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Travel Guide » Asia » Israel
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State of Israel
(Israel)


More than just a powder-keg or a promised land, Israel is unforgettable.

Everyone has their own perception of what Israel is about: it's a travel-agency package of beaches and sun; it's the Promised Land of the Jews; it's a ticking time bomb. And while it is all of these things, it's much more besides.


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Getting There
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To Do & See
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At a Glance
Getting Around:

Israel is so small that it would be silly to fly, but if you must there are flights between Haifa and Eilat and Tel Aviv and Eilat. Buses are cheap and go almost everywhere - the state company, Egged, is the second-largest bus company in the world. Arab buses, though older and slower than their Israeli counterparts, provide service between East Jerusalem and destinations in the West Bank. Jewish buses usually don't run on Shabbat. Israel State Railways runs a limited but convenient, efficient and inexpensive network of passenger rail services from Nahariya to Be'ersheva and Jerusalem. It is recommended for travel between Tel Aviv and Haifa or Acco. Share taxis, or sheruts, are one of the most popular forms of transport, particularly because they run on Shabbat. If you are travelling to the Golan or the Negev, where bus services are sparse, consider hiring a car.

Weather:

Israel has pronounced seasonal variation, and summers and winters can often get pretty severe. Southern Israel tends to cook in July and August, with the mercury climbing beyond 40°C (104°F); it's almost constantly dry as well. Elsewhere, November to March are significantly rainy. Things are a tad cooler in the north with summer highs around 30°C (86°F) and winter lows sometimes below zero.

Dial in code(s):
City code:04
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