Good Time to Visit
Weather
November-March is wet, but mild. Hot and dry from June-September.
Festivals
Israel has a typically Mediterranean climate in the north and central area, with hot, dry summers (June-September) and warm, wet winters (November-March). The average temperature at Tel Aviv-Jaffa is 14°C in January and 27°C in July. The Red Sea resort of Eilat has a good climate for beach holidays all year round.
Visitors are advised to bring lightweight clothes for the summer and mediumweights for winters, although on the Red Sea coast they are unlikely to be necessary during the day.
More information on the Israeli weather may be found in Climate in Israel.
Festivals
Religious festivals are of great importance. There are many Jewish festivals: in February/March, Purim is celebrated (while around the same time, Jerusalem celebrates Holy Week). Hanukkah, in November/December, is a festival of lights and freedom. In April/May, Israelis mark Holocaust Martyrs and Independance Day. The key Christian festivals are Christmas and Easter, when there is a special atmosphere in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Among Islamic festivals, Ramadan, the month of fasting, is particularly significant.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Israel:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January/Febuary (variable) | Tu Bishvat |
| Febuary/March (variable) | Purim |
| March/April (variable)* | Pesach (Passover) |
| April/May (variable) | Yom Ha'Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance) |
| April/May (variable) | Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Independence Day) |
| April/May (variable) | Lag Ba'omer |
| May/June (variable) | Shavuot (Pentecost) |
| July/August (variable) | Tisha B'Av |
| September/October (variable) | Rosh Hashana (New Year) |
| September/October (variable) | Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) |
| September/October (variable)* | Sukkot (Tabernacles) |
| September/October (variable) | Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah |
| November/December (variable)** | Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) |
*Only the first and last days of Passover and Sukkot are national holidays, however, there may be some disruption on intermediate dates; many shops and businesses may open but close early.
** The festival of Hanukkah is a holiday period, but it is not a national holiday - businesses remain open.
The Jewish religious day is Saturday (Shabbat) and begins at nightfall on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. Most public services and shops close early on Friday as a result.
