Israel can boast a well-deserved year-round popularity: some go here to immerse themselves in ancient history, others - to correct the shattered nerves in the healing expanses of the Dead Sea (which, by the way, is not very much immersed, too dense water due to salt), the third - dive into general anesthesia on the operating tables of the best doctors, the fourth - again dive, but already in the Red Sea, with scuba diving, the fifth - to spend a vacation on the beach, as you already guessed, plunging into blissful idleness . Yes, almost forgot: young people often go to Israel yet and then, in order to properly be drawn to the carbon monotonous parties in the local nightclubs, plunging into the rhythms of fashionable music and clubs of fragrant smoke .

Two questions that do not face Russian tourists in Israel - the language barrier issue (almost a quarter of the country's population speaks Russian fluently) and the issue of services (here everything is clear - in hotels of any level and on excursions) not so long ago one more visa was added (from the autumn of 2008 the visa for entry to Israel is not needed for Russian citizens).

Best offers from the Israeli tour operator

Additional discounts for children and pensioners
Magic trip to Israel - from 675 USD.
Eilat - the sun all year round - from 490 USD. (including air travel)
Relax at the Dead Sea - from 546 USD.
Christian sacred places of Israel and Jordan - from 720 USD.

(495) 204-27-75, (812) 424-43-52 • www.bestisrael.ru

Israel tour operator IsraelOnline.travel

Classic Israel from 774 USD
Eilat. Affectionate beach from 500 USD - flight included!
Israel + Jordan from 751 USD
SPA tours to the Dead Sea from 561 USD

(495) 204-19-12, (812) 429-71-52 • israelonline.travel

Israeli tour operator Shalom Israel Travel

All Israeli beauties for 8 days from 543 USD
Hot Eilat and Jerusalim from 924 USD - flight included!
Israel and Jordan from 751 USD
Rest on the Dead Sea in the Spa Hotel from 596 USD

(495) 204-10-79, (812) 425-01-72 • shalom-travel .ru

Flight to Israel - as a gift!

On the most popular tours: Beach Eilat - 629 USD • Acquaintance with Israel - 549 USD • Recovery on the Dead Sea - 866 USD • Travel on 3 seas 10n - 665 USD.
Number of tickets is limited!
Israeli tour operator with Israeli license.

(495) 668-08-41, (812) 336-42-41 • www.royalisrael.ru

Your advertising here: www.reklama.travel

Capital - Jerusalem (Jerusalem) .
Big cities and resorts in Israel: Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Nazareth, Tzfat, Hevron
The main resorts on the seas of Israel: Herzliya, Caesarea , Eilat, Hamat Gader and Arad.

Detailed information on when to go to Israel and what to do on the site is described on the page tours to Israel

How to get to Israel

Daily scheduled flights Moscow - Tel -Aviv perform El Al and Transaero, the flight time is about 4 hours. Israir operates charter flights from Moscow to Tel Aviv and Eilat, and Arkia to Tel Aviv. Aeroflot flies from Moscow to Tel Aviv (only in winter) and to Ewat Airport Uvda located 50 km from Eilat, while flights from Ross and El Al fly from St. Petersburg to Tel Aviv. There are also direct Donavia flights from Rostov-on-Don.

Belavia and El Al carry passengers from Belarus to Israel. "International airlines of Ukraine" and El Al fly to Tel Aviv from Kiev

• How to get from Moscow to Israel
• Is there any flights to Israel from Petersburg
• Is there any direct flights from Russian regions to Israel
• How to get from Moscow to Tel Aviv
• Is there a wifi in airports of Israel

Visa to Israel

Citizens of Russia can visit Israel without a visa if the period of travel does not exceed 90 days

• Do citizens of Russia need a visa to Israel

Customs

Duty-free can import 250 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco, up to a liter of spirits, up to 2 liters of wine, up to 250 grams of cologne or perfume, gifts for no more than 200 USD (including up to 3 kg of food), and objects and things of personal use. Import of foreign currency is not limited. It is prohibited to import weapons, drugs, pornography and any materials that may offend the religion and national identity of Israelis.

Some personal items (video equipment, snorkeling equipment, hand tools) are taxed at the border by customs. A deposit is returned if these items are displayed at the customs office when leaving the country.

Antiques can only be taken out if there is permission from the local culture management.

• How much can you import alcohol and tobacco products into Israel
• Can I import into Israel from Egypt medicines for patients with bronchial asthma
• Minimum amount of money to confirm the solvency at the entrance to Israel
• Rules for the import of a video camera and laptop to Israel
• How much alcohol can you take out of Israel
• Is it possible to take a laptop to Israel

But EPA phones

Israeli Embassy in Moscow, st. Bolshaya Ordynka, 56; tel .: (495) 660-27-00, fax: 660-27-68

Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv: 120, Hayarkon str .; tel .: (3) 529-06-91, 522-67-44; website

Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv: 1, Rehov Ben-Ehuda; tel .: (3) 510-10-20, 510-70-88

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Haifa: Halonot Ha-City, Pal Yam avenue, 2; (4) 866-75-56; website

Police: 100, ambulance: 101, fire service: 102, city information service: 106

Tourist police in Jerusalem: 539-12-54

Inquiries about telephone numbers in Israel: 144 ( free from the payphone)

• How to call Israel

Israel Transportation

It's very convenient for Israel to travel by train: they walk often, the schedule is observed strictly, the speed is high. The only downside - in the country there is only one main line with several branches, as well as the suburban system of Tel Aviv. There is one subway line in Haifa.

