January in Israel is quite cool and rainy. The country is located in the subtropical zone, so the winters are mild. However, relaxing on the beach is unlikely to be comfortable - on the North Sea coast (Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa), the air warms up to an average of 17 ° C, and at night the air temperature is usually around 10 ° C.

It is a little warmer near the Red Sea, in Eilat thermometers show 21 ° C during the day, but by night the temperature drops to 10 ° C, and sometimes even to 0 ° C. This difference is explained by the fact that Eilat is surrounded on all sides by desert. So you need to take both light and warm clothes with you.

The water temperature in the Red Sea is about 22°C, in the Mediterranean Sea it is cooler - around 17°C. Since swimming in such water is not always comfortable, it is better to choose a hotel that has a heated pool.

January is the peak of the rainy season in Israel. The rains are not torrential, but they come often, this can spoil the mood a little. When traveling, be sure to take a jacket, an umbrella and waterproof shoes. The value of relative humidity varies depending on the region, for example, in Eilat it is 50%, and in Jerusalem it is 72%.

At the beginning of the year, the country is usually visited not for a beach holiday, but for wellness treatments. The coast is perfect for these purposes. Dead Sea. There, the air temperature is approximately 22 ° C, and the water is 21 ° C, sometimes there are higher values. Water is usually even warmer than air, and all due to the fact that it contains a lot of minerals. The weather in the resort towns on the coast of the Dead Sea is somewhat different from the weather in other regions of Israel - less precipitation falls in winter, short rains, and air humidity is only about 40%.

The resort of Ein Bokek is very popular - this is a whole chain of hotels that have their own SPA centers and health centers with indoor heated pools with sea water. But before you go on vacation, it is better to clarify the full list of services provided by the hotel. There are also medical centers at the resort, but they accept only those who come with their medical card, where there is a medical history.

January is the right time to make a pilgrimage to the holy places of Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, the weather only contributes to this. In the middle of winter, you can visit biblical places where key events in the history of Christianity took place. On January 6, pilgrims arrive in Bethlehem to take part in the liturgy in the Church of the Nativity of Christ, and on the night of the 19th they make their way to the Jordan River, in the waters of which they perform ablutions. A place that must be visited during a pilgrimage tour to Israel is the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

There are a considerable number of tourists in the world who believe that the January holiday in Israel, despite the rains, is incomparable. They book a hotel, buy plane tickets and spend their winter holidays in this country with great interest. Tour-Calendar will try to figure out what a trip to the Holy Land can promise in the dead of winter.

Weather in Israel in January

January in Israel is considered the coldest and rainiest month of the year. However, the definition of "cold" is closer to the locals than to tourists. For Russians, the weather prevailing during this period of time is akin to that in the central regions of Russia in mid-September. Agree to return to your the Velvet season in the middle of a fierce snowy winter - a great luxury, and even affordable (which will be discussed at the very end of the article). The warmest, as always, in Eilat, located in the south of the country. It can still be chilly in the morning, but by afternoon the air usually warms up to +21 °C. True, at night, due to the large temperature range inherent in the city, it becomes very cold - an average of +10 ° C. Nevertheless, this is the most favorable coastal resort for recreation, because the amount of precipitation in January does not exceed 4 mm here, which is equivalent to about 2 rainy days. Despite the mild subtropical climate in cities located on the Mediterranean coast, it can be a little cool. During the day in Netanya and Tel Aviv, about +18 ° C is fixed, and after sunset environment cools down to +10 °C. In the northern resort of Haifa, daily temperature fluctuations range from + 11 °C to +16 °C.

Jerusalem Tel Aviv Haifa Eilat

However, the point is not only in temperature indicators, but also in the amount of precipitation, which reaches its maximum in January, and in the level of air humidity (usually increasing in the evening), which affects the general perception of weather conditions. The most rainy are the northern and central parts of Israel. For example, in Eilat, at least 15 days are expected, marked by precipitation, in Tel Aviv this period is reduced to 11 days, Jerusalem is limited to 10 days (by the evening the air here cools down to +6 ° C), and in the Dead Sea resorts there are only 8 of them However, it should be understood that the nature of the January weather is quite changeable and no one can give a guarantee that there will be as many rainy days as indicated. Sometimes in the north, the rains turn into daily or prolonged downpours, which cover almost the entire month. Heaven seems to be breaking through, and no one can patch up this “hole”. In the south, on the contrary, the weather tends to surprise in the form of windless sunny days when it is quite possible to put on a swimsuit and go to the beach.

What to do in Israel in January?

