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

Weather

Judging by the air temperature characteristic of Israel at the beginning of the year, one can hardly say that it is winter. 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 even 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 Eyplat Bay, which is characterized by its own microclimate. In the Metvo and Mediterranean seas the temperature is lower, so it is unlikely that you will be able to enjoy swimming.

Weather Features

Considering 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 too significant. In general, winters here are mild and warm. Rain, which is not uncommon at this time, can cause discomfort. The exception is the same Eyplat (although it is also considered the rainiest month of the year), because 359 out of 365 days here are sunny. Low temperatures and even snow are observed only in mountainous areas; in the lowlands and coasts, precipitation falls in the form of rain.

Airfare prices

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

The most affordable accommodation is in Euplat and Haifa, where for a standard double room in a 3-star hotel you will have to pay from 1,919 rubles per night. The most expensive option among 3* hotels is Ein Bokek, where a night for two costs from 5,887 rubles. At 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 a holiday in Israel at the beginning of the year can be associated with 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 a 3-hour drive from the seaside resort of Netanya.

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

Another interesting event in January is the international marathon in Tiberias, which will be held on the 9th for the 38th time in 2015. By the way, registration for it is already open. The route runs through picturesque places - near Lake Kernet, along the Jordan Valley, through the Jordan River. Everyone who reaches the finish line receives memorable gifts, and a party is organized for all participants near the Golden Tulip Club hotel, which is the finish site. If you can’t afford a marathon (it’s all over 42 km), you can take part in shorter ones – 5 or 10 km.

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

- Rest for soul and body.

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

Disadvantages: no

Do you want an unforgettable winter holiday? Then feel free to go to Israel in January for new experiences. And in no case should you 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 it 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, who are spoiled by warm weather all year round. Whereas for Russian tourists, the weather and air temperature in January are 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 must agree, it’s always nice to return to the velvet season during the severe Epiphany frosts and forget for a while about snowfall and dreams of hot tea and a warm blanket.

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

There is a subtropical climate 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.

Jerusalem has the highest humidity in January.

January is ideal for those vacationers who want to take a break from the crowded atmosphere and constant queues at 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 behind us, which means 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 torrential rain. But they will not spoil your holiday, because soon everything will turn green like spring.

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

And in Eilat, thanks to warm deep-sea currents, the water temperature here is +22 degrees.
Therefore, you can swim off the coast 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 go scuba diving, your delight will know no bounds from what you see. You will see the most beautiful coral reef in the world, which is home to a variety of marine life. Rugged landscapes, gorges and colorful fish.

If the weather permits, 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 site. It is the capital of the desert, Be'er Sheva.

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 willpower and come here. You risk spending all your money here, so if possible, don’t take all your money, since you can spend 5000-10000 dollars here on a small ring, if, of course, you have that kind of money.

In mid-winter, the cost of spa treatments is significantly lower than during the swimming season. Therefore, for health and positive emotions, go to the Dead Sea.

Book hotels cheaply and get 2100 discount for your first booking from us

Video review

All(3)

January is the best month to visit holy places in Israel. This month is characterized by rainy and cool weather, so the number of tourists is much less than in summer or early autumn, and last-minute tours at low prices to Israel are offered much more often. At the beginning of the year, you can safely travel to sacred places - to Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and other holy cities.

Visiting holy places in 2020

Most of the pilgrims flock to this country not only to visit biblical places, but also to take part in the festive liturgy, which takes place in Bethlehem, in the sacred Church of the Nativity of Christ, in early January, on the sixth day. And at night, January 19, thousands of pilgrims descend to the Jordan River and take a bath in its cool water. An indispensable stop on a pilgrimage tour to Israel is a visit to the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem - the main shrine of all Christians.

Is it worth taking trips to Israel in winter? Of course it's worth it! Especially if there is an offer for a resortEilat . The January climate here is cool; at night the temperature can drop to 0°C, but during the day it is quite warm. Don't forget to take warm clothes, especially if you're going on holiday in January with children.

If you come to Eilat, be sure to take a walk through the Botanical Garden, spread out on ancient stone terraces. Here you can walk along winding footpaths with signs, admire the surface of lakes, waterfalls, wooden buildings, and climb to one of three observation platforms and see the vast expanses of the Red Sea and the picturesque Mountains of Edom.