In addition, you can travel around the country by bus. They regularly ply in all directions, but during religious holidays, as well as from Friday evening to Saturday evening, do not go. Everywhere there is air conditioning.

The main public transport is again a bus. The trip costs slightly more than a dollar (about 5 ILS), tickets are sold by the driver. City buses in Jerusalem run from 6:00 until midnight. However, most bus lines do not work in Shabbat (from sunset on Friday before sunset on Saturday) and on Jewish holidays.

Taxi (the only mode of transport working on Saturdays and holidays) costs about 3 ILS per km , plus 5 ILS for boarding.

Very popular in the country are "Sherout" shuttle buses (fare ~ 4, 5 ILS)

Rent a car in Israel

Car hire in the country is relatively inexpensive (compared to Europe), there are cars with manual gearbox. A car can be rented by anyone over the age of 21 who has a valid international driving license and a credit card. But the petrol is quite expensive, on the contrary.

Auto Rental in Israel with Best Price Guarantee

Tourist Safety

According to Jewish traditions, Saturday ("Shabbat") starts from the moment of sunset on Friday and ends with the sunset on Saturday . During this time shops, many restaurants, some cinemas and other public places are closed . Public transportation is not working either: you can leave for somewhere at this time only by taxi . Recommend tourists to respect the religious traditions of this day and not to call during the "Shabbat" in religious neighborhoods Jerusalem and other cities . This day also should refrain from smoking in public places - it can be perceived as an insult .

• Do you need a medical insurance policy for a trip to Israel

Ancient Israel

Views of Jerusalem

Port Ashdod

Israel's climate

The climate in Israel, despite its not too large territory, is very diverse - from moderate to tropical, with lots of sunny days. From November to May, the rainy winter season lasts, the rest of the time - dry summer. The abundant rains fall in the north and in the center of the country, much less in the northern Negev, and in the south they hardly ever exist.

On the coast - wet summer and mild winters, in mountainous regions - dry summers and relatively cold in winter. In the Jordan Valley - hot dry summer and mild winters, in the Negev - a climate of semi-deserts.

The swimming season in Israel continues all year round: in the summer they bathe in the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of ​​Galilee (Kineret), and in winter - in the Dead and Red Seas. The hottest months on the Dead Sea and in Eilat (Red Sea) are June, July and August. The average air / water temperature at that time is + 38 ° C / + 30 ° C.

See also the weather forecast for the main resorts and in the cities of Israel

• Is it not too hot in Israel in the summer
• Is it possible to swim in the winter at the beach resorts of Israel
• In what resort of Israel the calm sea, small waves and smooth entry

Israel hotels

Israeli hotels do not have a "star" classification: instead of it there is a system of "classes" . Because in the country is very many hotels of different world "chains", their classification is determined by the tour operators themselves, based on their own or more her objective assessments . This means that when choosing a hotel in Israel, one should focus not on the number of "stars" (this is a very conditional indicator), but on a specific list of services and description of numbers . However, the service in hotels is quite clear - computers do not "hang," linings and "shifts" do not happen .

Those city hotels that operators define as 4 * usually do not have swimming pools, and in hotels of the "five-star" category, swimming pools are most often available. Both the "five" and "quartet" are usually pleased with spacious rooms. The food in Israel is good everywhere, but in the "five", of course, the menu is the richest.

The mains voltage in Israel is standard - 220 V. Most of the sockets have three contact inputs, but they are suitable for European appliances. For electric shavers, road irons and other small household electrical appliances, an adapter may be required. Buy it easy.

• Do any city hotels in Israel have any features
• Do they rent apartments in Israel

Banks and exchange offices

Currency can be exchanged in any branch of the bank or in one of the many exchange offices (the latter, as a rule, do not take commissions). Most banks in the morning are open from 8:30 to 12:00 (Sunday to Thursday), and in the afternoon - from 16:00 to 18:00 (on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday). On the eve of the main Jewish holidays banks work from 8:30 to 12:00.

Almost everywhere you accept credit cards, you can withdraw money from numerous ATMs. In hotels and large stores, it is usually possible to pay with dollars, but they can also hand over the delivery in shekels.

• What hours of work in Israeli banks
• What is the currency in Israel

Shopping and stores in Israel

and institutions: Sunday-Thursday 8: 30-13: 00 and 16: 00-19: 00, on Friday and on the eve of the holidays 9: 00-13: 00. The bazaars are closed with the onset of darkness. Trade establishments belonging to Muslims are closed on Fridays and Christian ones on Sundays

Israel is famous for its jewelry industry, especially diamonds and gold ornaments . Still from the country it is possible to bring inexpensive and high quality wines, oriental spices and spices, as well as cosmetic preparations based on the Dead Sea minerals . The most famous brands - Ahava, Sea of ​​Spa, Hlavin, Dead Sea Premier .In addition, a lot of less known but often very effective cosmetics are sold at local stores and pharmacies . A good choice is also available in duty-free shops at departure .. In boutiques at hospitals of the Dead Sea you can buy serious medications: creams and ointments for the treatment of eczema, flat lichen and t . d .