Israel is good at any time of the year. In particular, in January, rest here will be appreciated by those who do not tolerate two things: days exhausted by hot weather and dust storms, as well as the general tourist rush, which manifests itself in long queues for religious and historical monuments. The festive bustle is over, which means that you can enjoy a calm and measured rest. And the joy received from this cannot be overshadowed even by the strongest showers, which nature is very pleased with: the soil, absorbing moisture abundantly, responds with a riot of juicy greenery. So sightseeing can be combined with a pleasant contemplation of unseasonable spring landscapes.

beach holiday

In order to go swimming in the Mediterranean Sea of ​​Israel in January, you need to be either a strong original or a real Siberian who doesn’t care about anything, given the fact that in January there is already very little sun, and most of the days are marked by windy cloudy weather.

In addition, the water cools down to an average of +18 ° C (the only exception is the northern resort of Haifa from +17 ° C), and big waves often rise, the Dead Sea is somewhat warmer in January, nevertheless the water is very invigorating - no more than +20 °C Of course, Eilat with +22 °C remains the leader among resort destinations in January. The water near the coast does not cool below this mark due to the deep-sea warm current.

There are no strong winds in the Gulf of Eilat, so the most popular activity here is not swimming, but scuba diving. Those who are not indifferent to the "kingdom of Neptune" will meet with kilometers of the most beautiful coral reef in the world, which is home to many species marine life, landscapes cut by grottoes and gorges, and, if desired, underwater photography with colorful fish.

Entertainment and excursions

If the weather allows, be sure to go to the Negev desert, which clearly demonstrates where the Jews lived several centuries ago, and what was on the site of modern Israel. Don't forget to visit the nearby authentic cities of Ashkelon and Ofakim, and then stop by the desert capital of Beer Sheva, where the popular tourist site - the well of Abraham is located. Those who feed their energy shopping, in Israel will be able to find out what it's like to shop big. To do this, you need to take your will into a fist and come to the world's largest Diamond Exchange, where multimillion-dollar transactions are concluded every day.

"What about the will?" - you ask. And despite the fact that the temptation to spend something like $ 5,000-$ 10,000 (if you have such a sum of money) for some nice little ring is very great. January is also good (read - not expensive) in terms of taking care of one's own health, since the cost of procedures in the Dead Sea SPA centers decreases in the middle of winter.

Holidays and festivals

According to the Jewish calendar, in January 2013, the Israelis celebrate an important holiday for all their people " New Year Trees” (“Tu Bi-Shvat”), which falls annually on the 15th day of the month “Shvat”. This event symbolizes the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a new growing season (a deeper meaning: the rebirth of nature to a new life). It is customary to plant trees on this day.

- Rest for body and soul.

Advantages: warm, cheap, beautiful sea, subtropics, coral reefs, attractions, spa treatments

Cons: none

Do you want an unforgettable winter vacation? Then boldly go to Israel in January for new experiences. And in no case be upset that the winter holidays will be in the Holy Land. The Holy Land has prepared many surprises for tourists, including in January.

Many tourists choose Israel in winter, claiming that this is one of the most attractive places on the planet.

January in Israel is the coldest month of the year, but this is only according to the locals, spoiled warm weather all year round. Whereas for Russian tourists the weather and air temperature in January is close to September in Russia.

Therefore, the air temperature, for example, in Eilat, in the southern city of the country in January reaches +21 degrees. Therefore, you see, it is always pleasant to return to the velvet season during the fierce Epiphany frosts and forget for a while about the snowfall and dreams of hot tea and a warm blanket.

The most successful coastal resort, Eilat, is ideal for waiting out the winter. Precipitation here is always very small, 4 mm. This is 2 days. But the water temperature is an average of +22 degrees. An excellent indicator.

Here the climate is subtropical and the air temperature in January is +18.

Jerusalem. The capital of Israel is inferior to Eilat and Tel Aviv, here the air temperature during the day reaches +12 degrees.

Haifa +16 degrees during the day in January. Agree, not bad.

In January, Jerusalem has the highest humidity.

January is ideal for those vacationers who want to take a break from the crowded atmosphere and constant queues to historical and religious places, as well as for those who do not tolerate hot summer days and constant dust storms during the day. The holidays are over, which means that you can relax in a relaxed atmosphere and take your time.

If you are vacationing in Jerusalem in January, then be prepared for rain, including heavy rain. But they will not overshadow your vacation, because soon everything will turn green like in spring.

And although in January there is very little sun and strong winds, there will always be that tourist who desperately wants to swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Water cools down to +18 degrees on average. In addition, large waves are frequent. The exception is the Dead Sea. It is warmer by several degrees, the average temperature is +20 degrees.

