When to Visit Israel?

Israel has hot weather for about 6 months a year from April to September; winter is mild with the occasional showers but still warm enough to spend time outdoors. The “high” season for tourists is usually July and August but this is not necessarily the best time to travel. Israeli schools are on holiday for these two months and prices are at their highest. If you want the great summer weather but with fewer crowds and lower hotel rates and flight prices then travel in the shoulder seasons just before and just after summer. May and November have good weather but are not part of the high season. Another point to take into consideration is which city or region you plan on spending most of your time in. If you will be based in Jerusalem or the Golan then winter may not be the best choice. If you will be in the center of the country, like in Tel Aviv or Herzlyia and only making side trips to Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee etc then winter would be fine. If you are traveling to Israel specifically for the sun, surf and beaches along the Mediterranean coast or by the Red Sea in Eilat then summer or the shoulder seasons are best. With the changing Jewish calendar Jewish holiday dates change from year to year.

Jerusalem is much cooler than other parts of the country during the winter. There is also quite a bit of rainfall with most of the city’s rainfall during these months and January is Jerusalem’s wettest month. Jerusalem often gets snow in late December to January and you might even be lucky enough to have a white Christmas in Jerusalem. This is a great time for budget travelers and for those who don’t mind a bit of a chill in the air. During the winter there is Hannuka usually in December and the Jerusalem International Biannual Book Fair in February. You can enjoy the Christmas celebrations in the Old City or Bethlehem.

In Tel Aviv winter is not the best beach weather and there will probably be a chill in the air even if the sun is shining most of the time. This is the city’s rainy season with December and January seeing the most rainfall. Tel Aviv hotel rates drop only slightly in the winter. In February there is the Tel Aviv Festival of Jazz. In Eilat the winter weather is cool and not the best for all of the water sport activities and outdoor fun you can have here. With most of the Eilat attractions being outdoors winter is not ideal.

The Jewish festival of Passover usually falls in April and the amazingly fun festival of Purim is usually in late March. Find out about these festivals before traveling to see if you are interested in the festival events. For young travelers Purim is a wonderful time to visit Israel – there are fancy dress parties in clubs and parades in each city. In Passover Israeli schools are on holiday and bread is scarce as Jews are prohibited from eating bread during Passover. In Jerusalem the sun shines and temperatures are comfortable. Easter is celebrated in the Christian Quarter of the Old City and in some tourist attractions. There are hotel deals on offer (except during the Jewish holiday periods) and you can be entertained by a wide range of cultural events during the Israel Festival in May. 

Tel Aviv also has great weather in this period. There are fewer crowds but the weather is good enough for some time on the beach. In March there is the Tel Aviv Marathon and Tel Aviv celebrates Purim with many special events including street parties and a Zombie Walk when people dress up as zombies and take to the streets on one night. In May you can also join in the Israel Independence Day celebrations which include public music performances, street parties and fireworks. Unless you are a dedicated sun worshiper this is a good season for Eilat. The weather is not at its best for the beach but still good enough.

Travelers to Israel in September should be very clear about the local High Holidays – Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot. Several of these days are public holidays and attractions are closed and public transport at a minimum. Despite the hot temperatures tourists flood to Israel in the summer; this is the most expensive time to visit Israel but the best time if you love hot, sunny weather. Jerusalem sees less humidity but the coastal area including Tel Aviv will leave you dripping wet with humidity. Eilat on the other hand has scorching temperatures but the air is dry with very low humidity. In Jerusalem there is the Jerusalem Film Festival in July. In Tel Aviv the summer weather tends to start earlier than in Jerusalem with hot weather from May. 

This is Tel Aviv’s beach season and its driest season with almost no rain. The beaches and promenades are packed, there is a holiday atmosphere in the whole city and hotels need to be booked early. In June Tel Aviv celebrates Tel Aviv Pride and the White Night Festival when the city stays open throughout the night with cultural performances on the streets. In September there is the Loving Art Making Art in Tel Aviv. This is perfect weather for those who want to sun themselves on the beach in Eilat and enjoy all the outdoor activities the city has to offer.

Fall weather in Jerusalem is pleasant and you won’t be sweating or rubbing shoulders with masses of tourists. This is a good time to find hotel deals (unless any of the High Holidays fall in October, in which case prices spike over the holiday period). In Tel Aviv the autumn comes earlier than in Jerusalem with temperatures dropping in September. Crowds and prices drop as in Jerusalem and the weather is great for sightseeing without dripping with sweat like you would have just a few weeks earlier. Sports fans will enjoy the Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv basketball games in October-December. Eilat is great in this season but stick to the period just after summer and not late November when the weather is cooler.