug, which has three flat pins in a triangular arrangement; many European two-pin plugs fit the sockets, but bring a universal adapter to be safe. For data, a local prepaid SIM or an eSIM is inexpensive and makes navigation, ride-hailing, and translation far easier; coverage in both cities is strong. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafes and along parts of the Tel Aviv seafront.

Getting around and between cities

Tel Aviv is flat, compact, and made for walking and cycling, with a popular bike-share network and a new light rail line. Jerusalem has its own light rail and buses. Between the two cities, a fast train and frequent buses connect them in well under an hour outside of Shabbat, when those services pause. Taxis and ride-hailing fill the gaps. If you would rather not juggle timetables, a guided day trip to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv bundles the logistics into one smooth day.

For exploring on foot, a walking tour is the most rewarding way to read a city's layers. Our Tel Aviv, Yaffo and skyline walking tour links the old port of Jaffa, the seafront, and the Bauhaus White City, while market food tours like Shuk HaCarmel and Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem turn lunch into a guided history lesson.

Safety, climate and what to pack

Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are generally safe for visitors, with the everyday street-crime caution you would use in any city: watch your belongings in crowded markets and on the beach. It is sensible to check your own government's current travel advisory before you go and to keep an eye on local news, since the regional situation can change. Beyond that, ordinary common sense serves you well.

The climate is Mediterranean: hot, dry summers and mild, sometimes rainy winters. Sun protection is essential most of the year, so pack a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a refillable water bottle, as tap water is safe to drink. Bring comfortable walking shoes for stone streets and uneven ground, plus that modest layer for holy sites. For a season-by-season breakdown, see the best time to visit Tel Aviv and Tel Aviv weather and what to pack.

The bottom line

None of these basics are hard, but knowing them ahead of time turns a potentially confusing first day into a confident one. Carry a little cash and tip in restaurants, plan around Shabbat, dress modestly at holy sites, pack for sun and stone, and remember that English will carry you almost everywhere. Do that and you are free to enjoy the part that actually matters: the food, the sea, the history, and the warmth of two unforgettable cities. When you are ready to plan, browse all our Tel Aviv and Jerusalem tours or get in touch and we will help you build the trip around the local rhythm.