And in Eilat, thanks to deep-water warm currents, the water temperature here is +22 degrees.
Therefore, off the coast you can swim in January in Eilat. There are practically no strong winds here, so you can not only swim in the sea, but also go scuba diving.

"Kingdom of Neptune".

If you take up scuba diving, then your delight will not be the limit of what you see. You will see the most beautiful in the world coral reef, which is home to a variety of marine life. Rugged landscapes, gorges and colorful fish.

If the weather allows you, then be sure to go to the Negev desert and see with your own eyes the place where Jews lived several centuries ago.

This is a very popular tourist attraction. It is the capital of the Beersheba desert.

If you are a shopaholic, then you will definitely need to visit the Diamond Exchange. This place is notable for the fact that multi-million dollar transactions take place here every day. Gather all your will into a fist and go here. You run the risk of spending all your money here, so take not all the money if possible, since you can spend 5000-10000 dollars here on a small ring, if, of course, you have that kind of money.

In the middle of winter, the cost of spa treatments is much lower than in the swimming season. Therefore, for health and positive emotions, go to the Dead Sea.

Book cheap hotels and get 2100 off your first booking with us

Video review

All(3)

Eilat is the southernmost city in Israel, which is why we chose to spend the longest stay on our New Year holidays here. Of the 7 days in Eilat, only 2 days were cool and windy, the remaining 5 we enjoyed the weather + 24- + 25 degrees and a beach holiday.

The water temperature in the Red Sea is from +20 to +22 degrees Celsius. It is very invigorating, so if you like to swim longer, in January it is better to go to warmer countries.

In general, the weather is not stable and you will have to rest according to the principle "as lucky". Even if you sunbathe and swim during the day, grab a light autumn jacket for the evening. After sunset (approximately 17:00), the air temperature drops sharply, and the wind increases.

Eilat borders Egypt and Jordan.

Crossing the border here and going on a journey even further is a great option. The Egyptian border can be reached in less than an hour, for example, by regular city bus 15.

Eilat is a duty free zone. Therefore, even locals shop here, not to mention tourists. But you won't be able to get Tax Free. In January, good sales and discounts. This is where we bought Israeli cosmetics. In all stores, prices are approximately the same, but still, before you decide to buy (with a large volume, you can get a discount), go through all the stores and ask the price.

The city of Eilat is very small, in the center, almost immediately by the sea is the Airport. Taxi is cheap 25-30 shekels for a trip around the city. But there may be an extra charge if you are more than 2 people and have a lot of luggage. The difference is not significant and, to be honest, you should not go into it much.

Also, just a two and a half hour drive from Eilat is the Dead Sea and you can easily take a tour or go there on your own by bus ( you can find out about my vacation at the Dead Sea here .)

What is interesting to rest in Eilat

I was vacationing in Eilat in January 2016 with my parents. We flew to Tel Aviv Airport and first drove to Jerusalem, and then further, on the 444 bus, which runs to Eilat several times a day, we got to the southernmost city of Israel. (You can find out more about our trip from Tel Aviv to Eilat here...)

When choosing housing, the whole city can be conditionally divided into 2 parts: the one by the sea, and the rest, located a little higher on a hill. Therefore, when choosing an accommodation on the map, consider this factor. We had a chance to live both there and there.

The first apartments of Rich Luxury Suites were located on the mountain. Accordingly, we received from the pluses: a low price and an inexpensive supermarket around the corner.

More expensive apartments of the same Rich Royal Suites Eilat chain are located closer to the sea and in a very original way right in front of the airport.

We were satisfied with our stay in both apartments.

The city of Eilat did not leave any strong impressions for me personally. The most interesting thing, probably, is the planes flying overhead right above the beach strip.

A pleasant promenade just on the coastline near expensive hotels.

Here are some of the best views.

Loved the tangerine trees growing on the balconies.

In Eilat we had mostly beach holiday. Comfort temperature for sunbathing and swimming from about 10:00-11:00 am to 17:00 pm. Sunbeds and umbrellas, changing cabins, are everywhere throughout the entire beach strip. The cost of a sunbed is 12 shekels. The sea in Eilat is clean, you can swim without special shoes, there are almost no fish and corals.

To see them, we went on the above bus 15, to the coral beach. The fare is 6.90 shekels. We got off at the next stop after the Dolphin Reef, under the sign of the Coral Beach Club.

This beach is less suitable for an ordinary tourist, because of the inconvenient entrance, it is best to bring swimming slippers with you. There are umbrellas and sun loungers for rent, but there are almost no hotels nearby.

But many dive clubs will delight lovers of the underwater world.

Moreover, for these services, even with an increase in the price for a Russian tourist by almost 2 times, it seemed to me quite adequate.