The Dead Sea is the best place for healing

But even in winter, no one abolished medical and health operations. The best place for medical procedures is considered to be the Dead Sea coast, whose waters have amazing and beneficial properties. This place is called a “natural pressure chamber”. Due to the fact that the water in this sea is saturated with minerals, it is always warmer than the surrounding atmosphere. It is worth noting that this place does not rain that much, and if it does rain, it will be short-lived and will not harm a great time.

Another Dead Sea resort is Ein Bokek, with an extensive network of hotels, featuring spas and health centers with rooftop pools and heated water of this amazing sea. From what is described above, it is clear that Israel in winter is just as interesting as in summer, but the prices are much lower.

Weather in Israel in January

The first month of winter is rich in frequent rains. Water temperature: in the Mediterranean Sea – about 17°C, in the Red Sea – about 22 degrees. Only desperate daredevils can swim, but those who come to the sea will not be afraid and the temperatures are much lower. The temperature in Israel in January on the Mediterranean Sea is indicated by a number - during the day - 17°C, at night - about 10°C.

According to reviews from vacationers, a holiday in Israel in January means relaxing walks, visiting holy places, restaurants with excellent oriental cuisine, and a variety of fruits and sweets. In a word - it's a fairy tale! Do you know what an oriental bazaar is? This is an incredible variety of juicy selected fruits and vegetables placed on the shelves and such an unimaginable diversity! For this reason, it is worth going to this country in January.

1

Reviews from tourists: is it possible to swim in the sea in Israel in January

The first month of the year in Russia is snow and frost, cloudy weather and winds. And I really want warmth and the sea... where should I go? Many tourists go to Israel to spend the New Year holidays there and enjoy the sun and warmth. But before you fly to the sacred land, it’s worth finding out whether it’s possible to swim in the sea in Israel in January? To do this, you should study the weather in the region and only then make a decision about travel. Let's start with the fact that January is the wettest month in Israel. It is also the coldest month of the year. So you should think twice about it if you are planning to sunbathe on the beach and swim in the sea.

And so, when going to Israel in January, you should remember that there is a lot of rain here. Of course, there are not as many of them here as in the tropics during the rainy season, but they are there.
Eilat is the country's main beach resort. In January there is not as much rain here as in other cities of the country, but swimming is still almost impossible. The daytime temperature almost does not exceed +20 degrees and only a couple of days a month can be around +28 degrees. The nights here are completely cold, and in the morning the temperature drops to +4 +6 degrees. There are almost no people who want to watch the sunrise, as well as people who want to watch the sunset.

Tel Aviv is a city that is visited both for a beach holiday and for sightseeing. And if you don’t have any problems with the second one, then you won’t be able to swim in the sea in the middle of winter. Firstly, it often rains here. If there are about 4-5 completely rainy days, then in total it can rain more than twenty times a month. Secondly, the weather during the day is clearly not conducive to swimming. The temperature rises to only +17 degrees. Thirdly, this month the cloudiness here is very high. More than 25% of the total daytime time in the month is clouds and clouds in the sky.

The warmest sea in January in Israel is in Jerusalem. The water in it is heated to +22 degrees. Of course, you can go into the water and swim, but getting out of it will not be very easy. During the day, the thermometer almost never rises above +15 degrees. Therefore, you will be warm and comfortable in the water, but it will be difficult to get out of the sea: you will immediately freeze and you will be very uncomfortable.

Israel, whose monthly weather depends on the climate zone, is a state in the Middle East, washed by four seas: the Red, Mediterranean, Dead and Galilee. Israel is located in the Southwest Asian region called the Middle East. The country borders Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt.

The legitimate capital is Jerusalem. Due to the controversial political situation within the country, most developed countries designate Tel Aviv as the main city.

Israel occupies a small territory, but its topography is very diverse. Therefore, the weather varies significantly between months in the state. The main area in the southern part of the country is home to the Negev and Arava deserts, and in the northern part there are Mount Carmel.

The rest of the territory is dominated by rocky soil. In this regard, a significant number of parks and reserves have been organized in Israel, and state policy on nature conservation is also being developed.