• Where is the best place in Israel pay cosmetics and how much it costs
• What souvenirs to bring from Israel
• What hours of work in Israeli stores
• Is it worth to bring cosmetics from the Dead Sea in Israel
• Is good quality cosmetics from Israel

Kitchen and restaurants

In Israel - a great variety of different restaurants: Chinese, Russian, French, Indian, Moroccan and further on the list. The menu is usually printed in Hebrew and in English. Portions, as a rule, are large, but they are also quite decent. Local Macabi beer is quite good to taste, but it costs about 80 rubles in Russian money transfer, even in the store.

From meat dishes, which are traditionally a lot of spices and herbs, it is worth trying "meat in Hebrew" and "meow a dish of four kinds of chicken meat. From vegetable dishes here it is worth trying a variety of salads, hummus, "falafel" (fried in oil pea beans, beans), cold beet soup, potato pancakes and fried zucchini. The most kosher desserts: "gogol-mogol", baked apples, pancakes, gingerbread with almonds

Menu in Israeli restaurants usually in Hebrew and in English.

Kosher cuisine

The main limitations of kosher cuisine: pork and seafood dishes are not available as a class (although you can eat fish that have scales), and dairy and meat products are served strictly separately. Note that these restrictions do not make the local cuisine sufficiently diverse.

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Israel

Nazareth is the sacred city of the Christian world, the place where Christ's childhood was. It houses the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, the picturesque Orthodox Church of the Archangel Gabriel at the site of the fountain of the Virgin Mary, the Sepoporis National Park (the parental home of the Virgin Mary), the remains of Roman water tanks in which, according to the biblical legends, Jesus turned water into wine, as well as the ancient Jewish the city of Zippori with the Crusader fortress and numerous archaeological sites.

No less famous Bethlehem, the city in which Jesus was born lies south of Jerusalem. Its main attraction is the fortress-like church of the Nativity of Christ on the Yaselnaya square with the grotto (cradle) of Christ, the cell and the tomb of St. Jerome.

Haifa, the third largest city and the largest seaport of Israel, lies on the slopes of Mount Carmel. There is a Catholic monastery of the Order of the Carmelites, the Great Synagogue of Haifa, the cave of Elijah the Prophet and the Baha'i Temple with its famous Persian Gardens and El Bach's Tomb.

Akko's main attractions are "collected" in the old city. This is the citadel, the old fortress walls, the huge medieval city gates, the Burj El Sultan watchtower, the Al-Jazar Mosque, the St. Francis Monastery, the City of the Crusaders (the citadel of the Order of St. John), the building of the Turkish baths with the exposition of the city museum, the caravan -Saray Khan el-Umdan, clock tower

Almost the entire territory of Caesarea is included in the national park of the same name. There are a lot of interesting things there: the oldest of the theaters found in Israel, the ruins of the "Palace on the reef", the amphitheater of King Herod, the fortified city-port of the Arab period, the ruins of the temple complex.

• Where and when in Israel you can swim with dolphins
• Can you combine a visit to Cyprus, Egypt and Israel
• Where is the Wailing Wall
• Where to find a guide in Israel
• What sights of Jerusalem need to be inspected in 2 days
• What are the pilgrimage routes in Israel
• How much are the excursions to Jerusalem
• What are the most interesting sights in Israel
• How to dress for visiting the shrines of Israel

Excursion programs "Cascade"

These are guaranteed programs based on regular bus tours, They are designed for those who came to Israel on their own, and for organized tourists. All excursions are accompanied by Russian-speaking guides.

The main one-day excursions to Israel are eight: Jerusalem (three types of excursions), Galilee Christian (the Jordan River, Tiberias, Nazareth, etc.), the Dead Sea (two types of excursions), Tel Aviv - Jaffa and Caesarea - Haifa - Acre. Many days of excursions are available in two versions: Eilat with rest on the Red Sea (from two days or more) and Northern Israel with accommodation in the "kibbutz" - local communes (up to three days).

Based on these ten basic routes, individual tours of the group price "- the program" Cascade ". Combining the excursions to your own taste, each tourist can make for himself an individual holiday program in Israel lasting from a day to seven (or even longer) . The cost of it at the same time will be like a group . All excursions are conducted with a high frequency, the tourist can arrive in Israel almost at any convenient day . The cost will not depend on the number of people, and the level of hotels and the number of excursions the client can choose himself . Such programs exist in the VIP -variant - with more comfortable hotels, transfers and flights .

There are, of course, inconveniences. For example, in the morning it is necessary to be at a certain time in a certain place, and the group is quite large (about 50 people). But there are pluses: relative cheapness, acquaintance with new people, communication, excellent guides. Photos of Israel (484)