Israel’s climate varies throughout the region, and planning what to pack for a Mediterranean vacation includes many factors, including when and where you’re going and what you plan to do.
The coastal areas, which include Tel Aviv, see humid summers and mild winters, compared to dry summers and colder winters in the hilly regions, including Jerusalem, according to the
Israel Ministry of Tourism. The Jordan Valley sees more severe summer weather and mild winters, and the Negev sees desertlike conditions year-round.
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The spring and fall months are mild in Israel, and best times of year to visit are April and May or October and November, according to
U.S. News & World Report. Temperatures during these times generally include highs in the 70s. Summer is the most popular time to visit Israel, despite scorching temperatures.
The summer months can bring triple-digit heat waves, and winter months include periodic heavy rain with snow on Mount Hermon on the Golan Heights, according to
Frommers. February and March offer the best greenery and wildflower displays throughout the countryside. Snow is rare during the winter, except in the mountains, and swimming is occasionally possible in Eilat and the Dead Sea.
Those traveling in December should bring a heavy jacket and water- or weather-resistant shoes, according to
USA Today. Shorts and bathing suits also may be in order, if you plan to visit the Red Sea, which has warm water year-round. December activities in the Mediterranean can vary widely from snorkeling in the Red Sea to skiing on Mount Hernon.
The
Israel Travel Tips website compares Israel’s winter to “what New Yorkers would call autumn,” with temperatures around 41 to 65 degrees in Tel Aviv and around 34 degrees around Jerusalem. The site describes the summers as hot and recommends packing clothes that are “short, light, no sleeve, anything you can think of to cope with this mad summer.”
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