Since all 4 rivers of the state dry up in the summer, the country experiences a shortage of fresh water resources. To overcome these difficulties, the government is subsidizing the construction of plants for desalination of sea sources.

Israel is classified as a region with a subtropical climate. But weather conditions throughout the state are not the same and depend not only on the season, but also on the region of the country.

There are different climatic zones:

Climate on the Dead Sea coast

The first and second months of the year on the Dead Sea coast are characterized by insignificant precipitation (rain). The water temperature reaches +35 °C, while the air is dry. Travelers visit resorts in this climate zone in the spring and autumn. In winter, the water of the Dead Sea is warmer than the air, and in summer, the opposite is true.

The most famous resort in this area is Ein Bokek. It is open all year round to visitors wishing to receive medical treatment. Almost the entire city is a huge health complex.

Temperature of the Dead Sea and its coast:

month	average temperature, °C
	water	air
		during the day	at night
January	22	27	17
February	23	23	17
March	24	20	15
April	27	24	18
May	28	25	19
June	31	28	20
July	29	30	24
August	27	31	25
September	26	32	28
October	25	32	25
november	23	31	22
December	21	30	18

Comparative table of water temperatures by month

Israel, whose weather is inconsistent throughout the months, is located on the coasts of 4 seas:

• Red;
• Mediterranean;
• Dead;
• Galilean.

The water, regardless of the territory of the country, never gets colder than 18 °C, which is optimal for swimming.

The following temperature indicators were recorded:

month	average water temperature, °C
	Mediterranean	Dead	Red
January	18	22	21
February	18	22	21
March	19	24	22
April	21	26	22
May	25	29	23
June	27	31	24
July	27	28	24
August	26	27	25
September	26	26	24
October	23	25	23
november	20	23	23
December	20	21	21

Precipitation in Israel

Precipitation is typical for the period from the second ten days of October to the first spring month. They are especially intense in December-January. Every year, Israel records about 493 mm (41 mm monthly) of precipitation.

Rainy weather begins in October and continues until March; there is almost no snow, except in the mountainous areas and Jerusalem. Precipitation is uneven across the country. The closer to the southern part, the fewer there are.

They are distributed by month as follows:

month	amount of precipitation, mm	days with precipitation
January	120	10
February	100	10
March	100	8
April	20	3
May	20	1
June	—	—
July	3	1
August	—	—
September	7	1
October	20	3
november	60	5
December	100	9

Air temperature in spring

In Israel, March weather contributes to the opening of the beach season. Tourists appear in resorts such as Eilat and Ein Boker. Rain continues in the central regions. At night the temperature can drop to +10 °C, and during the day it rises above +20 °C.

In April it gets noticeably warmer, which is felt every day. In the second decade, the temperature on the coasts of the Israeli seas can reach +30 °C. There is almost no precipitation, except in mountainous regions, where this month is characterized by short-term heavy rains.

May is the optimal time for tourists. Comfortable weather conditions this month are typical throughout the country. At this time, a full-fledged holiday season begins on the Mediterranean coast, as it already warms up to +24 °C.

At night the temperature can drop significantly:

Summer in Israel

Summer in Israel is extremely hot, the air can warm up to +45 °C. In the first month of the period, the wind brings hot weather from the desert. It's difficult to be outside during the day. In Mediterranean resorts, the climate is much milder due to air humidity.

In July the situation is similar. Temperatures of +40 °C and above are often recorded. The weather is more comfortable on the Red and Mediterranean Seas. In August, not only the air becomes hot, but also the water. During the day it can reach +30 °C.

At night, the temperature is in the range that is comfortable for humans:

month
	during the day	at night
June	31	18
July	33	21
August	33	21

Weather in Israel in autumn

During this period, heat is typical only for desert areas.

In the first month of autumn, the velvet season begins on all sea coasts of the state. September is considered the most favorable in terms of climatic conditions in the country.

In October, the velvet season continues due to the fact that the temperature is optimal for vacationers. At night it becomes cooler and there are warm rains.

In November you can still relax on the coasts of the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Periodic rains begin in central and northern Israel.

