How many hours does it take to fly to Israel? How long does it take to fly to Israel from Russia? Is it possible to get there other than by plane?
There are countless reasons why you should visit the sacred land at least once in your life. Its amazing nature, historical and religious attractions, delicious cuisine and entertainment will not leave anyone indifferent. Once you come here, you will not want to leave this small but proud state. And having left, you will strive to return.
About Israel
Statistics show how many of our compatriots fly to Israel on vacation every year. This figure is hundreds of thousands of people and continues to grow. The country's coastline attracts with picturesque beaches, and resorts on the Mediterranean Sea are popular among tourists. Many people prefer the Red Sea in Eilat or go to the Dead Sea, which has healing properties, for healing.
The Promised Land combines incompatible properties and conflicting confessions. Judaism, Christianity, Islam live side by side in a tiny state. And the country itself is one continuous historical and religious attraction. Guests from all over the world come to see it and join the ancient culture all year round.
Airports in Israel
The country's main air gate, which receives most flights, is located near Tel Aviv. They are named after David Ben-Gurion, the state's first prime minister. The country's main air gate serves aircraft from many airlines, including Air France, American Airlines, British Airlines, Lufthansa, Aeroflot, and Ural Airlines. But even such a port will not accept as many planes as fly to Israel.
Another major airport in the state is Ovda or Ovda, located near Eilat. The airport was named after the military operation of the Arab-Israeli war of 1947 - 1949. It serves regular flights of some Russian airlines such as Aeroflot, Rossiya and Ural Airlines.
There is another airport in Eilat, named after Yakov Hozman, which serves domestic flights, but also accepts international flights that can land on its relatively short runway.
Haifa International Airport is named after Uri Michaeli, one of the pioneers of Jewish aviation. It is located in the east of the city. Serves domestic flights, but provides charter and private flights to Greece, Jordan, and Turkey.
The country's new air harbor was recently opened near Eilat. It is located near the Timna Nature Reserve, which is why it is called Timna Airport. The official name is the airport named after Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut. In July of this year, the first passenger flight of Arkia Airlines landed. It is planned that the new air gates of the state will replace the airports of Eilat and Ovda and will relieve Israel's main air terminal - Ben Gurion Airport. The opening will take place in the coming winter.
Flights from Russia
How long to fly to Israel from Russia depends on the carrier company, the number and duration of transfers. There are non-stop flights and flights with transfers. Russian companies Aeroflot and Ural Airlines, Israeli El Al Israel Airlines, Italian Alitalia, German Lufthansa and other carriers fly from Moscow to Israel. Departures are made from Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports. Flight duration ranges from four to 32 hours. Non-stop flights take minimal time. The maximum is in case of two transfers. Below we will look at how long it takes to fly to Israel from Moscow on a direct flight.
From Pulkovo you can also fly to Israel either by direct flight or with transfers. In addition to the Russian Aeroflot and S7, Turkish Airlines, the French Air France and other providers fly from the northern capital. The journey will take from 4 hours 40 minutes to almost 36 hours.
You can fly to the Promised Land from other cities of the Russian Federation - Samara, Krasnodar, Sochi and others. Both travel time and cost vary from city to city.
Direct flights
There are direct flights from Russia to Israel from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and Yekaterinburg. How long to fly to Israel from Moscow on a direct flight, we find out on aggregator sites like SkyScanner, Bravoavia, Expedia, etc. The flight takes about 4 hours, for example, by El Al Israel from Domodedovo Airport, Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo or Ural Airlines from Vnukovo.
It takes a little longer to fly from St. Petersburg - a direct flight takes 4 hours 50 minutes. The flight from Yekaterinburg will take 5 hours. But the fastest way to get there is from Sochi - in just 2 hours 15 minutes.
Flights with transfers
Now let's see how long it takes to fly to Israel with a transfer. The fastest flights from Moscow with one transfer take just over six hours, the longest - more than 30 hours. At the same time, the flight time itself is about 3-4 hours, the rest of the time is waiting at the airport. Such long transfers can be interesting in visa-free countries or countries with a transit visa. You can go out into the city and casually arrange a short excursion around another country.
Flying from St. Petersburg with one transfer is about the same time as flying to Israel from Moscow - from 6 hours 40 minutes to 28 hours, with two - from 8 hours 30 minutes to almost 38 hours with a change of airport in Moscow.
