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Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Israel

© 123rf.com / Joshua Haviv

Travel to Israel

Flying to Israel

The privatised national airline is El Al Israel Airlines (LY) (www.elal.co.il).

Flight times:

From London to Tel Aviv is 4 hours 30 minutes and to Eilat is 5 hours. From New York to Tel Aviv 11 hours.

Departure tax:

None.

Driving to Israel

Travellers should note that both Syria and Lebanon refuse entry to travellers who have evidence of a visit to Israel in their passport.

Evidence can include an Israeli visa, Israeli border stamps or any visa purchased in Israel.

It can also include Jordanian or Egyptian border stamps that indicate the traveller crossed to/from Israel.

Border authorities will stamp separate slips of paper upon request.

Jordanian visas can be obtained at the Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan River border crossings, but not at the Allenby Bridge border crossing.

Travellers crossing Allenby Bridge must arrange their visas in advance, either through a tour operator or in person at a Jordanian embassy or consulate.

By road note:

Travellers should note that both Syria and Lebanon refuse entry to travellers who have evidence of a visit to Israel in their passport.

Evidence can include an Israeli visa, Israeli border stamps or any visa purchased in Israel.

It can also include Jordanian or Egyptian border stamps that indicate the traveller crossed to/from Israel.

Border authorities will stamp separate slips of paper upon request.

Jordanian visas can be obtained at the Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan River border crossings, but not at the Allenby Bridge border crossing.

Travellers crossing Allenby Bridge must arrange their visas in advance, either through a tour operator or in person at a Jordanian embassy or consulate.

Getting to Israel by boat

Ashdod and Haifa. Foreign craft sailing to Israel may use these ports of entry as well as Eilat and the marinas of Ashkelon, Herzliya and Tel Aviv.

Many cruise ships also dock at Israel for excursions to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Ferry operators:

There are regular sailings of car/passenger ferries from Haifa to Limassol in Cyprus. The ferry is operated by Rosenfeld Shipping (www.rosenfeld.net).

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