Tips for traveling to Israel and visiting the Holy Land: our experience

If there is a country where I have wanted to travel for a long time, that is Israel.

There are many different reasons why you may be interested in traveling to a specific country or destination, and I think that Israel It is an enclave that everyone is curious about…and many people also have doubts.

In this initial reflection I want to leave aside the political issues, although I will tell you that precisely to understand them better, I consider that the ideal is travel to Israel.

I know many people who as a rule deny the possibility of visit Israel, and each one has their reasons, but understanding them, and in certain cases sharing them, I have always been open to getting to know that country.

As it will be easy for you to imagine, the religious tourism It is, by far, the main reason for tourists who usually travel to Israel to see Holy Land.

Tips for visiting Israel and the Holy Land: our experience

As a first conclusion from the experience from our recent trip, I will tell you that beyond that religious tourism, I recommend travel to Israel to all of you who are interested in discovering its more cultural side.

Keep in mind that during the trip you will have the opportunity to visit places that are part of one of the cradles of humanity.

And also to have a broader vision, on the ground itself, of the long history of those desert lands of Middle East, and the successive conflicts that have taken place (and continue to take place) in them.

The one that has been my first trip to Israel has focused on the Jerusalem visit y Tel Aviv, although I have also had the opportunity to see the imposing fortress of Masada, and bathing in the waters of the Dead Sea.

From this first experience, below I am going to tell you some Interesting Facts and I'm going to give you some tips and recommendations for your trip to Israel, which will be enriched after subsequent trips.

What is the duration of the flight from Spain to Israel?

At the outset, I tell you that you have direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona, which have a duration of about four and a half hours.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that the time difference between Israel and Spain It is one hour (two hours with the Canary Islands).

But without a doubt the first question that most people ask themselves is Is it safe to travel to Israel?.

Is it safe to travel to Israel?

In these times, this is an issue that is affecting tourism in many areas of the world, including Europe, and not only in the countries of Middle East.

We each have our own concept of what it is. security, when it comes to traveling, and we each have our own limits when it comes to assuming certain risks.

But I will tell you that after my trip I have contrasted something that I already assumed, and that is that Israel It is a country with the highest levels of security in the world.

Do you need a visa to travel to Israel?

To travel from Spain to Israel you will not need visa advance, which they will give you free at the time of entering the country.

You should know that as soon as you arrive at the airport check-in area, before checking in your ticket and leaving your bags, you will have to pass a prior interview with country officials.

In this exhaustive, several-minute interview, you will be asked about the reasons for your trip to Israel, where you are going to stay and what you are going to visit.

Also what are you carrying in your luggage, if you have prepared it alone or with the help of someone, if you have always had it under surveillance, etc...

They will be repeated questions in different ways, with the background of security, and in order not to fall into contradictions, you must be calm and simply tell the truth.

Once you pass this first security check, you can leave your bags in the check-in line and access the boarding area to catch your flight.

At the entrance to the country in the Ben Gurion airport You will also have a brief interview.

And during your visit, when you enter any public establishment, such as large buildings, hotels, shopping centers, etc... you will have to go under a security arch and bag control, something that is already very common in many countries.

My experience tells me that you will soon adapt to the succession of controls, which you will assume as a necessary guarantee of security.

Then, on your walk through cities like Jerusalem o Tel Aviv The presence of police or military may even be lower than what we are already used to in European cities such as Brussels, Paris o Berlin.

Best time to travel to Israel for tourism

La best time of the year all with travel to Israel It's spring or fall.

In summer it is very hot, as I remind you that this is a desert region, and in winter it can get very cold, to the point that it is common for snow in the city of Jerusalem.

To plan your visit you should know that Israel is a small country, which extends 600 kilometers from north to south, and with a distance of just 150 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea to the eastern border with Jordan.

Inside you can move freely even in rental car, although you will have to previously request authorization from the Israeli authorities to access the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority.

You will only have free access to this area, without prior authorization, if you are going to visit the religious enclaves of Belén y Jericho.

From IsraelIf you wish, you can also cross without problems to the neighboring countries of Jordan y Egypt.

In short, it is a highly recommended trip, beyond religious or political issues, of enormous cultural interest.

Cultures and religions in Jerusalem

Especially in the Jerusalem you will find an incredible culture diversity.

On the one hand, the country's inhabitants, of which almost eight million are Jews (in the world today there are about 14 million Jews), although the population of Arabs, 20 percent of the country's total.

But this diversity is also seen in the visitors who come to Israel from all over the world, with the most diverse religions.

In this way, in addition to the orthodox jews and Muslims, Jerusalem you will also see orthodox christians in their different orientations, as well as Catholics, coptsEtc. ...

And you will see the large presence of North American tourists, but also Europeans (large percentage of Russians), Latin Americans or Africans.

Excursions and guided tours in Israel

On your trip to this country you have the option of doing several tour and excursions with guide in Spanish both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

For example, you can sign up for a guided tour of Jerusalem, or on an excursion to see the Masada fortress and the Dead Sea.

You can also do excursions to other places in the Holy LandLike Belén, or focus only on one excursion to the Dead Sea.

8-Day Israel Tour

And another alternative would be to sign up for a 8-Day Best of Israel Tour from Tel Aviv, visiting Jerusalem, Caesarea, Haifa, Tiberias, Nazareth and other notable places in the country.

How to get from the airport to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem

You have to know that when you arrive in the country, the airport is located between the cities of Tel Aviv y Jerusalem.

The most convenient option is to previously hire a transportation to pick you up at the airport and take you directly to your hotel.

We recommend this option especially if you arrive very loaded with luggage.

In short, an incredible experience.