Best time to travel to Israel

The best time to visit Israel is in the spring before the heat gets unbearable, or in September and October, when the heat begins to subside and temperatures turn light and pleasant. This spectacular weather is also an excellent time to visit Masada, an awe-inspiring historic fortification in the Negev Desert erected by King Herod. The Masada Snake Path, one of Israel's most famous hikes, begins near the fortress's base. If you wish to ramp up the pace, the Jerusalem Marathon, the country's largest marathon, takes place in March, attracting thousands of people.

Summer is exceedingly hot – daily temperatures of 30-35°C (85-95°F) are to be expected, making it difficult to travel outside... even to the beach. While temperatures spike during these months, they can also be great for visiting some of the best water parks. Shefayim, Israel's largest water park, debuts in May and covers 24 acres, including an adventure and paintball complex, while Aqua Kef, Israel's first and only floating water park on the Sea of Galilee, opens in March.

Traveling in the spring or autumn also implies that it is shoulder season for tourism in Israel, which means fewer tourists. You should also attempt to avoid religious and pilgrimage dates, as the country tends to get extremely congested during these times.