Israel Travel Guide for American Visitors (2026)

Israel is among the most popular long-haul destinations for American travellers — with direct flights from New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, and an extraordinary range of historic, cultural and natural experiences packed into a country roughly the size of New Jersey. This guide covers the practical information specific to US visitors: the State Department advisory, the ETA-IL requirement (and how it differs from ESTA), flights from America, banking and no-FX-fee cards, power adapters and US Embassy contacts.

For the broader trip-planning picture, see the complete first-time visitor guide and the safety guide.

US State Department travel advisory

The State Department publishes live, tiered travel advice for Israel at travel.state.gov/israel. The current advisory carries a Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) designation for Israel overall, with more specific guidance by area:

• Gaza Strip — Do Not Travel (Level 4); the border is closed to civilians.
• Parts of the West Bank — Reconsider Travel; specific towns and roads are flagged.
• Northern border zone — the area near the Lebanese border carries elevated caution; Haifa, Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee are outside the highest-caution zone.
• Main tourist areas — Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, Galilee (south of the border zone), the Negev and Eilat are the principal destinations visited by American tourists and are not specifically restricted in the advisory as of mid-2026.

The advisory is updated in response to events. Check it before you book, again before you depart, and monitor for updates during your trip. Third-party summaries (including this guide) can go stale — travel.state.gov is the authoritative source.

Enroll in STEP. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov lets you register your trip with the nearest US Embassy so they can contact you in an emergency and send security alerts. Enrollment is free and takes under five minutes.

Flying from the United States

Direct routes

Several airlines operate nonstop services between the US and Ben Gurion Airport (TLV):

El Al runs the most frequencies year-round — often multiple daily departures from JFK — and tends to be price-competitive on the nonstop transatlantic market. United serves Newark year-round. Delta is resuming and expanding service in 2026 after a pause; confirm schedule before booking. Flight time from New York is approximately 10–11 hours eastbound; from LA approximately 15–16 hours.

When to book. Fares from the US are typically lowest in October (after the Jewish High Holiday season) and in January–February. The most expensive periods are Passover (March–April), the High Holidays (September–October), summer peak (July–August) and the Christmas–New Year window. Booking around 10–20 weeks in advance usually produces competitive fares. See the cheap flights to Israel guide for fare tool tips and a full airline comparison.

Connecting via Europe

If no direct route serves your home airport, connecting via a European hub adds only a few hours:

• Amsterdam (KLM), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Vienna (Austrian), Zurich (SWISS) — popular one-stop options from US East Coast cities
• London Heathrow (BA or El Al) — particularly useful if you plan to stop in the UK
• Paris CDG (Air France) — common connecting option; often price-competitive

Entry requirements: ETA-IL (not ESTA)

Since January 2025, American citizens must hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA-IL) before boarding any flight to Israel. This is entirely separate from ESTA — ESTA is the US program for visa-waiver travel into the United States; it has no connection to Israel’s entry requirements.

Key facts:

• Cost: ₪25 per application (roughly $7 at recent exchange rates; the ETA-IL is priced in shekels)
• Validity: Up to 2 years, or until your passport expires — whichever is earlier; valid for multiple entries
• Processing time: Usually 72 hours; can take longer during high season — apply at least a week before departure
• Apply at: iaa.gov.il (the Israel Airports Authority official portal; other sites that charge higher fees are not official)
• Length of stay: Up to 90 days per visit as a tourist

The ETA-IL is linked electronically to your passport. You do not receive a physical stamp or printed document to carry. Keep a record of your application reference number. See the full ETA-IL and visa guide for the application steps in detail.

Israeli entry stamp policy. Ben Gurion Airport has not issued passport stamps to tourists since around 2013 — instead, you receive a small paper entry slip. Keep this slip throughout your trip; hotels and some internal checkpoints may ask to see it.

Flights and time zone

Israel Standard Time (IST) is UTC+3 in summer (late March to late October) and UTC+2 in winter (late October to late March).

A flight leaving JFK at 11pm arrives Tel Aviv around 5–6pm the next day local time — most travellers find they can push through to a normal bedtime on the first night, which is the fastest way to adjust.

Mobile phones and connectivity

US carriers in Israel. T-Mobile subscribers on most postpaid plans receive free international data at 2G speeds in Israel, with an optional $5/day high-speed add-on — check your specific plan at T-Mobile.com. AT&T and Verizon International Day Pass plans cost $10–$15/day per line activated, capped at your plan’s domestic data speeds. Verify your carrier’s exact Israel rates before travelling; data charges without a plan add-on can be high.

