Your flight is booked, accommodations are reserved — the reality that you’ll soon be waking up in Israel starts to sink in. You begin to question all that may be foreign to you in this new environment. Below, we’ve addressed some of the top concerns you may have when traveling to Israel.
1. Is Israel safe?
From a physician’s point of view, Israel is extremely safe: High healthcare standards, minimal health risks, and one of the world’s healthiest diets.
2. I don’t speak Hebrew or Arabic. Will I have trouble communicating?
Though it is not an official language, English is widely spoken throughout Israel. This is not to say that a language barrier will not exist. In the case that you require medical care, you may have trouble clearly communicating your issue in a hospital Emergency Room.
At Tel Aviv Doctor, we are a staff of native English speakers who treat most medical illnesses with high-quality care in a language you can understand. For patients speaking Chinese, Indian, Russian, Japanese or any other language we have a translation service available. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
3. What is the water quality in Israel?
Water and food safety are a top concern when traveling abroad, terms such as ‘Montezuma’s revenge’ exist for a reason. Traveler’s diarrhoea, among other infections, can surely upset anyone’s time overseas.
Tap water in Israel’s cities and towns meets high regulatory standards and is generally safe to drink. At the Dead Sea and in some rural areas, bottled water is the safer choice. While safe to drink, it might not taste like it does at home and if your preference is to drink bottled water, it is widely accessible.
Planning to go for a swim? While the beaches along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea are a favourite for many, also bodies of water like the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, or your hotel pool (if its well-maintained) are generally all clean enough and safe for swimming.
4. Will my dietary restriction be an issue?
Whether your diet be kosher, vegan or vegetarian—you will find Israel to be a culinary paradise for your dietary needs (find more on this topic in our blogpost about Israel traveller’s dietary needs).
5. Should I be concerned about the hot climate or air quality?
The summer months in Israel are not only some of the most beautiful here, but also the hottest. Those long, clear-sky days full of sunshine can bring health risks such as sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke if you don’t take precautions. Follow our heat health tips about how to cope with Israeli summer heat and you’ll need not worry about your fun in the sun. If you prefer milder temperatures, the window between late October and April is a great time to enjoy Israel’s cooler climate.
As with any desert region, sandstorms are inevitable. When the winds pick up, air pollution in Israel can rise significantly. It is important that anyone with lung or heart conditions, monitor an air quality forecast as a precaution.
6. What types of insect/animal bites and stings should I be cognisant of?
More than half of Israel is comprised of desert and with that come desert loving creatures like snakes and scorpions. Fortunately, unless you have adventurous plans hiking in remote wilderness, it is highly unlikely you will encounter either of these creatures.
Animal bites and rabies: rabies is present in Israel in domestic dogs and cats, jackals and other wild animals — street cats are common in towns. If you are bitten or scratched by any animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, then go to the nearest Emergency Room without delay. Post-exposure prophylaxis is highly effective when started promptly — do not wait for symptoms, because once rabies symptoms begin the disease is almost always fatal.
Tick bites: Israel has tick-borne diseases, including Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, detected in ticks and livestock especially in northern regions. After outdoor activity in rural or agricultural areas, check your whole body for ticks. Remove a tick with fine-tipped tweezers rather than bare hands, and see a doctor promptly. A fever within two weeks of a tick bite in Israel should be treated as a medical emergency.
Sandflies are small insects active from spring through autumn, especially at dusk and dawn in the Jordan Valley, the Negev and the Galilee. Their bites can transmit cutaneous leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection causing persistent skin ulcers. There is no vaccine or preventive medication — use DEET or Picaridin repellent, wear long clothing after dusk, and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
Mosquito bites: there is no malaria in Israel, but West Nile Virus is present and can cause serious illness. In 2024 Israel had its largest West Nile outbreak in two decades — over 930 confirmed cases and 72 deaths. Most infected people have no symptoms, but the virus can cause severe neurological illness, particularly in adults over 60 and people with weakened immune systems. Use insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin, wear long sleeves and trousers in the evening, and avoid standing water. If you develop fever, headache, a stiff neck, confusion or weakness after mosquito exposure, seek medical attention promptly.
If you have plans to take a swim in the sea, you can run the risk of getting stung by a jellyfish. Although painful, these stings usually don’t require medical attention. If serious swelling occurs, or you develop an allergic reaction, difficulty breathing, chest pain, muscle cramps, severe vomiting or numbness, seek immediate medical attention.
7. In the case of illness or an emergency, how does Israel’s healthcare system work?
Israel has high healthcare standards, and aside from remote areas, medical services are well accessible throughout the country. In the case of a medical emergency call 101 for the Ambulance Magen David Adom (Red Star of David).
Tel Aviv Doctor is the preferred medical provider of international health insurance companies, and we work with all major insurance companies. Although we are not an Emergency Room, we specialize in medical care for tourists, expats and visitors in Tel Aviv, and we are here to help and assist with any medical condition (read more about the topic in our blogpost: Emergency Room or Tel Aviv Doctor?).
We are happy to advise and we work with a network of specialists from Gynaecologists to Dermatologists, don’t hesitate to call or contact us by email.
