More information and options can be found here. 

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VISA

All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they enter the country. Australian citizens will be issued with a three month tourist visa (free of charge) on arrival at the airport.
Click here for more information.

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SAFETY

Israel is a safe country to visit and to tour. In 2008, three million tourists came to Israel, an all-time record, and all three million went home again safe and sound.
Swedish Embassy -Tel +972 3 718 00 00. Embassy of Sweden P.O.B. 9393 Tel Aviv 6109301Israel.

 

HEALTH

Israel is a modern, developed country with levels of health and hygiene equal to those of Western countries. Visitors entering Israel are not required to undergo vaccinations prior to their arrival. You can drink tap water, and you will also find bottled water everywhere.

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ELECTRICITY

220 volts AC, 50 hertz. Plugs are 2 or 3 pronged cylindrical, European style. Take with you one European adapter and an Australian 4 point multi-plug. This way you only need to place one plug in the wall socket, attached to your multi-plug which will then take up to 4 Australian plugs (for charging mobiles, shavers, computers etc).

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WEATHER

Israel enjoys long, warm, dry summers (April-October) and generally mild winters (November-March) with somewhat drier, cooler weather in hilly regions, such as Jerusalem and Safed. Rainfall is relatively heavy in the north and center of the country, with much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the southern areas.

Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in the hill regions; hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semi-desert conditions in the Negev.

Weather extremes range from occasional winter snowfall in the mountain regions to periodic oppressively hot dry winds that send temperatures soaring, particularly in spring and autumn.
For a table of average annual temperatures, click here.

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GETTING THERE

Direct flights to Israel from Sweden take off in Stockholm. Most of the international airlines operate flights to Israel. El Al operates direct from Stockholm and the nearby nordic capitals. 

Most international flights land at Ben Gurion Airport, which is located near the town of Lod – approximately a half hour’s drive from Tel Aviv.

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COMMUNICATIONS 

Mobile – Israel’s national and international telecommunications systems are among the most advanced in the world. You are able to use your Swedish mobile phones in Israel; however, we would recommend getting a local phone for more affordable call rates. Check with your Swedish mobile provider that you will have access in Israel, charges etc.

Internet access – the hotels provide wireless / wired connection. You can also use your Blackberry and iPhone or hire a USB card at a local rate.

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CURRENCY

The Israeli monetary unit is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). Currently, the exchange rate between the Israeli Shekel and the Swedish Krona is SEK 1 = 0.4147 NIS.

US Dollars are also accepted at times in Israel. Currently, the exchange rate between the Israeli Shekel and the US Dollar is USD$1 = 3.519 NIS.

All major credit cards are accepted at most places, and ATM’s are widely available. You can withdrawal cash with Visa and AMEX logo cards at most ATMs (be aware of fees).  If you wish to take some cash, take US dollars as these are easily exchangeable in Israel.
Please see the updated rate on: www.xe.com

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TIME DIFFERENCE

Israel is 1 hr ahead of Sweden. 

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LANGUAGE

The official languages are Hebrew, Arabic and English. English is widely spoken (and is the language of business), and most people are fluent.

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DRESS

Some religious and holy sites require modest body covering.

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DRIVING

Right hand of the road. Road signs are in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Taxis are readily available in cities.

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TIPS

It is generally acceptable to leave 10% tip at restaurants, (unless tip is included on the bill).