๐ฎ๐ฑ
Essential apps for
Israel
ืืฉืจืื
HebrewILS5 apps
Tel Aviv is one of the most digital cities in the world. Gett is the home-grown rideshare, and Moovit (also Israeli) is best for transit.
๐
Power & Plug
TypeC / H / M
Voltage230V
Freq50Hz
Type H is uniquely Israeli. Most modern devices accept Type C.
๐ฌ
Basic phrases
Hebrew
- Hello / PeaceืฉืืืSha-lom
- Thank youืชืืืToh-da
- YesืืKen
- NoืืLo
- PleaseืืืงืฉืBe-vah-ka-sha
+2 more below
๐
Tipping
Tipping is expected at restaurants and cafes, with 10-15% being standard and often not included in the bill, so check before paying. Tips are frequently requested in cash even when paying the bill by card.
๐Rideshare & Taxi
See all โG
Gett
Israelโs native ride-hailing app for licensed taxis (its UK operations are being acquired by Lyft).
The local rideshare โ better Tel Aviv coverage than Uber.
๐บ๏ธNavigation & Maps
See all โ๐ฑMessaging
See all โ๐Public Transit
See all โPhrases
All Hebrew phrases
Hello / Peace
ืฉืืื
Sha-lom
Thank you
ืชืืื
Toh-da
Yes
ืื
Ken
No
ืื
Lo
Please
ืืืงืฉื
Be-vah-ka-sha
How much?
ืืื ืื
Ka-ma ze
Cheers
ืืืืื
Le-cha-yim
Briefing
What to know before you go
โ Do
- Israelis are famously direct and informal; blunt speech is normal and not meant to be rude
- Dress modestly at religious sites; cover shoulders and knees, and men cover their heads at the Western Wall
- Be aware of Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) when many businesses, transport, and services pause
- Remove shoes if asked when entering certain homes, and accept offered hospitality warmly
- At the Western Wall and holy sites, behave quietly and respectfully and follow gender-separated areas
- Haggling is acceptable and expected in open-air markets (shuks) but not in regular shops
โDon't
- Avoid taking photos of Orthodox Jews, especially at prayer or on Shabbat, without permission
- Do not handle money, smoke, or use a phone openly at religious sites or in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods during Shabbat
- Avoid casually wading into political or religious debates about the conflict; it is deeply sensitive
- Do not bring or display non-kosher food in observant settings, and respect dietary customs
โ ๏ธ Common scams to know
- Taxi drivers refusing to use the meter ('moneh') and quoting inflated flat fares, especially from the airport and tourist areas
- Overpriced goods in markets where tourists are quoted far above the normal price, expecting bargaining
- Unofficial 'guides' near religious sites who attach themselves to you and then demand a fee
- Rental or tour operators adding undisclosed fees or pushing unnecessary 'insurance' add-ons
Going elsewhere?
More destination guides
๐ฏ๐ตJapan๐จ๐ณChina (mainland)๐ฐ๐ทSouth Korea๐น๐ผTaiwan๐ญ๐ฐHong Kong๐น๐ญThailand๐ป๐ณVietnam๐ธ๐ฌSingapore๐ฎ๐ฉIndonesia๐ต๐ญPhilippines๐ฎ๐ณIndia๐บ๐ธUnited States๐ฌ๐งUnited Kingdom๐ซ๐ทFrance๐ฉ๐ชGermany๐ฎ๐นItaly๐ช๐ธSpain๐ณ๐ฑNetherlands