Cheap Flights to Israel

Overview

Israel packs a lot into a small country: ancient holy sites, Mediterranean beaches, desert scenery and a buzzing food and nightlife scene. It sits around a five-hour flight from the UK, so it suits a long weekend or a two-week trip. Most UK travellers booking flights to Israel head for Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Do check the current FCDO travel advice before booking, as the regional situation can affect flights.

Best time to fly to Israel

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal, with warm days and comfortable weather for sightseeing in Jerusalem. Summer is hot and humid on the coast and extreme around the Dead Sea and Eilat. Winters are mild in Tel Aviv but cooler and wetter in Jerusalem. Fares rise around Passover, the Jewish High Holy Days, Christmas and Easter, so use the When to book chart above to time your booking.

Main gateway cities & airports

Nearly all UK flights land at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), about 20 km from Tel Aviv and 50 km from Jerusalem. A direct train reaches central Tel Aviv in roughly 20 minutes and Jerusalem in about 35, though it pauses from Friday evening to Saturday evening for Shabbat, when sherut shared taxis run instead. Ramon Airport (ETM) near Eilat handles some seasonal Red Sea traffic in the south.

Airlines and routes

Direct flights from London to Israel are operated by El Al, British Airways, easyJet, Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic, mainly from Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton into Tel Aviv. Manchester has also seen direct services. Typical flight time is about 4 hours 45 minutes from London and just over 5 hours from Manchester. Connecting flights via Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul or Athens with KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish Airlines or Aegean can cut the fare.

Popular places to visit in Israel

• Jerusalem: the Old City's Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Dome of the Rock within one walled square kilometre.
• Tel Aviv-Jaffa: Bauhaus streets, sandy city beaches, a superb restaurant scene and the old port of Jaffa.
• Dead Sea: float in mineral-rich water and coat yourself in mud at the lowest point on Earth.
• Masada: Herod's clifftop desert fortress, best at sunrise by cable car or up the Snake Path.
• Galilee and Nazareth: green hills, the Sea of Galilee and major sites of Jesus's ministry in the north.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Israel

• Compare the price charts on this page and try different months; midweek shoulder-season departures usually beat weekends.
• Weigh low-cost fares from Luton and Gatwick against El Al and British Airways, including baggage costs.
• Avoid Jewish and Christian holiday peaks if your dates are flexible, as demand and fares spike.
• Consider a connecting flight one way with a direct return, or flying home from Ramon if you finish in Eilat.

Travel essentials

UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, but Israel now requires an ETA-IL electronic travel authorisation, applied and paid for online before you fly. Carry a passport valid for the whole of your stay. The currency is the Israeli new shekel (ILS) and cards are widely accepted. For the best fares, book a few months ahead and use the price charts and When to book chart on this page.