If you google this question “When is the best time to visit Israel”, you will find very different answers. Israel looks different on every season. If you don’t like rain, avoid winter. Or if you are going for festivals, then refer to Jewish calendar. However if you are just a regular visitor, who sits in air-conditioned room most of the time, maybe my experience can be some help. I strongly feel early spring from February to March is the best time to visit Israel. Now let’s see the longer version to this answer!
Try Not to Be Under the Weather
1.How Well Do You Handle Heat?
I don’t really believe this chart which you find on internet. I went in Mary and it was definitely NOT 25 Celcius (77 Fehenheit), it was like 40 celcius degrees. You know this whole global warming thing…. And I get headache and lazybones when it’s too hot. I don’t know if you are like me who hates to sweat, but if you rather be in an air-conditioned room than outside in summer, please avoid summer, which is from April to October.
Yes I know some articles online tell you that summer is the best time to visit Israel. But I’ve been to Israel 3 times in Summer, and that’s not the right season for me. I must say.
I’m happy to go to Israel any other months, as long as I don’t need to deal with heat. And what’s winter like in Israel anyways? This is February in Tel Aviv…. What? It was 20 Celsius degrees on that day! That’s my ideal temperature for summer!
But it’s much colder in Jerusalem. It rains too. And it snows. The average temperature is like 4-12 Celsius degrees. Yes it sounds terribly cold if you come from a hot country.
This was me on a morning in Jerusalem. It was 9 Celsius degrees and I was overdressed. I had to take off my hat very quickly because it really wasn’t that cold.
2.About Flowers Blooming in Spring
If you like nature, go in late March/early April. That’s the most beautiful season as flowers bloom!
If you come late, you are left with single golden color in May.
3. The Rain, Rain, We Need More Rain Season
Israel is 60% covered by desert, so they need rain. You only find rain season from October to April. Yes I like winter, but not so much about rain. Yet this was bearable, and consider that Israel needs rain, it feels like a privilege when you wake up with a rainy day in Israel! (Try Dead Sea if you wake up on a rainy day in Jerusalem. It hardly rains there)
You might encouter orthox Jewish people with special outfits on a rainy day!
4.How About Sunshine Hours?
You still get 7-8 hours of daylight during winter time. So that’s fine! Really! You need time to sleep and eat anyways, so it doesn’t matter if it’s bright or dark. Right?
What About Jewish Holidays?
If you are Jewish, or you are going to support Israel as Christian for Sukkot, then there’s not much to worry about because you’ll have to be in Israel in certain time of the year. Just note that it’s peak season and you might want to book your hotel as early as possible. Expect the room rate to be 70-150% more than usual. (Usually happens in October+ November. And then April and May)
If you avoid Jewish Holidays, then you’ll enjoy discounts of low season. That’s usually January and February. The third cheapest month might be August because it is hot.
By the way, did you know that only 3.6 million visitors visited in Israel in 2017? Only 3.6million. So yes, more tourists should go to Israel. Please don’t overthink, the best time might just be whoever you get to have days off or whenever your national holidays are!
