If you’re planning a visit to Israel, you want to make sure that you go during the best time of year possible. Lucky for all of us, any time is a good time for visit Israel, but each season offers advantages. It all depends on your priorities and ability to stand the heat…
Let’s Find the Best Time of Year to Visit Israel for You:
When’s the best time of year to visit Israel?
The spring and fall in Israel offer the most moderate temperatures, with warm days and cool nights. Average daytime temperatures hover around 79 degrees Fahrenheit, which will allow you to enjoy the sights without the bulkiness of a heavy coat. Between June and August, temperatures can climb to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above. In the winter, the temperature averages 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and there’s always a chance that Jerusalem may even see snow!
The Best Time to Visit Israel in the Spring
While the temperatures are ideal for visiting Israel in the spring, it is also a busy time on the Jewish calendar, with Passover taking up a week in April, so you may find it rather crowded in some places. You’ll find that it is warmer in the southern part of the country, but the temperature will still be comfortable enough to stay outside for significant lengths of time and the nights will still offer cool sleeping weather.
You may still see rain, snow, and sandstorms as winter turns into spring in March, so you’ll want to be ready with a raincoat for those occasions. Jerusalem will be colder due to its elevation, but Eliat and Tel Aviv will be enjoyable for almost the entire season. We suggest you dress in layers if you’re visiting during early spring as the weather can be somewhat unpredictable, but by May, you won’t need these layers at all.
The Best Time to Visit Israel in the Summer
If you can’t stand the heat, summer might not be the best time of year to visit Israel. The rains will have mostly subsided by the summer months, replaced by higher temperatures and dry heat. On the Mediterranean side of Israel, you’ll find the sea warm enough to swim in beginning in late May through the summer. It will probably be too hot to sunbathe near the Red Sea during the summer months, but inland, the heat is nearly always tolerable, although there are some days that a heatwave from the Egyptian desert makes its way north.
We recommend that you pack light clothing, a hat with a wide brim, a scarf to guard against sand and dust, and hiking boots if you plan to visit Israel in the summer. It’s also suggested you bring along a light jacket for the evenings if you’re not sticking strictly to the southern parts of the country. Be aware that tourist attractions will be busy in the summer because many parts of the world are out of school at this time.
The Best Time to Visit Israel in the Fall
Okay, not to play favorites, but fall months may just be the best time of year to visit Israel. From mid-September to mid-November, you’ll find the temperatures mild. You’ll still be able to swim along the Mediterranean coast, but by the middle of October, it will start to get chilly. In early fall, you may experience dry desert winds, but they begin to taper off as you get further into the season.
Fall is also the time of many festivals in Israel, both religious and non-religious. For instance, the Honey Festival takes place throughout Israel between September and October, and the High Holiday season Rosh Hashanah through Sukkot occurs in autumn as well, though the dates differ each year. This is the peak tourist season for Israel, but even so, it’s still not as crowded as most other places at their peaks. Highly recommend visiting Israel in the fall.
The Best Time to Visit Israel in the Winter
Some winter days in Israel can get cold, but the average temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit is still fairly mild. So, if you don’t mind wearing a moderately-heavy coat and are prepared for some rainy days, it’s a nice time to visit. The crowds of the fall have gone, so you’ll have fewer lines and more space when you visit the most popular attractions. The one exception is during the week of Christmas when many people take a vacation.
As with early spring, we recommend dressing in layers, since some days are going to be warmer than others. You should also bring a moderate jacket, a winter hat, a raincoat, and an umbrella. You might experience some wind, so a scarf is suggested to ward off the sand and dust. If you plan on visiting the sites around the country, wear hiking shoes in case you run into some mud or want to go for a hike around town.
The Israeli Schedule
Weekly Schedule
The weekly schedule in Israel can be a bit confusing, but it’s important to know when shops and restaurants are open so that you don’t find yourself without food and nowhere to get any. Jewish residents will close their shops and restaurants at mid-afternoon on Friday, many Muslim-owned shops close at sundown on Thursday, and Christians typically take all day Sunday off. Most shops are closed all day Saturday except in some Arab and Christian areas of Jerusalem.
No buses run in Tel Aviv between late Friday afternoon until after sundown on Saturday, but in Jerusalem, you’ll still have bus service in the Arab neighborhoods. While some businesses are changing and are opening on Friday night after closing Friday afternoon, you’ll still want to check with each establishment you want to visit to confirm their hours before visiting. Fuel stations will likely be open most of the time if you need something urgent.
Holidays
Israelis observe more holidays throughout the year than citizens of any other country. While many of these are well-known holidays, such as Yom Kippur and Passover, there are many that aren’t. You may want to consult a calendar before you visit Israel to determine when holidays may impact your visit. Hotels often fill to capacity during holidays and transportation may be severely limited or suspended altogether. Likewise, museums, theaters, and other venues may have varied operating hours as well.
So… When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Israel?
Really, anytime of the year is the best time of year to visit Israel, but there are advantages to each season depending on the type of weather you prefer. Follow us at Masa Israel Journey to learn more about all the things to look forward to and what you can expect when you visit!
