Country Information

The national airline is El Al Israel Airlines (LY) (www.elal.co.il), but other Israeli airlines include Arkia (IZ) (www.arkia.com) and Israir (ISR) (www.israirairlines.com). Major airlines link Tel Aviv’s International Airport to many major world cities, while from Europe, budget carriers include Easyjet (EZY) (www.easyjet.com) from London Luton and Geneva, Switzerland, Air Berlin (AB) (www.airberlin.com) from Germany and Jet2 from Manchester, UK.

Included in the price of an airline ticket.

El Al does not offer flights departing or arriving in Tel Aviv during Shabbat (Friday evening and Saturday).

Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). (www.iaa.gov.il) Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport is located 20km (12 miles) southeast of Tel Aviv and 50km (31 miles) west of Jerusalem. Tel: <p>(03) 975 5555 or 975 6663</p>.

Eilat Central Airport (ETH). (www.iaa.gov.il) The airport is in the centre of the city. To/from the airport: Buses, taxis and limousines are available to the hotel strip and elsewhere in town (journey time - 5 minutes).

Israel's maritime passenger industry is rather limited. Private vessels arriving in Israel can use one of many marinas, the largest being Haifa and Ashdod. Others include Eilat, Ashkelon, Herzliya and Tel Aviv.

Due to a lack of traffic, ferry lines linking Israel with other Mediterranean countries have been suspended.

Israel is a popular stop on Mediterranean cruise ship schedules. Haifa caters to cruise ship passengers in its large, modern terminal and is a 1.5 hour drive from Jerusalem and 1 hour from Tel Aviv. It provides good access to the Galilee region.

Israel does not have any international railway connections, and is not included within any rail pass schemes.

Despite having borders with Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Territories of Gaza and the West Bank, it is only possible to cross from Israel into Jordan, Egypt and the West Bank. Crossing overland into and out of Jordan and Egypt is fairly straightforward: Egypt: Israel and Egypt have one border crossing linking Eilat with Taba, Egypt. Visitors entering the Sinai Peninsula don’t require a visa in advance but can purchase one at the border (46 Egyptian pounds/$8) which is open 24/7 except Yom Kippur and Eid el-Adha. There is a 101NIS exit fee. For those visiting the Egyptian mainland visas must be applied for at the Egyptian consulates in Tel Aviv or Eilat. Jordan: Jordan and Israel share three border crossings; Yitzhak Rabin/Arava Border Crossing near Eilat, Allenby Border Crossing/King Hussein Bridge near Jerusalem and Jordan River Crossing in the Galilee. With the exception of the King Hussein/Allenby Border Crossing visas can be purchased at the border. Otherwise, to cross here visas must be applied for in advance from the Jordanian consulate in Tel Aviv. At the Yitzhak Rabin/Arava Border Crossing visas cost 20 dirhams and are valid for two weeks. Exit tax from is 101NIS. This is the same for the Jordan River Crossing. Similarly at the Allenby Border Crossing/King Hussein Bridge visas are 20 dirhams, but exit tax costs 167NIS.

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. However, it is possible not to have your passport stamped on entry into and out of Israel and border authorities will stamp a separate 17L form upon request.