Travel advisory · IsraelSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Israel.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Area within 10 km of the Gaza Strip · avoid all travel · Canada, US
- Gaza envelope (area around the Gaza Strip) · avoid all travel · Germany, France, Ireland, Italy
- Gaza Strip · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- Golan Heights · avoid all travel · France, Ireland, New Zealand
- Lebanon border within 5 km · avoid all travel · Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand
- Northern Golan Heights · avoid all travel · Italy, UK
- Northern Israel north of Route 85 · avoid all travel · Germany, UK, US
- West Bank · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, US
- Jerusalem · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
Also named by one government: Gaza border strip within 500 m (UK), Ghajja (UK), Golan Heights east of Highway 98 bordering Syria (Canada), Golan Heights within 500 m of the Alpha line (UK), Israel-Egypt border within 2.4 km (US), Jenin Governorate (UK), Occupied Palestinian Territories (New Zealand), Sheba'a Farms (UK), Tubas Governorate (except Route 90) (UK), Tulkarm Governorate (UK), Border with the Occupied Palestinian Territories within 5 km (New Zealand), Desert areas bordering Sinai (Italy), Route 12 (Italy), West Bank (rest, with exceptions) (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Oct 23, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel to Israel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Von Reisen wird abgeraten (regional advisories) | Oct 29, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | déconseillé sauf raison impérative | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Haifa
Go to Haifa for the terraced Bahá'í Gardens, views from Mount Carmel and a working port on the Mediterranean coast.
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Haifa is a port city on the Mediterranean coast in northern Israel. It climbs the slopes of Mount Carmel, so many streets run in steep switchbacks above the harbor. Israel's third-largest city has a mix of Jewish and Arab communities, and the mix shows in neighborhoods from the 19th-century German Colony to the Arab quarter of Wadi Nisnas.
The Bahá'í Gardens are the main draw. Their terraces run down Mount Carmel around the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, and the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Carmelit, a short underground funicular, links the lower city with the upper streets. Haifa suits a two- to three-day stop on a wider Israel trip, with walks and harbor views. Allow a morning for the gardens, and use the Carmelit to save the climb up the slope. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Summer is hot and humid.
Haifa in five
- Get an ETA-IL before you flyMost visa-exempt visitors need an ETA-IL approved before boarding, and airlines check it at check-in. Apply early on the official government site.Visas and entry
- Plan around ShabbatFrom Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, the Carmelit and most buses stop, and many shops and restaurants close. Schedule Haifa sights and onward trains for Sunday to Thursday.
- Load a Rav-Kav card for the CarmelitBuy a Rav-Kav card and load it before you ride. It works on Haifa's buses and the Carmelit, the short underground funicular that climbs Mount Carmel.Getting around
- Set up an eSIM before you landMaps, bus apps and Waze all need data from the airport on. Install the eSIM before the flight.Phones and eSIM
- Carry shekels and a cardCards work in most shops and restaurants, but small stalls and some cafés may take only cash in New Israeli Shekels (ILS). Keep small notes for those.Money and costs
Need to know
- Currency
- New Israeli Shekel (ILS)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; ETA-IL needed by most visa-exempt visitors Read more
- Emergency
- 100 police, 101 ambulance (Magen David Adom), 102 fire, 112 from any phone
- Tipping
- About 10 to 12 percent in restaurants; check the bill for a service charge
- Time
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryCool, rainy
- FebruaryRainy, cool
- MarchMild, green
- AprilSpring, mild
- MayWarm, clear
- JuneHot, humid
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustHot, humid
- SeptemberWarm, pleasant
- OctoberMild, clear
- NovemberMild, cooling
- DecemberCool, rainy
Right now in Haifa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
21
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 44%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Haifa
11:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today32°17°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 32°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue26°18°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed25°18°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu22°17°40%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Fri21°17°84%Friday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Sat19°16°83%Saturday: Rain. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Sun21°15°52%Sunday: Fog. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 52%.
Updated 09:59 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.14 ILS
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Acre (Akko)about 30 to 40 min by carCrusader-era walls and an old harbor city, a short way north.
- Caesareaabout 40 min by carRoman and Herodian ruins on the sea, with a restored theater.
- Rosh Hanikraabout 1 hour by carSea grottoes at the northern border, reached by cable car.
- Nazarethabout 40 min by carThe Basilica of the Annunciation and the old market streets.
Before you go to Haifa
Rules for Haifa, checked
- Visa-exempt travelers must hold an approved ETA-IL before boarding; check eligibility on the official government site.Source
- Dress modestly at religious sites such as the Bahá'í Gardens and the Stella Maris monastery, with shoulders and knees covered.
- Buses and the Carmelit stop from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening for Shabbat, and many shops close; plan transport around it.
Plan around Haifa
Regions, entry rules and transport for the whole trip
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, buses and the Carmelit for Haifa and day trips
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical prices in shekels
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs an ETA-IL and how to apply
Read the guideWhere to stayNeighborhoods and stays for a Haifa base
Read the guideHaifa FAQ
How many days do you need in Haifa?
Two days cover the Bahá'í Gardens, the German Colony, the Carmelit and the port area. Add a day for Acre or Caesarea, and plan around Shabbat if you visit on a Friday or Saturday.
Is Haifa worth visiting?
Yes, if you like port cities, hillside views and gardens. It works well as a base for the north coast and suits visitors who want a quiet city with few late-night bars.
When is the best time to visit Haifa?
April to May and September to October, when days are warm and mostly dry. Summer is hot and humid, and winter brings cool, rainy weeks.
How do you get from Tel Aviv to Haifa?
Trains run from Tel Aviv to Haifa's central station, and buses also run the route. Check current times on the Israel Railways website before you travel.
Do you need a car in Haifa?
Usually not for the city itself, since the Carmelit and buses cover the hill and the lower city. A car helps for Acre, Caesarea or Rosh Hanikra.
Is Haifa safe for tourists?
As in any city, keep an eye on your bag on crowded buses and stairs, and check current travel advisories before you go.