Tourism in Israel: A Safe and Worthwhile Journey
Tourism in Israel has declined, but it’s slowly making a comeback. The country’s rich religious and historic sites, warm beaches, delicious cuisine, and friendly people make it a top destination for travelers. During our visit in April and May, we felt safe and at ease.
As the late Tom Petty said, “Most things I worry ’bout, never happen anyway.” It would be unfortunate to miss out on Israel due to fear.
Explore Israel’s Iconic Landmarks
In Jerusalem, visitors can experience iconic religious sites such as:
— Western Wall
— Dome of the Rock
— Via Dolorosa
— City of David
— David’s Tower
These bring you face-to-face with Biblical history. Then, there’s Tel Aviv, known for its secular vibe, stunning beaches, Bauhaus architecture, fine dining, and brilliant museums.
Don’t miss the fortress of Masada, where zealots fought the Romans, or the Sea of Galilee. You can even visit the final resting place of Princess Alice, grandmother of King Charles. The Nova Festival memorial site is also worth seeing.
Safety of Travel to Israel
Despite recent conflicts, Israel is gradually recovering from a “seven-front war.” One common question we got was, “Weren’t you afraid?”
For us, the answer was No. We spent ten days there, feeling comfortable throughout. Returning home to Los Angeles, we faced a car break-in and a week of riots—a reminder that every place has its challenges.
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Massada, a fortress built by Herod the Great on a cliff above the Dead Sea, was destroyed by the Romans in the 1st century AD. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In Israel, military jets and helicopters are a common sight. You might also see soldiers, like a girl or a reservist with an M-16, blending into everyday life. While Tel Aviv is filled with outdoor diners and beachgoers, you might also spot a tank transporter carrying a Merkava in the north or south.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been in a multi-front war. On that day, thousands of terrorists attacked from Gaza, killing, injuring, or kidnapping over 1,500 people. The Nova Music Festival, where 360 young people were killed, is now a significant memorial site.
We traveled from Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean coast to East Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, and the Golan Heights. Whether by car, train, or bus, we felt welcomed and safe.
During our visit, we experienced two missile attacks. One in Jerusalem on Shabbat morning, where we took shelter briefly in the hotel stairwell as Iron Dome intercepted the missile. The second, a Houthi hypersonic missile near Ben Gurion Airport, caused a crater but no injuries. Despite the disruption, our El Al flight to Paris departed on time.
People gather by the surf at a beach in Tel Aviv on June 21, 2025. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
El Al, and fellow Israeli airlines Arkia and Israir, have the reputation of flying even when other airlines cancel. El Al is currently the only airline flying nonstop from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv. Delta is set to return to flying to Ben Gurion after August 31, 2025. American Airlines has no plans to resume flights until at least September.
That has resulted in high pricing on El Al. For non-stop flights from LAX on August 6, returning on August, I found two El Al economy fares, one $5162, the other $5892.
You have a little more choice if you fly from the NY area, where Arkia and United join El Al in flying nonstop to Israel, a ten-and-a-half-hour flight. A non-stop on El Al from JFK to Israel on August 6, returning on August 20, is $4235, while a United roundtrip on the same dates is $3898. If you have more time than money, one-stops are available for much less. For example, JFK to TLV via AUH (Abu Dhabi) roundtrip on Etihad over those dates costs only $1653 but takes 24 hours from JFK to Israel and 32 hours to return.
Faced with such costs and wait times, travelers from the U.S. to Israel often choose to connect via Europe. Tourist Israel lists many carriers flying to Israel here.
My wife and I flew from LAX to Rome on Norse Atlantic Airlines and returned to LAX from Paris. Both flights were in Norse’s Premium Class. We flew into Israel from Athens, and flew out of Israel to Paris, both on El Al flights. The total cost per person was about $2800 round trip, a huge savings in money, if not time, over the $5,000-plus El Al non-stops from LAX.
To visit Israel, Americans now need a visa, also called an ETA-IL(Electronic Travel Authorization). It costs about $30 and allows you to visit for up to 90 days. It’s a simple and fast process if you are eligible. In our case, my wife got a visa that was sufficient for both of us as we were traveling together.
The screening process starts with the visa and continues at the airport. Patience during the airport questioning is key. It’s important to remember that those pesky questions are to keep you safe. From the screening to the questioning to the luggage checks to landing far from the terminal at Ben Gurion (a bus takes you there) airlines flying to Israel, particularly El Al, are vigilant. While the seemingly repetitive questioning can be irritating, it’s worth contrasting with America’s reliance on technology and “security theater” like randomly searching grandmothers.
In Israel, the ever-present security becomes part of the landscape and made us feel safe throughout the country. Israelis are friendly and curious (if sometimes brusque) and Israel’s tourism industry is an important one. You will not encounter tourist go home sentiments like Barcelona or Venice, although you may get an incredulous “You came?”
The State Department website considers Israel a Level 3 out of possible 4 levels of travel warning. The advisory says, “Reconsider travel due to terrorism, and civil unrest. The security situation in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is unpredictable.”
For context, State lists 42 countries currently at a Level 3 or Level 4 safety level. This includes 23 countries at Level 3 («Reconsider Travel») and 19 countries at Level 4 («Do Not Travel») Some of the Level 3 countries include Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda. Russia, Syria, and Ukraine are Level 4 countries.
During our visit, Israeli life seemed normal or even joyous, as on Independence Day. Yet even with the beaches and the cafes filled, the mood ranged from happy to sad. Yellow chairs, yellow ribbons, posters and stickers demanded freedom for the hostages and commemorated the dead. A sticker showed a smiling young paratrooper who had gotten his wings permanently.
As I write this, 50 Israelis remained hostages in Gaza after more than 650 days. A young waitress in an upscale restaurant near Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Square Fountain told us she lost eight friends at the Nova Music Festival. The fountain itself has become the repository of memory, with mementoes and possessions of the missing and dead neatly arranged around the fountain.
