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Cost of travel in Israel
As Israel is a considered a western country, it’s not quite as cheap as other places in the Middle East so expect prices to be a little higher. Depending on how you like to travel, the cost of food, accomodation and transport can vary greatly. Do you enjoy eating at local diners and sampling the street food? Or do you prefer three course meals at high-end restaurants? The range is very diverse in Israel, so it’s up to you how much you want to spend. The currency is the Israel Shekel (ILS).
Excluding accommodation, we recommend to bring an average daily amount of 250NIS for a budget traveller, 250 - 450NIS for a mid-range traveller, and upwards of 600 NIS if you like a splash of luxury. 5 NIS = $1 USD.
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Food & Drink
The Israeli cuisine is (in our opinion) one of the best in the world. It’s generally very high quality as they take pride in their cooking. Food can vary incredibly in price though, depending on where you go and what you order. Restaurants in Tel Aviv tend to be on the pricey side, but most restaurants in other cities are fairly reasonable - and the portions are huge! A main dish is on average $12 - $15 USD. If you’re on a budget, the street food in Israel is incredible and you can usually grab a meal for around $2 - $3 USD. -
Transport
Transport around Israel doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, compared to other western countries it’s relatively cheap. Israel has many transport options for a variety of costs so you should always be able to find something suitable. The bus and rail networks service most of the country especially the tourist hot spots. Taxis in Tel Aviv cost around $8 - $10 USD, a bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is around $5 USD, and a train from Tel Aviv to Haifa will cost around $9 USD.
Top Tip!
Keep some smaller denominations of notes in a separate place so you are always ready for tips and small fares.
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Admission Fees
Israel has a fascinating selection of historical and religious sites, museums and attractions to visit. Costs can vary greatly depending on what it is you are doing. Entry to most national parks tends to float around 25-30 NIS, museum entry is around 40 NIS and a cable car both ways is around 42 NIS.
Tipping etiquette and costs
Tipping is not a general part of the Israeli culture, and in most cases is not expected. Although it is in some scenarios. However, with the increase in tourism, tipping in Israel is becoming more and more common. If you would like to leave a tip, here are our suggested amounts.
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Restaurants
Restaurants is one of the few times when it is expected to provide a tip if the service was agreeable. If the service was good, it is expected that you tip waiters and waitresses 10-15%. Pubs will usually have a tip jar on the bar which you can pop in 10-15% too.
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Guides
We always recommend that you provide a tip for your tour guides. If you are in a group setting, a bundle together is fine - we usually suggest about 10-20 NIS per person.
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Transport
Taxis and other private transport options don’t usually require a tip as you will have agreed to a price before getting in. If the taxi is on the meter, feel free to round the cost up.
Top Tip!
If you’re on a budget make use of the fabulous markets. The food is always some of the best around and it’s much cheaper than dining out at restaurants.
Can you haggle in Israel?
Yes, you can haggle in Israel, but not everywhere. Shops and stores will have fixed priced but most markets and flea markets have negotiable prices so haggle away!
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