Top 5 tips for those planning a trip to Israel

Israel is a small country with great opportunities for recreation. Here and sun-drenched beaches, the Red and Mediterranean seas with water fun and exciting diving, as well as the healing minerals of the Dead Sea. Excursion programs with a tour of the ancient cities and ancient shrines, sunbathing, shopping in modern shopping centers – during the holidays will not be bored.
As in any state, Israel has its own unique traditions. Going to the country for the first time, it will not be superfluous to learn about the basic rules that will help the tourist to feel more confident and not get into a curiosity. Top 5 features of Israel – in our article.
1. The best time to relax
When planning a tour to Israel, it is worth considering that the weather here is very different from our usual climatic conditions. Spring and autumn – the best time to relax on the shores of the Red and Mediterranean Seas. The tourist season opens in March and lasts until mid-June. The second wave of tourists arrives in Israel in mid-September and enjoys a beach holiday until the end of November. Midsummer in the country is quite hot. But every hotel, shop, souvenir shop and even taxis are ready for elevated temperatures and have air conditioning.
If your vacation dates coincided with the winter months, do not deny yourself the pleasure to visit the “land of milk and honey”. At this time of year, the sky rains, but the temperature is comfortable enough for excursions. In winter, even in the Dead Sea, the water does not heat above 22 ° C, but there are many hot springs in the country, such as Ein Gedi, Hamat Gader.
2. Features kosher cuisine
All restaurants and cafes in Israel are divided into kosher and non-kosher. If you decide to dine in a non-kosher institution, it is best to go to a small religious town or to the non-tourist quarter of the metropolis, where a variety of such dishes will delight gourmets.
From meat appetizers, we recommend to try “Meoriv Yerushalmi” with four types of chicken. Vegetarians will love “falafel” – balls of peas and beans, fried in oil, as well as traditional chickpea paste with spices and olive oil, which is known as “hummus”.
Among the desserts, there are also kosher dishes: baked apples, “eggnog” and pancakes with various fillings.
3. Strict police
Today in the cities of Israel is quiet, but there are quite a lot of policemen on the streets. They patrol areas and can stop the tourist by asking for proof of identity. Checking documents from any counterclaim is a routine affair with the local police, to which local residents have long been accustomed. This procedure is carried out as a full-time inspection.
Despite the fact that the law enforcement officer can be found everywhere, you should not ask them for directions or make any other similar request – it is not the responsibility of the police to give references.
The use of photographic equipment near military facilities can attract unwanted attention from military personnel. It is worth making sure that such buildings do not fall into the frame, otherwise the camera can be removed.
4. Rules related to Shabbat
The holiday Shabbat begins on Friday and ends on Saturday after sunset. During this period, all shops, cinemas, administrative organizations and most restaurants are closed in the country, and local residents refuse from any work activities. On Friday and Saturday, you can not even use the elevator – pressing the button foresees the use of physical force. In order not to violate the commandments, Israeli engineers have developed special elevators that move independently and stop at each floor. They are in many hotels and inns, and travelers from other countries should not be feared or avoided.
Stops work and public transport, although in recent years it was decided to leave the rare buses that run at night. To get around the city it is more convenient to use the services of a taxi or a private car.
Tourists at this time should refrain from smoking in public places and not visit religious areas of any of the cities of Israel.
5. “Medusa” season
Each summer begins for Israelis with flocks of jellyfish in coastal waves that sail through the Suez Canal. A particularly dangerous transparent guest is a jellyfish, a cornerot with a diameter of up to 70 centimeters, the color of which can vary from transparent white to blue-violet. Remarkably, the sea animal was chosen only by the Mediterranean Sea, Red during the entire tourist season remains clean.
In late July – early August, the uninvited guests float away, leaving at the disposal of tourists warm sea waves and crystal clear water.