In January, Israel is quite cool and rainy. The country is located in the subtropical zone, so the winters here 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 about 10°C.
It’s a little warmer near the Red Sea; in Eilat, thermometers show 21°C during the day, but by night the temperature here 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 things 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 height of the rainy season in Israel. The rains are not torrential, but they come often, which can somewhat dampen the mood. When traveling, be sure to take a jacket, umbrella and waterproof shoes. The relative humidity value 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 Dead Sea coast is perfect for these purposes. There the air temperature is approximately 22°C, and the water temperature is 21°C, and sometimes higher values occur. Water is usually even warmer than air, and all because it contains many minerals. The weather in resort towns on the Dead Sea coast is somewhat different from the weather in other regions of Israel - in winter there is less rainfall, rain is short-lived, and air humidity is only about 40%.
The Ein Bokek resort is very popular - it is a whole chain of hotels that have their own SPA centers and health complexes 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 only accept those who come with their own medical card, which contains a medical history.
January is a good 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 participate in the liturgy in the Church of the Nativity, and on the night of the 19th they make their way to the Jordan River, in whose waters they perform ablutions. A place that must be visited during a pilgrimage tour to Israel is the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
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.
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.
Eilat is the southernmost city in Israel, which is why we chose to spend the longest stay here during our New Year holidays. Out of 7 days in Eilat, only 2 days were cool and windy, the remaining 5 we enjoyed the weather of +24-+25 degrees and a beach holiday.
The water temperature in the Red Sea is from +20 to +22 degrees Celsius. It’s very invigorating, so if you like to swim longer, it’s better to go to warmer countries in January.
In general, the weather is not stable and you will have to rest according to the principle of “as you’re lucky.” Even if you sunbathe and swim during the day, take 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 traveling even further is a great option. You can get to the Border with Egypt in less than an hour, for example, by regular city bus 15.
Eilat is a duty free zone. That’s why even locals shop here, not to mention tourists. But you won’t be able to get Tax Free. There are good sales and discounts in January. This is where we bought Israeli cosmetics. In all stores the prices are approximately the same, but still, before you decide to buy (if there is a large volume, you can get a discount), walk through all the stores and ask the price.
The city of Eilat is very small, in the center, almost immediately by the sea, there is an Airport. Taxi is cheap 25-30 shekels for a trip around the city. But there may be a surcharge if there are more than 2 people and you have a lot of luggage. The difference is not significant and, to be honest, it is not worth going into it too much.
Also, just two and a half hours drive from Eilat is the Dead Sea and you can easily take an excursion or go there on your own by bus ( you can find out about my vacation at the Dead Sea here .)
What is interesting about a holiday in Eilat?
I was on holiday in Eilat in January 2016 with my parents. We flew to Tel Aviv Airport and first drove to Jerusalem, and then, on bus 444, which runs to Eilat several times a day, we reached the southernmost city of Israel. (You can find out more about our journey from Tel Aviv to Eilat here...)
When choosing housing, the entire city can be conditionally divided into 2 parts: the one by the sea, and the rest, located a little higher on the hill. Therefore, when choosing an accommodation facility on the map, take this factor into account. We had the opportunity to live both there and there.
The first Rich Luxury Suites were located on Mt. Accordingly, among the advantages we received: a low price and an inexpensive supermarket around the corner.
The more expensive apartments of the same chain, Rich Royal Suites Eilat, are located closer to the sea and very original, right opposite the airport.
We were pleased with our stay in both apartments.
The city of Eilat did not leave any strong impressions on me personally. The most interesting thing is probably the planes flying overhead right above the beach.
A pleasant promenade is only on the coastline near expensive hotels.
These are probably the best views.
I really liked the tangerine trees growing on the balconies.
In Eilat we had mainly a beach holiday. Comfortable temperature for sunbathing and swimming is from approximately 10:00-11:00 in the morning until 17:00 in the evening. Sun loungers and umbrellas, changing cabins, are everywhere along 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 or corals.
To look at 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 Dolphin Reef, under the sign of Coral Beach Club.
This beach is less suitable for the average tourist, due to the inconvenient entrance; it is best to take 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 the price for a Russian tourist almost doubling, it seemed to me quite adequate.
There is information in Russian.
Near the shore there are a little more living creatures and corals than on the city beach, but there is nothing special to see there. Pay attention to places like:
Neptune's Tables, Dolphin Reef, Satil Wreck, Paradise Reef, Yatush, Eel Garden, Coral Beach Nature Reserve, Japanese Gardens , Lighthouse Reef, The Caves In general, the price list suggests going to some of them.
But I postponed diving until a warmer season.
From the beach we walked along the highway to the Dolphin Reef stop. We came to check out the information.
Just relax on this beautiful artificially created beach with palm trees -67 shekels. You pay for the SPA -339 shekels (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 free breakfast, including, as I understand, champagne and wine, which is also included in the price.
The SPA has 3 swimming pools: warm with sea water, with music and a regular fresh one, as well as baths. You can pay extra for an instructor who will teach you how to properly 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 at the beach for free.
I’m not a fan of such entertainment with animals, but there is information about this dolphinarium that dolphins live in natural conditions in the bay and if they don’t want to swim with you, then excuse me, they won’t force you.
Again, due to the temperature conditions, we decided to postpone this attraction until a better time and headed back to the city center. Please note that bus number 15 goes back 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 else while vacationing in Eilat, but this is just a reason to return there again.
The Dead Sea is perhaps one of the most amazing places on the planet, where many people dream of visiting. In addition to the fact that there are a lot of interesting and remarkable places, the local waters can offer vacationers their healing properties. Representatives of the tourism business will also complement the overall picture; they are also trying to create the most comfortable conditions for their guests, and, to their credit, they are doing it very well.
It is impossible not to say a few words about the weather at the Dead Sea at this time of year. The rainy season is in full swing here, so precipitation will be quite common, which, of course, will affect the overall popularity of the resort at this time of year. But it probably won't be hot here. The air temperature during daylight hours will rarely rise above +20 degrees. The water in the Dead Sea will be approximately the same warm. But at night it will be noticeably cooler, the air temperature can drop to ten degrees. But, thanks to the good heating system in the hotel, this will not create any problems for vacationers.
It is also impossible not to mention the local prices for holidays in January. As noted above, winter in Palestine is the rainy season, which, in turn, affects prices. On average, they are reduced by 30 percent. For example, if in the high season the cost of a trip for two, in which everything is included, can reach $ 1,600–2,000, then in January a married couple will be able to afford a week-long vacation to the Dead Sea for approximately for $1,200.
Of course, it is important to pay attention to the reviews about holidays in January left by tourists who have visited the Dead Sea. It's safe to say that most of the reviews are very positive. Travelers talk with great pleasure about the magical time they spent on the world famous coastline. Excellent hotel service, rich tourist programs, lack of heat: all this and much more, of course, cannot leave anyone indifferent. Dissatisfaction and complaints in reviews are an extremely rare exception. And even then the only thing left to complain about is the rains, which periodically remind us of themselves.
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