Israel and Jordan

Dec 17, 2022 · 10 min read

Weather

Month High/Low (°C) Rain days
January 18/10 9
February 18/10 7

Timezone

Travel Visa

  • BN(O) (reference)
    • visa-free for 3 months in Israel
    • visa on arrival in Jordan
      • Visa on arrival obtainable at most international ports of entry and at most international land border crossings (except King Hussein/Allenby Bridge crossing).
      • land crossings can take a great deal of time due to long lines in high season and the need to deal with Israeli immigration.
  • HKSAR (reference)
    • visa-free for 3 months in Israel
    • visa on arrival in Jordan
      • Visa on arrival obtainable at most international ports of entry and at most international land border crossings (except King Hussein/Allenby Bridge crossing).
      • land crossings can take a great deal of time due to long lines in high season and the need to deal with Israeli immigration.
  • Entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) is controlled by the Israeli authorities. You must produce a passport and Israeli immigration slip, to cross between Israel and the OPTs.

Local laws and customs

  • You should dress modestly – covering your shoulders, upper arms and legs above the knee - in Jerusalem and the West Bank
  • Local residents in ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods such as Bnei Brak, Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit, Beit Shemesh and Safed can react strongly to anyone (particularly women) dressed inappropriately.
  • Avoid driving into ultra-Orthodox Jewish areas of Jerusalem on Shabbat (from sunset on Friday to nightfall (approximately 1 hour after sunset) on Saturday). If you attempt to drive into these areas local residents may throw stones at your car.

Money

  • Currency
  • There are ATMs in Israel and Jerusalem that accept international cards. There are fewer ATMs in the West Bank
  • Post offices and banks in Israel and Jerusalem close from midday on Friday to Sunday morning. In the West Bank, they are usually just closed on Fridays.

Places

Videos

Food

Transportation

Rav-Kav

It is a smart card used as the main form of payment for public transportation in Israel. It can be used to take the train or bus. If you take the bus, it is the only form of payment accepted. The train connects Tel Aviv with major locations throughout Israel, while buses cover a wide range of locations, both within and outside Tel Aviv. At the train ststions, you can also purchase paper tickets through the machine or with ticketing agent. The anonymous card (which doesn’t require personal passenger information) can be purchased for a one-time payment of 5 NIS. It can be purchased at tourist information centers, train stations, and the airport. You can also buy it on board any bus for 10.90 NIS - this includes the price of the card itself as well as a ride in the city. You must load your card with money before boarding. There are also loading locations available throughout the city, including tourist information centers, “Tel-O-Fun” green bike stations, and designated stores and kiosks. A card can be loaded with as much as needed. With 5.90 NIS, you can take as many buses as you like within Tel Aviv as long as you don’t exceed a 90-minute time frame. Afterwards, an additional amount is required.

Reference: Public Transportation

Free Weekend Transportation System

Free transportation services are now offered on Fridays and Saturdays in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

  • The buses run approximately every half hour. On Fridays between the hours 5pm and 2am and on Saturdays between the hours 9:30am and 6pm.
  • Real-time information and schedules in English can be found on BuSofash and mobile apps such as Moovit
    • note: electronic signs at bus stations do not present bus hours
  • The buses and relevant stations are branded accordingly and feature dedicated maps.
  • At this stage, the transportation service is offered free of charge and passengers are able to move freely from one bus line to another.
  • Food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed on board, but water is ok.

Moniyot Sherut (service taxis)

It runs along the main roads in the city and throughout the country. Sheruts are in essence minivans that operate as shared taxis; they are generally yellow, with numbers on the windshield indicating their route, and they can transport about 10-12 people at a time.

Pricewise, sherut taxi fares are a set price and similar to bus fares. They usually reach their destination faster and tend to be less crowded. Sheruts operate both inter and intra-city routes and can be easily accessed from right outside the Central Bus Station.

