World Guide

Israel

Country · Asia, Western Asia

Israel
Photo: vivali, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Israel is a country in Western Asia, bordered by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. With a population of about 10 million people and an area of 20,770 square kilometers, it features a variety of historic and religious landmarks centered around its capital, Jerusalem.

Highlights

This guide covers 40 sights across the country. Many of these are located in and around Jerusalem, including the Old City of Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the City of David, the Garden Tomb, the Cenacle, David's Tomb, and the Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery. Other significant sites in the city include Yad Vashem, Mount Herzl, the Knesset, the Supreme Court of Israel, Gethsemane, and Gehenna. Outside the capital, travelers can visit the Judaean Desert, the UNESCO-listed sites of Masada, Tel Megiddo, and Tel Hazor, as well as Mount Tabor and the site of Capernaum. Cities such as Nazareth and Hebron are also notable locations.

Food and drink

Local cuisine includes dishes such as Israeli couscous, Israeli salad, and the Jerusalem mixed grill. Other items commonly found are Bamba, Malawach, Shkedei marak, Bagel toast, Tzfatit, and laffa.

When to go

The climate in Jerusalem is characterized by warm, dry summers and cooler, wetter winters. July and August are the warmest months, with daily highs of 32 °C and almost no rain. The shoulder seasons of May and October offer milder temperatures, ranging from 26 °C to 27 °C. Winter months, particularly January and December, are the coolest and wettest, with temperatures dropping as low as 4 °C and significant rainfall, often exceeding 100 mm.

Practical notes

The official language is Hebrew and the currency is the new shekel. The country operates on a 230-volt system and uses plug types C, D, and H. Driving is on the right side of the road, and the time zone is UTC+02:00.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Israel

  • Israeli couscous
  • Bamba
  • Malawach
  • Israeli salad
  • Shkedei marak
  • Jerusalem mixed grill
  • Bagel toast
  • Tzfatit
  • Laffa

Top sights in Israel

  1. KnessetKnessetJerusalem
  2. GehennaGehennaJerusalem
  3. MasadaUNESCOMasada
  4. Yad VashemYad VashemJerusalem
  5. Tel MegiddoUNESCOTel Megiddo
  6. CapernaumCapernaum
  7. CenacleCenacleJerusalem
  8. West JerusalemWest JerusalemJerusalem
  9. Mount TaborMount TaborNazareth
  10. Mount HerzlMount HerzlJerusalem
  11. David's TombDavid's TombJerusalem
  12. Supreme Court of IsraelSupreme Court of IsraelJerusalem
  1. Judaean Desert
  2. Tel Hazor · Rosh PinaUNESCO
  3. Sepphoris · Nazareth
  4. Israel Museum · Jerusalem
  5. Basilica of the Annunciation · Nazareth
  6. Mount of Beatitudes
  7. Makhtesh Ramon · Mitzpe Ramon
  8. White City, Tel AvivUNESCO
  9. Mount Sodom
  10. Horns of Hattin
  11. Tel Arad · Arad
  12. Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh · Acre
  13. Stella Maris Monastery · Haifa
  14. Tel Be'er Sheva · BeershebaUNESCO
  15. Baháʼí World Centre buildings · HaifaUNESCO
  16. Incense Route – Desert Cities in the NegevUNESCO
  17. Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation · Nazareth
  18. Cave of Elijah · Haifa
  19. Beit She'arim necropolisUNESCO
  20. Mary's Well · Nazareth
  21. AvdatUNESCO
  22. Abraham's Well · Beersheba
  23. German Colony, Haifa · Haifa
  24. Israeli Air Force Museum · Beersheba
  25. El-Jazzar Mosque · Acre
  26. Citadel of Safed · Safed
  27. Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue · Safed
  28. Abuhav Synagogue · Safed

UNESCO sites in Israel →

Weather by month

The warmest month is August, with an average high of 32 °C. The wettest is January, with about 162 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C121317222730323230261914
Average low, °C44610131618191715106
Rainfall, mm1621479120810021871112
Rainy days121073101003711

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Jerusalem (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

Neighbouring countries and territories