Geographical location
According to COUNTRYAAH, Israel is a country on the Mediterranean Sea, which geographically belongs to the Middle East and borders the neighboring states of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s population is around 8.4 million according to current statistics, with another 550,000 people living in the currently occupied territories. With over 6 million Jews, it is the only state in the world with a Jewish majority.
The capital of the democratic state is Jerusalem with around 810,000 inhabitants, which is regarded as a holy city by the world religions of Islam, youth and Christianity.
These religious overlaps have always created potential for conflict in the country, which is an extremely popular travel destination due to its rich cultural and scenic diversity.
Israel can be divided into four main landscape areas, in addition to the coastline on the Mediterranean, these are the hilly central country, the Negev desert and the Jordan Valley. With the Dead Sea at about 418 meters below sea level, Israel is the lowest point on earth.
In addition to the capital Jerusalem, major cities in the Israel are Tel Aviv, Haifa, Rishon LeZion and Nazareth.
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Israel.
Climate in Israel
Due to the different altitudes, there are several climate zones with regionally different weather conditions in Israel. In general, the Mediterranean character is particularly noticeable in the north of the country, where very hot summer months with high humidity and comparatively mild but very humid winters are predominant.
In the south of Israel you will mainly find a subtropical climate that is very dry. It rains very seldom, the irregular showers bring only small amounts of precipitation. The rainiest time in the entire country is between December and January, in winter, especially in the north, there can be torrential rains. Cyclones (tornadoes) are extremely rare in Israel.
Dry conditions also prevail in the interior, the Negev and the Jordan Valley.
When is the best time to go to Israel?
Basically, Israel is worth a trip all year round, although the increased rainfall between December and March does not always produce ideal conditions. On the other hand, the period May to November is particularly beautiful, which is generally considered the best time to travel to Israel and is equally popular in all parts of the country. The sometimes extremely high daytime temperatures between June and August are not suitable for everyone.
We therefore particularly recommend the fringe months of spring and autumn as the ideal time for your trip to Israel. Our absolute favorites are the travel times from April to the beginning of June and from mid- September until November. You can expect pleasant summer temperatures, around 10 to 11 hours of sunshine and ideal water temperatures – with almost no precipitation at all!
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Israel).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Tel Aviv | all except January, February, March and December |
| Eilat | April, May, September, October and November |
| Haifa | April, May, September, October and November |
| Tel Aviv-Jaffa | all except January, February, March and December |
Temperatures, precipitation in Tel Aviv (Israel)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 18 ° C | 18 ° C | 19 ° C | 23 ° C | 25 ° C | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 30 ° C | 29 ° C | 27 ° C | 23 ° C | 19 ° C |
| Night temperature | 10 ° C | 10 ° C | 12 ° C | 14 ° C | 17 ° C | 21 ° C | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 23 ° C | 19 ° C | 15 ° C | 11 ° C |
| Water temperature | 19 ° C | 18 ° C | 18 ° C | 19 ° C | 21 ° C | 25 ° C | 27 ° C | 29 ° C | 28 ° C | 26 ° C | 23 ° C | 21 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 127 | 90 | 61 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 79 | 126 |
| Rainy days | 13 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| Sunrise | 6:40 | 6:25 | 5:50 | 6:15 | 5:45 | 5:35 | 5:45 | 6:05 | 6:25 | 6:45 | 6:10 | 6:35 |
| Sunset | 17:00 | 17:25 | 17:50 | 19:10 | 7:30 p.m. | 19:50 | 19:50 | 19:25 | 18:50 | 18:10 | 16:40 | 16:40 |
Temperatures
The average annual temperature in Tel Aviv is 20.2 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is August (27 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 13.6 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Tel Aviv is 29 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 17 ° C. Bathing is then possible to a limited extent. The months of May, June, July, August, September, October and November have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 530 mm on 58 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in Tel Aviv.
Cities nearby
The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Rishon LeZion, Petach Tikva, Ashdod, Netanya, Bnei Berak, Cholon, Ramat Gan, Rechovot, Bat Yam, Bet Shemesh and Jaffa.
Highlights and sights
Israel is a fascinating travel destination with countless scenic and cultural highlights. Tel Aviv will delight you with its colorful markets, hip bars and lively beach life. Jerusalem is just a short drive away and allows you to travel back in time to remember.
Start your day with the unforgettable view from the Mount of Olives, descend via the Palm Sunday Path to the Garden of Gethsemane and briefly enter the historic old town through the Lion Gate.
Other sights of Israel include the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a bath in the Dead Sea, the holy places on the Sea of Galilee and a visit to the port city of Haifa. A visit to a kibbutz and a drive through the Jordan Valley should also not be missed.
