Since September 20, 2008, Russian citizens can enter Israel once or repeatedly for tourism purposes, transit and stay on Israeli territory without visas for 90 days within a period of 180 days without issuing a visa.
To do this, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return ticket and documents confirming financial solvency. In addition, it is recommended to have additional documents with you, such as an invitation from the host, confirmation of hotel reservation, medical insurance policy, etc.
For holders of diplomatic and service passports, visa requirements remain in effect. Visas are also required when traveling to study or work in Israel.
For minors, you must provide the original birth certificate, its photocopy and permission to leave from the parents.
Customs control in Israel is very thorough. Items for personal use, spirits up to 1 liter and wine up to 2 liters (by tourists over 17 years old), perfumes and perfumes up to 250 ml per person, up to 250 g of tobacco or 250 cigarettes (by tourists over 17 years old) can be imported duty-free. It is forbidden to import any food products.
Israel, Russian Embassy in the country:
Tel Aviv, Hayarkon Str., 120
Tel.: 522-67-36, 522-67-44.
Fax: 522-67-13.
Communication in Israel
You can call abroad from any pay phone that works with cards in Israel. Cards can be purchased at post offices. From 18:00 to 08:00 there is a preferential rate for calls.
In order to call Israel, you need to dial 8 – 10 – 972 – area code – subscriber number. Calls from Israel to other countries are made by several companies, each of which has its own code:
012 – Kavei Zahav,
013 – Barak,
014 – Bezek.
In order to make a call to Russia, you need to dial the connecting company code – 07 – area code – subscriber number.
Emergency Phones in Israel
Police – 100
Ambulance – 101
Fire Department – 102
Inquiry – 144
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKEND
Israelis live according to the lunar calendar, so every year the holidays fall on different days, but every Saturday – “Shabbat” – is considered a non-working day when it is forbidden to work and perform any physical activities.
Official holidays:
January – Tubi Shvat
March – religious and historical holiday Purim
March-April – Easter
April-May – Independence Day
April-May – Bonfire Festival
April-May – Holocaust Remembrance Day
April-May – Memorial Day of the Fallen
May-June – Jerusalem Day
May-June – Shavuot (Pentecost), the feast of finding the Torah, David’s birthday
July – Tisha B’Av, mourning for the destroyed Temples
September-October – Jewish New Year
September-October – Day of Atonement and Fasting
September-October – Harvest Festival, prayer time for rain
September-October – Torah Festival
November-December – Hanukkah
Throughout the year, various festivals are held in Israel. In May-June, the Israel Festival takes place, at the end of August in Eilat – the Jazz on the Red Sea festival, in September – the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival, and an international film festival is also held annually in Jerusalem.
USEFUL THINGS
Tourists are obliged not later than 72 hours before departure to confirm their intention to leave at the appropriate branch of the airline, otherwise the flight may be denied.
When visiting the temples and shrines of Israel, it is necessary to wear a headdress, it is forbidden to bare legs and shoulders.
The week in Israel starts on Sunday, not Monday, Saturday is considered a day off – banks, shops and public institutions are closed at this time, public transport does not work in all cities except Haifa. However, in big cities there are many restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs and discos.
To travel to the Palestinian territories and Jerusalem, tourists must obtain official permission due to the tense military situation. It is not recommended to travel to the border areas with Lebanon and the area of the Gaza Strip.
STORES
According to ehuzhou, shops are open from Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 to 19:00, large shopping centers are open from 8:00 to 22:00, on Fridays and pre-holiday days until 16:00. Most shops are closed on weekends. Israel has many outdoor markets selling jewelry, pottery and exotic carpets.
In specialized shops “Taxvat” and at airports, you can get a VAT refund on your purchases in excess of 100 US dollars. To do this, you must keep all receipts and completed forms of VAT receipts from the store, sometimes you need to present the goods themselves.
TIPS
Tipping is 10% of the bill, porters in the hotel are given 5-10 shekels.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
The locals are very religious, they value their land and treat everything with care.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH
You must take out medical insurance before you travel. There are no special requirements for vaccination, but sometimes it is advised to get vaccinated against typhoid and polio. Medicine in Israel is paid, and quite expensive.
