Overview
Tel Aviv is Israel's beachfront cultural capital — a fast, modern Mediterranean city where Bauhaus boulevards meet a 14km stretch of sand, a celebrated food scene and a nightlife that barely pauses. Just along the coast lies Old Jaffa, one of the oldest ports in the world. For UK travellers it feels like an easy long weekend: around five hours in the air and only a small time difference (Israel is two hours ahead of the UK). Use the price charts on this page to compare live fares for cheap flights to Tel Aviv from London and other UK cities.
Best time to fly to Tel Aviv
Spring (April to May) and autumn (late September to early November) are the sweet spots: warm days around 25°C, sea warm enough to swim in and lighter crowds. Summer (June to September) is reliably hot and humid, often above 30°C, which suits the beach more than sightseeing. Winters are mild at roughly 13 to 18°C but bring most of the year's rain. Watch for Passover and the September to October Jewish festival period, when demand and fares rise; the country, including Ben Gurion Airport, effectively closes for Yom Kippur. Check the When to book chart above for the cheapest departure windows.
Airlines and routes
El Al, Israel's flag carrier, flies direct from London Heathrow and London Luton, and British Airways serves the route from Heathrow. Low-cost carriers including easyJet and Wizz Air have operated direct flights from Luton, Gatwick and Manchester. Direct flight time is about 4 hours 45 minutes from London and around 5 hours from Manchester. One-stop options connect through European hubs such as Lufthansa (Frankfurt or Munich), KLM (Amsterdam), Swiss (Zurich), Air France (Paris) and Aegean (Athens). Schedules on flights from London to Tel Aviv have changed frequently in recent years, so confirm current operations and review FCDO travel advice before you book.
Things to do in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is compact and walkable, and easy to explore on foot or by bike.
- Old Jaffa: ancient stone alleyways, a working fishing harbour and a lively weekend flea market.
- The White City: the world's largest concentration of 1930s Bauhaus architecture, UNESCO-listed and centred on Rothschild Boulevard.
- Carmel Market: the city's busiest shuk, packed with produce, spices, street food and bargain stalls.
- The Tayelet: the seafront promenade linking the city beaches, ideal for sunset walks and a swim.
- Neve Tzedek: Tel Aviv's oldest neighbourhood, now a boutique-lined quarter with the Suzanne Dellal dance centre.
At Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
Israel's main gateway sits about 20km south-east of central Tel Aviv, usually a 20 to 25 minute drive. An Israel Railways station inside the terminal runs frequent trains to Tel Aviv's city-centre stops in around 15 minutes, though trains and public buses do not operate from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening (Shabbat). Metered taxis and shared sherut minibuses run around the clock.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Tel Aviv
- Book two to four months ahead for peak periods such as spring, summer and the Jewish holidays, when seats sell out early.
- Choose midweek and off-peak departures; Tuesday and Wednesday flights are usually cheaper than weekend ones.
- Keep your dates flexible and compare a few days either side using the charts on this page.
- Weigh up direct El Al and British Airways fares against one-stop European carriers, which can undercut them outside busy dates.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, but Israel now requires an approved ETA-IL travel authorisation, applied for online before departure. Border officers issue a paper entry slip rather than stamping your passport, so keep it safe. The currency is the Israeli new shekel; card payments are accepted almost everywhere. No vaccinations are required, but take out travel insurance and check the latest FCDO advice before you travel.
