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.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem draws travelers to its walled Old City, where the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Mount sit within a short walk of each other.
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Jerusalem is a city in the Judean Hills of Israel, and its status is disputed: both Israelis and Palestinians claim it as a capital. The walled Old City, whose present walls date to the 1500s and were built under Suleiman the Magnificent, is split into Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters. Inside it are the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Mount, which Muslims call the Haram al-Sharif. The Dome of the Rock stands on the Temple Mount.
A trip of two to four days suits travelers interested in religious history, archaeology and the city's everyday life. Outside the walls, the new city has the Israel Museum and Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial, plus the Mahane Yehuda market. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking. Many sites and buses slow down or stop from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening for Shabbat, so plan your days around it.
Jerusalem in five
- Plan the Old City around ShabbatBuses and the light rail stop from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, and many shops and restaurants close. Plan intercity trips and tours for other days.
- Get a Rav-Kav card for buses and light railRav-Kav is the card used on Jerusalem buses and the light rail. Tap on at every boarding and keep the card topped up before you head into the city.Getting around
- Check the Temple Mount rules before you goNon-Muslim visitors enter the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif) through the Mughrabi Gate at set hours, under rules that change. Check the current hours and conduct rules before you plan the day.
- Dress for the holy sitesChurches, mosques and the Western Wall ask for covered shoulders and knees. Carry a light scarf, since some sites will not let in visitors with bare shoulders.
- Download offline maps for the Old CityDownload offline maps before you walk into the Old City.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- New Israeli shekel (ILS)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; visa-exempt visitors need an ETA-IL Read more
- Emergency
- 100 police, 101 ambulance (Magen David Adom), 102 fire; 112 from mobiles
- Tipping
- About 10% at restaurants if no service charge is added; round up taxi fares
- Time
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Mixed
- JanuaryCool, rainy
- FebruaryCool, rain
- MarchMild, spring
- AprilMild, Passover
- MayWarm, dry
- JuneHot, dry
- JulyHot, dry
- AugustHot, dry
- SeptemberWarm, Sukkot crowds
- OctoberMild, clear
- NovemberCool, clear
- DecemberCool, rainy
Right now in Jerusalem
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 48%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Jerusalem
10:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°17°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue24°16°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed23°15°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu21°14°4%Thursday: Fog. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri17°14°34%Friday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sat17°12°15%Saturday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sun19°11°6%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 08:29 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · 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
- Dead Seaabout 1 hour by carFloat in the mineral-heavy water at the lowest point on land.
- Masadaabout 1 hour by carA hilltop fortress above the Dead Sea, often paired with the same trip.
- Tel Avivabout 35 to 60 min by trainBeaches, Bauhaus architecture and restaurants on the coast.
- Bethlehemabout 30 to 45 min by carThe Church of the Nativity and the old town, in the West Bank; check the security advice first.
Before you go to Jerusalem
Rules for Jerusalem, checked
- Many passports need no visa, but most visa-exempt visitors need an ETA-IL before flying to Israel. Apply at the official government portal before you book.Source
- Check Israeli customs limits on food, plants and animal products with the Israel Tax Authority before you pack.
- Taking antiquities out of Israel needs a permit, so keep receipts for any old coins or pottery and check the Israel Antiquities Authority first.
Plan around Jerusalem
Regions, entry rules and transport for Israel
Read the guideGetting aroundBuses, light rail and the Shabbat shutdown
Read the guideMoney and costsShekels, cards and typical prices
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs an ETA-IL and how to apply
Read the guideWhere to stayNeighborhoods and hotel areas for a first stay
Read the guideTours and ticketsGuided Old City walks and day trips
Read the guideJerusalem FAQ
How many days do you need in Jerusalem?
Three days cover the Old City, the Western Wall, Yad Vashem and the Israel Museum at an easy pace. Add a day for the Dead Sea or Masada if you have time to spare.
Is Jerusalem safe for tourists?
Check your government's travel advice before you go, because the security situation can change at short notice.
When is the best time to visit Jerusalem?
April and May, and September to November, have mild days and clear skies. July and August are hot and dry, and winter is cool with rain. Passover and Sukkot bring large crowds, so book early for those weeks.
Do you need a car in Jerusalem?
No. Buses, the light rail and walking cover the Old City and most sites, and Shabbat is the main gap. Taxis fill the gaps on other days.
Is Jerusalem worth visiting if you are not religious?
Yes. The Israel Museum, the Mahane Yehuda market and the city's bakeries and falafel stands are worth a full day even without a religious interest. Visit the holy sites with the same care you would show at any place of worship.
Can you visit the Western Wall on Shabbat?
Yes. The plaza stays open on Shabbat, but buses and the light rail do not run, so walk from the Old City or arrive before sundown on Friday.