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Best Time of the Year to Visit Israel

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  • May 11, 2023
  • Israel, Travel
  • Geoff Kullman
Best Time of the Year to Visit Israel

Need help figuring out the best time of year to visit Israel? Give us a call, and we’re happy to discuss your options.

CALL US : +1 855 958 6877

Best Times to Visit Israel

It’s a common question that we often hear from travelers starting the planning stages of their trip to Israel. What time of year should they book their trip? What is the best time to visit Israel? Or what month is the best to travel to Israel?

Is February a good time to visit Israel?
Is November a good time to visit Israel?
Is October a good time to visit Israel?
Is December a good time to visit Israel?
What is the best time to visit Israel and Jordan?

After you’ve read this travel guide, you’ll know the best time of year for you to visit the Holy Land based on your priorities. Depending on your reasons for choosing Israel, one month may be better than the next. The best time to visit depends on your individual interests and priorities (or those of your group).

The goal of this article is to help you build a trip to Israel based on the preferred experience you want to create. We’ll also provide you with additional information on the curated tour packages that Tradition Tours has to offer.

You’ll also be interested in reading our Travel Guide on costs and budget.
How Much Does a Holy Land Trip Cost?

Best Times of the Year to Visit Israel

Table of Contents:

  1. Best Times for Experiencing Isreal’s Highlights
  2. Holidays in Israel
  3. Best Times for a Beach Vacation
  4. Best Times for Jewish Family Time
  5. Cheapest Time to Visit
  6. Least Busy Time to Visit

Best Times for Experiencing Israel’s Highlights

Spring (Match - May) and Fall (September - November)

We recommend these seasons because the temperatures are mild, pleasant, and mostly dry. You’ll be able to visit the country’s top attractions without the hustle and bustle of the high season, and hotels are comparatively cheaper.

January and February are especially popular with church groups. The weather can be hit-or-miss that time of year, but it’s a quiet time and easy to get arranged.

Springtime in Israel is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The mild temperatures make these seasons the optimal time to try hiking and biking in Israel. It’s also the perfect time to explore Israel’s neighboring countries with mini-tours of Jordan and Egypt.

To learn more about traveling to Israel, read our Discover Israel page, where you’ll see details of multiple Israel packages.

Discover Israel here >>

Holidays in Israel

You likely already know the major religious holidays, such as Easter, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. These holidays attract large numbers of pilgrims to Israel during this time. Also of note, during these holidays, there are huge displays and parties.

What’s more, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are two major holidays celebrated in Israel, which often cause the country to shut down completely. You can travel to Israel during this time of year, but most (or all) of the tourist and religious destinations will be closed.

As we’ll note below, this doesn’t mean that you can’t visit the Holy Land during these holidays. But you’ll want us to help you plan the trip to ensure you organize things properly.

Passover is also a tricky time to travel to Israel as hotel prices tend to spike during the holiday, and bread may not be served in supermarkets and kosher restaurants.

All reasons to give us a call so we can help you plan your trip to Israel. Call us at 1-855-958-6877.

Best Times for a Beach Vacation

Summer (June - August)

At Tradition Tours, we recommend visiting the west coast beaches of Tel Aviv and beyond in summer. We can also arrange tours leaving from the city every day.

You’ll also want to consider travel to Eilat as a resort location.

Remember that the nightlife and club scene are best in the summer. The temperatures are also the hottest during this time. And summer is when crowds are at their peak.

As with most travel, summer is the most expensive time to visit Israel.

Best Times for Jewish Family Time

As we mentioned, there are two biggest Jewish holiday times in Israel.

Passover in March/April.
Rosh Hashana September/October.
And Sukkot also in September/October.

You’ll want to be careful when planning your trip to Israel during those months on your own. It may be difficult without an inside edge, as most tours don’t run during this time. One prime example of why it’s so important to plan your trip with an expert. Give us a call at Tradition Tours.

Remember, hotel and flight prices are higher due to the popularity of traveling to Israel during this time.

If your preference is to visit Israel during these times of the year, don’t plan it yourself, as there are too many details that might fall through the crack. Give us a call. 1-855-958-6877.

Cheapest Times to Visit

The shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall are beautiful and a great time to visit. With milder weather and fewer tourists, these seasons are the best time to balance saving money, avoiding crowds, and enjoying the weather.

Winter (November to March) may also work for your travel plans. With fewer tourists and lower prices for hotels and flights, we often recommend groups consider Winter.

Be warned: some shops and businesses may close during this time due to fewer tourists, but the weather remains warm and appealing. Shops may also close earlier as it gets darker earlier.

November is the cheapest time to fly to Israel.

Least Busy Time to Visit

As mentioned, winter (December to February) may be the best time to visit Israel.

With its cool and dry weather, it’s a great time to explore the country.

Some attractions and activities may be closed, but there are also fewer tourists to crowd those attractions and cities.

Remember to consider the shoulder season (March to May, September to November) as a good time to visit. These off-season months will be more affordable, which is often an important factor if you’re traveling with a church group.

Create a Tailored Holy Land Experience with Tradition Tours

To summarize and restate the information above, the best times to visit Israel are based on your individual interests and priorities. You’ll also need to consider the importance of the weather, tourism levels, and personal preferences when planning a trip to Israel.

At Tradition Tours, we make traveling and planning a memorable trip to Israel simple and worry-free. With more than 25 years of experience creating memorable experiences in the Holy Land, we know the hiccups to watch for and plan around.

As a full-service travel boutique, we offer full-service, personalized concierge services for individuals, families, and church groups traveling to the Holy Land. More than that, we also have package tours that include Egypt, Jordan, and Greece.

If you’re starting to plan your trip, don’t do it alone. Your trip to Israel is an important, life-changing, amazing experience that we’ll gladly help you plan and organize. Give us a call. 1-855-958-6877.

If you have questions after looking at our tour packages, we invite you to call us. We’ll help you decide the best seasons to travel to Israel before planning your trip. We can also provide you with additional information on our curated packages.

We’re happy to share stories from people who’ve traveled with Tradition Tours. Here’s just one:

“Tradition Tours made the planning of our trip personal for us. Donny provided details on different tours, gave us time to make a decision, and worked closely with us after complications delayed our much-anticipated trip to Israel and Egypt. The tour in Israel exceeded our expectations. Tradition Tours worked with us every step of the way. Highly recommend Tradition Tours without any hesitation whatsoever!” – David B, Virginia

Call us at Tradition Tours to talk about your Holy Land tour.

CALL US : +1 855 958 6877

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Geoff Kullman

Geoff Kullman is a freelance copywriter and former pastor. Geoff traveled to the Middle East (and Holy Land) in 2007 and has been an avid researcher and writer of history and archeology since. He has traveled to 5 continents and loves learning about the world's cultures.

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