Flights with stops from other points in Russia will take approximately the same time.
Ticket prices
The price of tickets to Israel depends on the departure point, route, time of purchase and flight dates. For example, now you can buy a one-way ticket from Moscow to Tel Aviv with a transfer for only 6.5 thousand rubles, a round-trip ticket will cost 21.5 thousand if the flight takes place in a month.
Under the same conditions, you can fly to the promised land from St. Petersburg for 8.5 thousand one way and 18.5 thousand rubles. - roundtrip. Sochi offers flights for 13 thousand one way and for 23.5 thousand rubles. - in both. Samara, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg - about 9-10 thousand only there and 20 thousand rubles in both directions.
But the main thing is not the cost of tickets and not how long it takes to fly to Israel, but what this amazing, unique country will reveal to you, what facets of its splendor it will show, what secrets it will share. It's worth a visit.
Many travelers have at least once thought about vacationing in Israel. Despite the fact that this country does not offer tourists anything special. Tourists in Israel will enjoy standard resort activities, pilgrimages to sacred places, tours of historical sites and other excursions.
Russian tourists give high preference to resorts from Israel. Before choosing a vacation spot for your upcoming vacation, you should make a plan for your trip, take into account the flight time and other nuances. Because no one would like to waste their valuable vacation time. Below we will tell you how long it will take you to fly to Israel from Moscow airports.
There are four airports in Israel, but Russian tourists are greeted at only three of the four landing complexes. The most popular complex where Russian travelers are allowed to land is the airport called David Ben-Gurion, this airport is located in Tel Aviv. Russian airliners also land in the cities of Haifa and the Negev.
Haifa Airport
The airport terminal is not designed to accommodate large international airliners. Since it is much smaller than other airports it is strange. But planes of Russian airlines are accepted here. This airport was built specifically for domestic and short-haul flights.
The airport has a small runway, and the infrastructure at this airport is also poorly developed. At the airport there is a small shop and restaurant where passengers can eat after a long flight. But if you are going to leave the airport in a rented car, then nothing will work out for you. There are no stands at the airport for renting vehicles. So you will need to book it in advance, which will be much more expensive, or you will have to pay a lot of money for a taxi.
Apart from taxis, the airport has good transport links. There are buses and train tracks near the airport. For those who want to save money or see the city, you should find out the schedule and routes of trains and buses.
Airport in Negavia
The airport in Negavia ranks 2nd among air complexes. But it has its drawbacks. The airport terminal is located near the city of Eilat. Previously, this airport was used for military purposes and was a closed facility. But after some time it was given over to public use.
The infrastructure at the airport is also poor, due to the fact that it was previously a military facility. On the territory of the complex you can find one small shop where they do duty-free shopping. Well, there is a small eatery where passengers can have a snack after the flight, it is located next to the small waiting room.
Tel Aviv Airport
The largest and most popular air complex in Israel is called Tel Aviv. This airport is capable of receiving up to 16 million passengers per year. Moreover, this number is growing every year, as the flow of passengers is constantly increasing.
It is for this reason that the airport named after David Ben-Gurion has earned the status of the best aviation complex in the Middle East. Due to such a large flow of passengers, it was necessary to improve the level of infrastructure. Here you can eat dishes from different countries, including national dishes. You will also be presented with a wide range of products.
The airport has 4 terminals, but today only two are in working order (1 and 3). The complex has several waiting rooms, as well as coffee shops and currency exchange places. And, of course, there are car rentals.
Also, if you have to fly from the third terminal, you will have access to free Internet and underground parking. This will help you pass the time while waiting for your flight. Due to good transport connections, the journey to the city will take you a little time. There are bus stops at the airport and it is possible to order a transfer for a company trip to your destination.
Top airlines
Most flights land at Tel Aviv airport. Below we will tell you about all the details of the flight from Moscow to Tel Aviv. Planes also fly to Israel from St. Petersburg. First, we’ll tell you about the best airlines. If we consider only Russian airlines, then these are Aeroflot, Globus and Ural Airlines.” These airlines also board passengers in St. Petersburg.
Israeli airlines El Al Israel Airlines or Israir Airlines are very popular. It is also possible to fly with the help of Turkish companies. But for those who want to save on a ticket to Israel, there is the opportunity to fly on airliners from European low-cost airlines.
When choosing a flight date and the company you are going to fly with. It is worth knowing that local companies do not work on Saturdays. So you will have to choose another airline or reschedule your flight.
Route selection
In order to find out exactly how long it will take to fly to Israel, you need to know your route exactly. The main points that will affect the flight time:
- Number of transfers;
- Flight distance;
- And the airport's congestion.
If you have to fly a direct flight, the flight time will only take 4 hours. But if you have to fly with transfers, the flight time may increase from several hours to several days. But direct flights are not as frequent as compared to indirect flights. In some cases, a route with transfers can be much cheaper than a direct one, but it also happens the other way around.
Of all the air carriers in the world, only El Al aircraft have a missile defense system installed.
El Al aircraft do not operate on Saturdays due to the special religious status of this day of the week in Judaism. Jewish believers are prohibited from traveling on Shabbat (Saturday).
Only kosher food is served on El Al aircraft. Keep in mind that many Russian passengers are not happy with it. You might not like it either.
El Al airline boasts one world record. This is a record for the number of passengers on one plane - 1122 people. Of course, this was not a regular flight, but a special flight during the operation to evacuate ethnic Jews from Ethiopia in 1991.
And now about the sad
You have to pay for everything, including security. El Al is considered the safest airline in the world thanks to heightened security measures that many consider excessive.
Manual checks of luggage are carried out randomly. Your bag may be opened and every item inside may be checked. Moreover, this is done without your presence. Then you will put things back yourself.
Passengers are interviewed randomly. You may be asked for an hour about the purpose of your visit to Israel, about your family and work, even about your personal life. Personal searches of passengers are carried out selectively, and this is nothing more than a thorough search.
Passengers' carry-on luggage is selectively taken away after passing through security at the airport, and items are returned only when boarding the plane.
All these measures greatly irritate travelers.
What is more important – security or the rights and freedoms of citizens? This issue has always been relevant, and Israeli airlines are still opting for safety. If you don’t like this, then buy tickets for Aeroflot flights, prices differ slightly.
Have a nice flight to Israel, and read other articles about this country ( links below).
Passengers who want to get to the sacred land are interested in how long it takes to fly to Israel from Moscow, because the distance between the countries is considerable. This question is especially relevant for people planning to undergo treatment in Israel. Every extra minute spent on a plane can turn out badly for them.
Among the airlines operating flights from Russia to Israel, the following should be highlighted:
"Transaero";
El Al Israel Airlines;
Sundor;
Israir Airlines and others.
Moscow-Israel flights land only at some airports, in particular in Tel Aviv or Eilat. The flight duration is 4 hours 15 minutes. Departure is carried out from Domodedovo and Vnukovo. In addition, there are irregular flights from Sheremetyevo.
Flight to Israel is also possible from a number of other Russian cities:
Samara;
Omsk;
Kazan;
Saint Petersburg;
Novosibirsk;
Nizhny Novgorod and others.
There is a direct flight from St. Petersburg to Israel. The duration of the flight is practically no different depending on how much time you have to spend on board the aircraft when departing from Moscow - 4 hours 35 minutes.
Flights from Samara, Omsk and Kazan include one transfer. Flight duration ranges from 5 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 10 minutes.
Ovda Airport is located 60 km from Eilat. Both cargo and passenger aircraft land here. "Uvda" was previously a military facility. Passengers are provided with a minimum range of services. There are no ATMs or points of sale here.
Ben Gurion Airport is located 15 kilometers from Tel Aviv. This is Israel's main air hub. There are two terminals on its territory - international and domestic. The level of passenger service is high.
Animal lovers in Israel will have a very difficult time. According to the current law, it is strictly prohibited to keep fighting dogs at home. Local residents have to make do with furry cats and other pocket four-legged friends.
2. Kosher bakeries.
Only Jews can work in bakeries that have kosher status. Otherwise, the bread will not be kosher at all, but just ordinary.
3. Average life expectancy is 80 years.
Old people in Israel have a chance to live a long and happy life (if they are lucky, of course). The average life expectancy here is about 80 years. Few other European countries can exceed this figure.
4. High level of literacy.
Other Europeans should take their cue from the people of Israel. The literacy rate here is very high. Moreover, Jews are considered one of the most literate peoples in the whole world.