There is information in Russian.

There are a little more living creatures and corals near the coast than on the city beach, but there is nothing special to see there. Pay attention to places like:

Neptune Tables, Dolphin Reef, Satil Wreck, Paradise Reef, Yatush, Eel Garden, nature reserve(Coral Beach Nature Reserve), Japanese Gardens (Japanese Gardens), Lighthouse Reef, Caves (The Caves) In general, the price list offers to go to some of them.

But I postponed diving until the warmer season.

From the beach, we walked along the highway to the Dolphin Reef stop. Come in for information.

Rest simply on this beautiful artificially created beach with palm trees -67 shekels. You pay for the SPA -339 shekels (the time spent in the SPA is 2 hours) and spend the rest of the time on the beach for free, if you arrive in the morning, you have breakfast for free, including, as I understand it, there is champagne and wine, which is also included in the price.

The SPA has 3 swimming pools: warm with sea water, with music and regular fresh water, as well as baths. You can pay extra for an instructor who will teach you how to relax in the pool with music.

The same thing, if you decide to swim with dolphins for 290 shekels, you get the rest of the day on the beach as a gift.

I am not a fan of such entertainment with animals, but according to this dolphinarium there is information that dolphins stay in natural conditions in the bay and if they don’t want to swim with you, then sorry, they won’t force you.

Again, due to temperature regime, we decided to postpone this attraction until a better time and went back to the city center. Please note that bus number 15 will return with number 16.

There is also an underwater observatory in Eilat for those who want to do without extreme diving and admire the local inhabitants of the underwater world.

Perhaps we missed something while relaxing in Eilat, but this is just an excuse to return there again.

Israel is a great place to relax at any time of the year. January is no exception. Climatic conditions are such that you can even manage to swim, the main thing is to choose the right resort for these purposes (Eiplat on the Red Sea is suitable). Well, if the weather does not allow you to enjoy the reception of sea and sunbathing, then this time is perfect for excursions to the Promised Land. Another direction that is widespread among tourists is recovery, because about healing properties The Dead Sea is known all over the world.

Weather

According to the air temperature typical for Israel at the beginning of the year, one can hardly say that it is winter outside. At the same time, January is the coldest month of the year. This period is also characterized by rain. But snow cover is rare for Israel, because at night the thermometer does not even drop to zero.

The warmest sea in January is the Red Sea, so if the weather is good, you can even swim, especially if you choose the Eiplat Bay for this, which is characterized by its microclimate. In the Metve and Mediterranean seas, the temperature is lower, so it is unlikely that you will be able to enjoy swimming.

weather features

Given the fact that Israel is located in seven climatic zones, the weather may differ in different regions of the country. However, these deviations are not very significant. In general, the winter here is mild and warm. Discomfort can bring rain, which at this time is far from uncommon. The exception is the same Eiplat (although it is considered the rainiest month of the year), because 359 out of 365 days here are sunny. Low temperatures and even snow is observed only in mountainous regions, on the lowlands and the coast, precipitation falls in the form of rain.

Airfare prices

Israel can be called the Mecca of tourist pilgrimage. Believers of all faiths from all over the world strive to touch the shrines here. And air travel has never been a budget way to travel. Choosing from all the airports, the flight to Tel Aviv will be the least expensive, although there are other airports in the country.

The most budget accommodation is in Eiplat and Haifa, where you will have to pay from 1,919 rubles per night for a standard double room in a 3-star hotel. The most expensive option among 3 * hotels is Ein Bokek, where a night for two costs from 5,887 rubles. In other resorts, the price for similar services ranges from 3.2 to 4.0 thousand rubles.

What the country has to offer

The first thing that can be associated with a holiday in Israel at the beginning of the year is, of course, recovery and sightseeing. There is also a place for active winter fun - the Hermon mountain plateau. It is located in the coldest place in the country - the Golan, which is about 3 hours drive from the seaside resort - Netanya.

Since January 2011, the Winter Jazz Festival has been held, which was created by analogy with the summer festival, held in August.

Another one interesting event January - the international marathon in Tiberias, which in 2015 will be held on the 9th for the 38th time. By the way, registration is already open. The route runs through picturesque places - near Lake Kernet, along the Jordan Valley, through the Jordan River. All those who have reached the finish line receive memorable gifts, and a party is organized for all participants near the Golden Tulip Club, which is the place of the finish line. If the marathon is beyond your strength (this is all such a distance of more than 42 km), you can participate in shorter ones - for 5 or 10 km.

The first half of January is a special time for the Orthodox, at this time many pilgrims go to Israel, so Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley will be crowded.