January is one of those months when there are enough days off to go somewhere to relax and unwind. If familiar winter resorts If you're tired, we recommend going to Israel in January. We promise that the trip will be unforgettable, since this month is distinguished by its abundance church holidays, which attract tens of thousands of pilgrims to the country.

So, what to see in Israel in winter, what weather awaits travelers and what resorts can you relax at? We will talk about this further.

January weather in Israel

The weather in Israel in January is rainy. Despite the general mildness of the local subtropical climate, this is generally a rather cool month. In the Mediterranean Sea, for example, you cannot swim in January, unless, of course, you are a fan of extreme swimming.

Temperature in Israel in January

Coast Mediterranean Sea- Haifa, Netanya, Tel Aviv - this month usually has a temperature of about 17 degrees. At the same time, at night it drops to 10. The temperature in Israel in January is generally not very conducive to a beach holiday. It’s a little warmer near the Red Sea - up to 21 degrees during the day, at night here the same as near the Mediterranean - about 10. The approximate water temperature is up to 17 degrees in the Mediterranean Sea, up to 22 in the Red Sea. If you can’t live without swimming, it’s better to limit yourself to heated pools in hotels.

There is also a desert nearby, where the night air temperature drops to zero. Those wishing to travel to Israel are advised to stock up warm clothes for evening walks and light ones for daytime walks. Otherwise, you risk getting sick, and then your vacation won’t be so colorful and memorable.

January is a rainy month

What is the weather like in Israel in January? For Israel, this is a fairly rainy month, when relative humidity can range from 50 to 72%, depending on the remoteness of the desert and the proximity of the sea. The famous subtropical rainy season, which runs from November to April, reaches its peak in January. This is, of course, not the tropics with constant incessant downpours, but without an umbrella and a jacket it will be difficult here at this time of year. Constant rains are another reason why you should forget about the sea for a while, since they are not at all conducive to comfortable swimming.

Health resorts in Israel in winter

If you don’t pay much attention to beach holidays when traveling to Israel in January, you can safely go for treatment. Famous for its health resorts The Dead Sea coast is best suited for these purposes. The average temperature here is between 20-22 degrees, the water temperature will be a couple of degrees lower.

Since the water is not simple, and it contains a huge amount of different minerals, it seems warmer at any time of the year, including in winter. Beneficial features water also does not disappear anywhere all year round, so January in Israel can be used at least to take your health seriously. On the Dead Sea coast it rains less often, the humidity on average is around 40. Unlike other places in the country, here they will not interfere with your vacation.

Ein Bokek Resort

The most popular resort that can provide a wonderful holiday in Israel in January is Ein Bokek. This is a whole chain of hotels on the shores of the Dead Sea. At your disposal are many modern spa centers, health complexes, indoor heated swimming pools sea ​​water. Here too medical centers and clinics, which, however, you will only get to if you have medical cards describing your medical history.

In general, Ein Bokek is one of the most popular resorts in the country, so you should check availability in advance.

Where to go in Israel in January?

Wellness and resorts are a good thing, but sometimes you want some more vivid impressions from your vacation. If your health and mood allow it, it’s worth going to Israel in January, if only because several of the most important Christian holidays take place here - Christmas and Epiphany, which attract pilgrims from all over the world. And this is a great opportunity for you to take part in this event.

So, among the main places of pilgrimage in Israel it is worth noting Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem. Cool weather, without the sweltering heat usual for this southern country, only encourages a trip to Christian shrines. It is worth seeing with your own eyes those places that are described in the sacred book called the Bible and were the scene for the most important events of Christian history. Visiting them will give you an experience that you will not forget for the rest of your days. On January 6, Christmas Day, hundreds (if not thousands) of tourists try to get to the festive liturgy at the Church of the Nativity, which is located in Bethlehem.

The night of January 19 is the time of another most important holiday in Christianity, Epiphany. This time you can go for a bath in where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ himself was baptized two thousand years ago. Don't forget to visit the most important shrine of the Christian religion in Jerusalem - the Holy Sepulcher.

Although the grueling journey across the country may wear you down, believe me, it's worth it. In addition, you have a wonderful opportunity to combine a vacation at the Dead Sea resorts with a pilgrimage if you go to the country for the whole month. In any case, come and see for yourself.

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 large volume, you can get a discount), go to 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, Paradise Reef, Yatush, Eel Garden, Nature reserve(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.

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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 New Year holidays 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. And this is also the most cold 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 main one beach resort countries. In January there is not as much rain here as in other cities of the country, but swimming is still almost impossible. Daytime temperature almost does not exceed +20 degrees and only a couple of days a month can be around +28 degrees Celsius. 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 for beach holiday, and for the sake of excursion. 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 is also developing public policy on nature conservation.

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

Israel is classified as a region with subtropical climate. But weather 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 time The water of the Dead Sea is warmer than the air, and in the summer - vice versa.

Most famous resort in this territory - 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, °С
	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 lasts 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 favors opening 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 begins the Velvet season for everyone sea ​​coasts states. September is considered the most favorable month climatic conditions on the territory of the country.

In October, the velvet season continues due to the fact that temperature regime 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 tourist season falls at the end of summer, since at this time the air warms up to 30 °C, and the water - up 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. On the Red Sea coast in given time 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 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.

Mountainous regions of Israel from late autumn to early spring Precipitation in the form of snow and large snowdrifts are typical. In dry weather in summer there are strong winds, the speed of which reaches 120–150 km/h. IN winter months the temperature may 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. Summer period mostly hot and dry, and winter – warm with precipitation. Different air humidity in climatic zones countries influences 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:

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 coast North Sea(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. Meaning 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 Dead Sea coast is perfect for these purposes. There the air temperature is approximately 22°C, and the water temperature is 21°C, sometimes even more high values. Water is usually even warmer than air, and all because it contains many minerals. weather in resort towns on the Dead Sea coast the weather is somewhat different from 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 - the right time in order 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 must-visit place during pilgrimage tour to Israel - the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.