5. Exceeding the number of museums per capita.
The number of museums exceeds the number of local residents. But for tourists it is a real paradise. The number of interesting places that you can visit while in Israel is off the charts. Even the most experienced traveler will find something to his liking here.
What do you need to know when going on vacation with a small child?
Children are the flowers of life, requiring maximum concentration from their parents. This especially happens if adults plan to take their beloved children with them on vacation. To ensure that your trip is not overshadowed by various unpleasant situations, you should follow simple tips:
1. Choice of transport.
The best mode of transport for traveling with children is considered to be an airplane. It will deliver tourists to their destination as quickly as possible. At the same time, the level of comfort is at a high level.
It is better to avoid traveling by bus with children under three years of age. Children may suffer from motion sickness - the trip will leave behind unpleasant memories for both adults and children. Even if the child is not rocked to sleep, he is unlikely to be able to sit quietly all the way in his mother’s arms.
If traveling by plane is not possible, you should use rail transport. Here the child will be much more comfortable than on the bus. He will be able to walk around the carriage at any time, go to the toilet when he wants, and not when the bus driver wants it, and sleep peacefully on a separate shelf.
2. Availability of a first aid kit.
When traveling with a child, you should take care of having a small first aid kit. When planning a trip to exotic countries, you need to consult with your pediatrician about what medications you should take with you. It would also be a good idea to take out health insurance. The latter applies not only to children, but also to adults.
The first aid kit must have:
electronic thermometer;
bandage;
cotton wool;
patch;
antipyretics;
Activated carbon;
allergy medications;
wet and dry wipes;
nose/eye drops;
iodine;
diapers (for small children).
3. Entertainment.
Having fun is one of the most important parts of a successful holiday with children. Parents will have to think in advance about what they can do with their baby on the road. To do this, you will need a few of your baby’s favorite toys and a couple of coloring books.
4. Sunscreens.
To ensure a great holiday, you should make sure you have sunscreen. They will be useful for both children and adults. You should bring sunscreen, bucket hats, light long-sleeve shirts and pants. They will protect the baby from the hot rays of the sun. If, after all, the child is burned, it is necessary to smear him with a special burn cream. It is not necessary to take it with you, since such a product can be easily purchased in any country.
5. Independent organization of excursions.
It is advisable to explore the sights on your own. In this case, the excursion will begin and end when it is convenient for the parents. They will not have to adapt to the excursion group, which moves with a certain rhythm. Moreover, the rhythm chosen by the guide may not always coincide with the child’s capabilities and desires.
Are you going on a pilgrimage, medical, tourist, or guest tour of Israel for the first time? In this case, it is important to find out how long the flight to this country from Moscow and other Russian cities takes. Well, also, how can you get here?
Direct flight to Israel from Moscow
There are many airports in Israel. Several of them have international status - in Tel Aviv “Sde Dov”, “Ben Gurion”, in Eilat “Uvda” and in Haifa the airport of the same name. Most tourists fly to Ben Gurion, since from here it is much closer to get to Jerusalem and the north of the country. It takes 3 and a half hours to fly to Tel Aviv from Moscow, which is an hour less than to Eilat.
How long does it take to fly to Tel Aviv from other cities?
- From Yekaterinburg – 5 hours 40 minutes.
- From Samara and Kazan – just under 4 and a half hours.
- From St. Petersburg – 4.5 hours; to Eilat – 5 hours.
Which airlines can you fly to Israel?
You can fly to this country on regular or charter flights operated by various airlines:
- Regular ones - State Transport Company "Russia", "Transaero", as well as the Israeli El Al Israel Airlines.
- Charter – Sundor, Israir Airlines.
- Flights with transfers are cheaper than direct flights. AirBaltic airline delivers tourists via Riga.
Is it possible to get there other than by plane?
You can get to Israel by ferry, but only if you depart from Cyprus. There is no railway connection between Israel and other neighboring countries. You can cross the border by car only if you come from Egypt or Jordan, but this is a very expensive pleasure.
Therefore, the only way for Russians to get to this state is by plane, which is also the fastest way. And if the flight is not affected by weather, unexpected congestion at airports or other circumstances, then in just 4 hours you will find yourself in a small country with a big history.