The average seasonal temperature is +25 °C:

month	average air temperature, °C
	during the day	at night
September	31	19
October	29	17
november	24	13

Red Sea Resorts

The main resort on the Red Sea coast is Eilat, located in the driest region of Israel. On its territory there is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the country.

Israel, whose weather on the Red Sea coast is most often optimal during the months, attracts tourists to Eilat almost all year round. Even in winter, the water temperature does not drop below +20 °C, and the air temperature does not drop below +15 °C.

The optimal time for tourists wishing to visit this resort is considered to be April-May and September-October. In July-August, the flow of tourists decreases, as the air warms up to +35 °C, and the sea - to +28 °C.

month	average temperature, °C
	water	air
		during the day	at night
January	21	27	18
February	21	25	19
March	22	24	20
April	22	26	20
May	23	29	21
June	24	30	22
July	25	31	24
August	24	32	28
September	24	34	30
October	23	33	25
november	21	20	20
December	21	28	18

Resorts of the Mediterranean coast

On the Mediterranean coast of Israel, the tourist season occurs at the end of summer, as at this time the air warms up to 30 °C and the water to 26 °C. In spring and autumn the weather is not so comfortable - it becomes cool, especially at night. In winter, the air temperature can drop to +20 °C, and the water temperature can drop even more. Rain is also typical for this time of year in the area.

The most famous resort towns in the region are:

• Tel Aviv;
• Netanya;
• Haifa;
• Herzliya;
• Ashkelon.

Tel Aviv is the business and entertainment center of the country. This resort has 14 km of equipped beach areas.

Netanya is popular due to its close location to many of the country's attractions. The resort is suitable for an economical holiday option. The beaches are located under a cliff, so descent is only possible with the help of a special lift. Haifa is built on the slope of Mount Carmel and stretches to the coast. Most of the hotels are located far from the beach areas.

Herzliya is a center for tourists who want not only to relax, but also to receive treatment. The resort has a port for yachts and a small airport for private aircraft. Ashkelon is a city with a history of five thousand years. It is interesting to tourists for its attractions and beach areas. Also on the territory there is a park with cultural monuments that are two thousand years old.

The tourist season begins in late spring and ends in mid-autumn.

The temperature during this period is optimal for relaxation:

month	average temperature, °C
	water	air
		during the day	at night
January	18	25	13
February	18	22	10
March	19	20	8
April	21	23	15
May	25	27	18
June	27	28	22
July	27	28	24
August	26	30	25
September	26	30	28
October	24	29	24
november	20	29	21
December	18	28	19

Israel weather in winter

In winter, the air in Israel can cool to +5 °C, which is accompanied by heavy precipitation. Almost the entire territory of the state is not characterized by sub-zero temperatures and snow, except for the resort of Hermon and its surroundings.

The first month of the period is cloudy with rain. Short-term frosts are possible in central and mountainous regions. In January, weather trends are similar to the previous month. The temperature drops slightly.

It rains during February, but the weather improves. This is the most contrasting month for different areas of Israel. The Red Sea coast is currently dry and already warm, and significant precipitation is observed near the Mediterranean Sea.

month	average air temperature, °C
	during the day	at night
December	19	9
January	17	7
February	17	7

Ski resorts in Israel

Hermon is the most famous ski resort in Israel. It is characterized by significant amounts of precipitation. Snowdrifts here usually persist until mid-April, but tourists visit it only until the end of March. The resort is built at an altitude of 2 km and is only open from November to May.

The mountainous regions of Israel are characterized by precipitation in the form of snow and large snowdrifts from late autumn to early spring. In summer, in dry weather, there are strong winds, the speed of which reaches 120–150 km/h. During the winter months, temperatures can drop below 0°C.

month	average air temperature, °C
	during the day	at night
January	16	10
February	16	10
March	18	11
April	19	14
May	23	17
June	26	20
July	27	22
August	29	23
September	27	22
October	24	20
november	20	15
December	18	11

Israel is a country with a Mediterranean climate that varies from month to month. The summer period is mostly hot and dry, and the winter period is warm with precipitation. Different air humidity in the climatic zones of the country affects a person’s perception of the weather.

Article format: Vladimir the Great

Video about climate in Israel

What is the weather like in winter in Israel and what can you see at this time: