How to get to Israel: airports, flights and border crossings

For nearly every traveller the answer is Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV). It is Israel's main international gateway and carries the bulk of nonstop services from North America, Europe and Asia (check). From the terminal you can reach Tel Aviv by train, taxi or shared van; Jerusalem is further, so allow more time (check).

Ramon airport (ETM), near Eilat in the south, is a smaller field serving the Red Sea resort area (check). Choose it only if Eilat is your whole trip. Flying into Ramon to then travel north to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem wastes a day.

Haifa has an airport but it is not a practical international arrival point for most visitors (check). Treat TLV as the default and build the rest of the trip around it.

Nonstop service to TLV exists from a number of North American and European cities, but route networks change with demand and security conditions, so confirm schedules when you book rather than assuming a route still runs (check).

From the US East Coast, expect roughly 10–11 hours nonstop; from the West Coast, most itineraries connect through Europe and run longer. From London, nonstop is about 4.5–5 hours. From Canada and Australia, connections are the norm; Australia in particular is a long haul via Asia, the Gulf or Europe (check).

Fares swing widely by season and by how far ahead you book. Shoulder months are usually cheaper than Jewish holidays and the summer peak. Compare a few dates before committing (check).

Israel has land borders with Jordan and Egypt. The Jordan crossings include Allenby/King Hussein (near Jericho, the main one for most travellers), the Jordan River crossing in the north and the Arava crossing in the south near Eilat. The Egypt side is mainly the Taba crossing near Eilat. Opening hours, fees and who may use each crossing change, so verify before you travel and do not assume a crossing is open late or on holidays (check).

Crossing overland takes time: border formalities, separate exit and entry procedures, and transport on each side that does not always connect. Budget several hours for a crossing day and carry your documents in reach (check).

Sea arrival is not a normal route for visitors. Cruise ships do call at Haifa and Ashdod, and that is the practical way to arrive by sea; there is no regular passenger ferry service to rely on (check).

Entry rules, visa requirements and security screening for Israel depend on your passport and change with events. Check the current requirements for your nationality, and check your own government's travel advice, before you commit to flights. This desk does not plan around travel advisories; read them yourself.

Allow extra time at the airport on departure: security interviews and bag checks at Ben Gurion are thorough and can add an hour or more (check). Arrive earlier than you would for a comparable flight elsewhere (check).

Travel insurance matters here more than in many destinations, because itineraries can be disrupted at short notice. Buy a policy that covers cancellation and medical care, and read what it excludes.

From Ben Gurion, the train is the cheapest way into Tel Aviv and runs to other cities; taxis and shared vans are faster door to door but cost more. For Jerusalem, the train and the shared van are the usual choices. Which is best depends on your arrival hour and how much luggage you have (check).

Once you are in the country, buses and trains cover most of the routes a visitor wants, though service pauses on Shabbat in many places. Plan Friday afternoons and Saturdays around that (check).