Great location, warm weather, tremendous history, and Middle East cuisine and culture – Israel is full of things to explore though it’s a small coutry. On my trips to Israel I have experienced vibrant Tel Aviv – the city that never sleeps, Holy sites at Jerusalem, Dead Sea – the lowest point of earth, beautiful hiking routes, Galilee and much more!
Is it safe?
You have might heard news about conflicts or political situation in that area, but for a traveller Israel is a very safe place to visit. There are some limited areas as Gaza strip tourists should avoid. I have always felt safe in Israel and I’ve successfully travelled twice with my three kids.
Places to see
Jerusalem – Capital city of Israel is a melting pot for three main religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Jerusalem you can find most of the historical and Holy sites like Western Wall, Mount of Olives and City of David.
Dead Sea – Did you know the water in Dead sea is so salty nothing can live there and you can actually float on it? It’s the lowest place on earth (428m below sea level) and Dead Sea mud has multiple healthy effects. Been there, done that!
North Israel – Cities called Tiberias and Haifa are located in a beautiful Northen part of Israel. In Tiberias you can enjoy dozens of restaurants and cafeterias at beach boulevard or boat rides on Sea of Galilee. I recommend you to drive to upper Mount Carmel to see the panorama of Haifa Bay.
Facts
- Over 75 % of Israeli citizens are jewish
- Two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic
- Safety and security is taken seriously
- 2,6 million tourists visited Israel in 2022
- Over 60 % of land of Israel is desert
(Photo: Päivi Raipala)
The food
Typical Israeli food is mixed delicious Middle East cuisine: Hummus, Falafel, Tabboulah, different fruits and vegetables and famous Shawarma. Most of the dishes are kosher, even McDonald’s.
Questions and answers
- How do I get there? There is direct flights between Helsinki and Tel Aviv operated by Finnair.
- Do I need a passport to travel Israel? As a Finnish citizen you need a passport which period of validity is at least six months after the journey.
- Where is the airport? Ben Gurion Airport is located in Tel Aviv.
- Is the public transport easy to use? Yes! Trains, busses and light trains operates in and between destinations and cities, except on Shabbat.
- What is Shabbat? Shabbat is a jewish day of rest. It begins on friday before sunset and ends on saturday on sunset. It means most of the jew-owned shops and businesses are closed, including public transport.
- Is it expensive? Unfortunatly yes, general price level is high in Israel.
- The language is pure hebrew, how do I manage there? Don’t worry, most of the people can speak at least little bit of English, and all infos and street names are written also in English.
Writer is a student in Lapland UAS, kitchen worker, mother of three and passionate about food, tourism and Finnish nature.