Best options for data:

1. Local Israeli SIM card — available at Ben Gurion Airport arrivals (Golan Telecom and Hot Mobile kiosks, typically open 24 hours) and in phone shops across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. A 30-day unlimited data SIM typically costs ₪50–90 (roughly $13–24) and includes calls within Israel. Your US phone must be unlocked to use a local SIM.
2. eSIM — providers such as Airalo and Nomad sell Israel data eSIMs that you activate before departure. Compatible with most recent iPhones and Android flagships.
3. International day-pass — useful if you only need data for a few days; check your carrier’s app before you leave.

Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, restaurants and cafés across Israel’s main tourist areas.

Currency and banking

Israel’s currency is the New Israeli Shekel (₪, ILS). Card payments are broadly accepted in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat and most tourist-facing businesses throughout the country. The Israeli payments system is highly digitised — contactless Mastercard and Visa are accepted in most shops, restaurants and taxis.

No-foreign-transaction-fee cards for American travellers:

• Charles Schwab Visa debit — reimburses all ATM fees worldwide and charges no foreign transaction fee; widely considered the best all-around option for US travellers
• Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve — no foreign transaction fees; solid travel insurance benefits
• Capital One Venture / Quicksilver — no foreign transaction fees across the card range
• American Express cards — widely accepted in hotels and upscale restaurants in Israel; less so at smaller vendors and markets

Standard US bank debit cards (linked to checking accounts) typically charge 1–3% foreign transaction fees plus ATM withdrawal fees — check before you leave.

ATMs. Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim and Israel Post Bank ATMs are widely distributed in cities and tourist areas. Your US bank will likely charge a foreign ATM fee; Schwab reimburses these automatically.

Cash. Carry some cash (₪200–500) for smaller vendors, markets, shared taxis (sheruts) and rural areas. Carmel Market in Tel Aviv and many stalls in Jerusalem’s Old City bazaars are cash-preferred. Airport exchange desks carry poor rates — exchange at a city-centre exchange bureau or use an ATM.

Exchange bureaus. Dedicated exchange bureaus typically offer better shekel rates than banks or airport desks. Look for them near the major markets in Tel Aviv (around Allenby Street) and Jerusalem (Ben Yehuda Street and Jaffa Road). See the Israel money guide for current rate benchmarks.

Power adapter and voltage

Israeli sockets use Type H — a unique three-flat-pin format (V-shape or Y-shape) not used in any other country. American plugs (Type A, two flat parallel pins; or Type B, with an additional round grounding pin) do not fit without an adapter.

Voltage matters for American travellers. Israel runs on 230V/50Hz; the US runs on 120V/60Hz. Most modern electronics — smartphones, laptops, tablets, camera chargers — are marked “100–240V” and work worldwide with just a plug adapter (no voltage converter needed). Check the label on your charger before packing.

Devices that may need a converter: older hairdryers, certain electric shavers, straighteners and some appliances marked “120V only” will not work on Israeli power without a separate voltage converter. It is often simpler to buy a dual-voltage travel version before you go.

Buy adapters before you leave. A US-to-Israel plug adapter or a universal travel adapter with Type H compatibility costs $5–15 on Amazon. Adapters available at Ben Gurion Airport arrivals are considerably more expensive.

US Embassy and emergency contacts

US Embassy Jerusalem (the main US mission to Israel since 2018) 18 Agron Road, Jerusalem Telephone: +972-2-630-4000 Emergency after-hours line: +972-2-630-4000 (follow the prompts for American Citizens Services)

US Embassy Branch Office Tel Aviv 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv Telephone: +972-3-519-7575

The Embassy’s American Citizens Services (ACS) unit handles lost passports, arrests, hospitalizations and other emergencies. Register with STEP at step.state.gov before you travel so the Embassy can reach you directly if needed.

Emergency numbers in Israel:

• Police: 100
• Ambulance (Magen David Adom): 101
• Fire: 102
• National emergency operator: 112 (works from mobile phones, including US phones)

US-specific practicalities at a glance

Planning your Israel trip from the US

The most popular itinerary structure for American visitors with 7–10 days splits roughly into Tel Aviv (2–3 nights), Jerusalem (2–3 nights) and a regional excursion — Galilee, the Dead Sea, Petra or Eilat. The 5 vs 7 vs 10 days guide helps you calibrate the right length.

American travellers who drive at home generally find Israel easy to navigate by rental car — roads are well-maintained, signage is clear in English, and GPS navigation is straightforward. A car is particularly useful for the Galilee and the Negev but is not needed for the Jerusalem–Tel Aviv axis (the high-speed train takes 32–35 minutes). See the car hire guide and the Israel driving guide if you plan to drive.

Is Israel safe? answers the security question in full with area-specific context and the latest State Department advisory framing. How much does Israel cost? covers the budget picture — Israel is broadly comparable in cost to Western Europe, with accommodation and dining ranging from budget-friendly hostels and hummus joints to boutique hotels and Michelin-tracked restaurants.