By simply raising your hand, you can flag down a sherut and ask the driver to drop you off at any point along the route. You can hand the driver your fare as you get on the taxi, or you can take your seat and pass your money down to the driver. Not to worry-your change will be passed back to you. Note that while sheruts operate on Shabbat (Friday night and Saturday), fares will increase by a few shekels.

Sherut taxis generally follow public bus routes within the city, and are identified by numbers that signify their routes. The most common sheruts are the 4 & 5.

  • 4 Runs from the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station through Allenby Street and Ben Yehuda Street all the way up to the Reading Power Plant.
  • 5 Runs from the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station through Rothschild Avenue, Dizengoff Center and Dizengoff Street up to Weitzman Street in the north. (Notice that the Sherut doesn’t go all the way to the Arlozorov train station, as does the number 5 bus).

Taxis

Local and inter-city taxi services are available to and from any point in the country. Fares within the cities are according to the meter. The fares for inter-city taxi services are standard fares set by the Ministry of Transport. It is recommended to verify the fare prior to entering the taxi. Taxis can be ordered by telephone from a local taxi station or stopped on the street. There is a standard starting fare for taxis. There are also additional charges for telephone orders and for each suitcase (which is not a handbag). Night rates, Saturdays and holidays are 25% more expensive than the normal fare. There is also additional fee for an airport drive. Drivers must operate the meter for rides within the city. It is advised to request the meter for inter-city rides, even if the driver suggests a fixed price at the beginning of the ride.

Mobile apps

Trains

It reaches airport, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem, Haifa and Be’er-Sheva. It does respects the observance of Jewish Shabbat.

It takes less than 40 minutes to travel from Tel Aviv (Ha’Hagana) to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

History and politics

Data SIM cards (Annatel via Airalo)

Days Data (GB) Price (USD)
30 20 22
30 10 18
30 5 13.5
30 3 11
7 1 5.5

Electrical sockets

  • Israel
    • Type C
    • Type H
  • Jordan where Type G (the one like UK and HK) is majority
    • Type G

Other topics

  • Languages
  • Palestinians lives in the West Bank
  • To see the holy sites and the Old City of Jerusalem, it is suggested to spend at least three days

COVID

Safty and security

  • Israel travel advice from gov.uk
    • map of safe areas
    • You should check the local news before travelling to see if there have been recent clashes, be vigilant, avoid any large gatherings or demonstrations, avoid areas which have been the site of recent violence and follow the instructions of the local authorities
    • There is a risk of increased tension around Friday prayers and on other religious holidays and anniversaries.
    • How to act during an alert (siren sounds)?
  • Jerusalem
    • There are frequent demonstrations in many of the areas of the city visited by tourists including in and around the Old City (particularly at and around Damascus Gate, Herod’s Gate, Lion’s Gate and the Chain Gate), especially after Friday prayers. Some of these protests have led to violent clashes. Stay alert at all times in the Old City and leave the area if there is evidence of tension or unrest (for example if the shops in the souks (markets) suddenly begin to close their shutters). The entrances to the Old City may be subject to checks or closures.
  • West Bank
    • Expect road closures and numerous checkpoints across the West Bank. Travel in and out of the West Bank is not possible without passing through at least one Israeli military checkpoint. You will need a passport and immigration slip to go through these checkpoints.
    • Map from UN inter-agency Access Coordination Unit
    • The cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho see large numbers of tourists including on organised tours and there have been no recent reports of any serious incidents involving foreigners. However, you should take care when travelling anywhere in the West Bank.
    • Due to a significant number of road traffic accidents involving taxis in the West Bank, you’re advised not to use them where possible
    • You should avoid using buses on the West Bank and keep in mind the difficulties and risks associated with travelling between Jerusalem/Ramallah via checkpoints and the risks associated with travelling along Route 60
  • Recent terrorist attacks
Alex Ho
Authors
Alex Ho
Software Developer
Experienced software engineer with interests in web and cloud technologies