Just Landed in Israel? Your First 7 Days

Israel has cheap, fast mobile data and strong 4G and 5G coverage across all cities and most of the country, and eSIMs are widely supported. Monthly SIM-only plans with tens of gigabytes or unlimited data are among the cheapest in the developed world, so there is little reason to stay on an expensive tourist SIM once your ID is sorted. Home fibre and cable broadband from Bezeq, Hot and Partner are fast but usually sold as a two-part deal (infrastructure plus internet service provider), which confuses newcomers.

Typical cost: Around 20-50 ILS per month for a SIM-only plan with tens of GB or unlimited data; home broadband runs roughly 100-180 ILS once you combine infrastructure and provider.

Israel is largely cashless in cities, with cards and the Bit peer-to-peer payment app dominating everyday spending. Bit, owned by Bank Hapoalim, is near-universal for splitting bills, paying at markets and sending money to friends and small traders, but it usually requires an Israeli bank account or card to function fully. Contactless is standard, and Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted in shops and on buses.

Opening an account: Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Israel Discount Bank and Mizrahi-Tefahot are the main high-street banks, while digital-first options like Leumi's Pepper appeal to newcomers who want low fees and English support. Opening an account requires your passport, Teudat Zehut and usually an in-branch visit, and monthly account and card fees (amlot) are a normal and often frustrating part of Israeli banking. New immigrants can often open an account on olim-friendly terms, so mention your status.

Cash: Cards work almost everywhere, but keep some cash for the shuk (open-air markets like Carmel in Tel Aviv and Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem), small kiosks, market stalls and service tips. Note that paying cash above roughly 6,000 ILS to a business in a single transaction is legally restricted under Israel's anti-cash law, so large purchases should go by card or transfer.

Tipping: Tipping in restaurants and cafes is expected at around 10-15%, frequently added as a service line or, historically, paid in cash directly to staff. Tipping taxi drivers is not customary, and there is no need to tip at counters or fast-food spots.

New residents must register in person with the Ministry of Interior (Misrad HaPnim), part of the Population and Immigration Authority, to obtain a Teudat Zehut identity card. This national ID number links your registered address and is required for banking, health funds, mobile contracts, employment and virtually every government service. New immigrants under the Law of Return are registered as citizens on arrival and receive an interim ID quickly, with the permanent plastic card following via a booked appointment. Any subsequent change of home address must also be reported to the ministry.

Deadline: Olim register on arrival or shortly after, and there is no fixed universal grace period; in practice you cannot function without a Teudat Zehut, so treat it as a first-week priority. Non-Aliyah residents on work or other visas register according to the terms of their permit.

Where: A Population and Immigration Authority (Misrad HaPnim) office, by prior online appointment booked through the government portal.

Buses and light rail are the backbone of public transport, paid with a Rav-Kav smartcard or the linked mobile apps (Rav-Kav Online, Moovit Pango or HopOn). Tel Aviv's Red Line light rail is now running and expanding, and intercity trains via Israel Railways connect the coast, Jerusalem and the south. The single most important thing to internalise is that almost all public transport, including trains and most buses, stops for Shabbat from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening.

From the airport: From Ben Gurion, the Israel Railways train from the station inside the terminal reaches central Tel Aviv (Savidor or HaHagana) in around 20 minutes and Jerusalem via the fast line in about 30 minutes, running every day except Shabbat. Official metered taxis and the Gett app serve the whole country around the clock, with a Tel Aviv trip costing roughly 150-200 ILS, and are your only real option late on Friday or on Saturday.

Renting is competitive and expensive, especially in Tel Aviv and its suburbs, and most listings and contracts are in Hebrew. The main channels are Yad2 (the dominant classifieds site), dedicated Facebook groups such as 'Secret Tel Aviv' housing threads, and estate agents who typically charge one month's rent plus VAT as commission. Many flats are let unfurnished and without white goods, so budget for a fridge, oven and washing machine, and expect to move fast because good listings disappear within hours.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat runs roughly 6,000-9,000 ILS per month in central Tel Aviv, 3,800-6,000 ILS in Ramat Gan or Jerusalem, and less again in Haifa, Be'er Sheva or peripheral towns.

Deposit norm: Landlords typically want one to three months' rent as security plus additional guarantees such as a bank guarantee (arev/eravon), post-dated cheques or a promissory note (shtar chov), and often a personal guarantor. Read the contract carefully or have it checked, as tenant protections are weaker than in much of Europe.

Israel has universal health coverage funded through national health insurance and delivered by four competing HMO-style health funds (kupot cholim): Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet and Leumit. Care quality is generally high, hospitals are well regarded, and new immigrants are entitled to coverage, usually from arrival under the Aliyah route or after a short qualifying period for others. You choose your fund freely and can switch a couple of times a year.

How to access it: Choose and join one health fund at a post office or fund branch, then book GP (rofeh mishpacha) and specialist appointments through its app or website; pharmacies and clinics are tied to your chosen fund. Bring your Teudat Zehut to every visit, and use the fund's app for prescriptions, test results and appointment booking, which is where most day-to-day interaction happens.

Insurance: Basic care comes via the national health basket (sal briut), but almost everyone adds the fund's affordable supplementary plan (bituach mashlim) for dental, faster specialist access, second opinions and partial cover abroad. Many residents also buy standalone private health insurance for elective surgery, choice of surgeon and shorter waits.

• Directness is normal and not rude; Israelis speak plainly, interrupt and negotiate hard, so don't read bluntness as hostility or coldness.
• Shabbat runs Friday afternoon to Saturday nightfall, when many shops, public transport and services close, especially in Jerusalem, so plan your week around it.
• Learn a few Hebrew words such as toda (thanks), bevakasha (please/you're welcome) and slicha (excuse me/sorry); effort is genuinely appreciated even though English is widely understood.
• Security checks and bag searches at malls, stations, supermarkets and events are routine; cooperate calmly, open your bag without fuss and carry ID.
• Israelis are warm and hospitable once the initial bluntness passes, and being invited to a Friday-night dinner is common; bring something small like dessert or wine.
• Being a few minutes late socially is tolerated, but treat official appointments and work meetings as firm and turn up on time.
• Removing shoes when entering someone's home is common in many households, so glance at the doorway and follow your host's lead.

• Do not photograph military sites, soldiers, checkpoints or security installations, and follow instructions from security personnel without argument.
• Rocket-alert sirens and Home Front Command (Pikud HaOref) instructions must be taken seriously; know exactly where your nearest shelter (mamad or miklat) is and how long to stay.
• Queuing is loose and pushing is common in crowded settings, so stand your ground politely rather than expecting an orderly British-style line.
• Political and religious topics are everywhere and debated fiercely; you can listen and ask, but tread carefully before offering strong opinions as a newcomer.
• Driving is aggressive and horn-heavy, and pedestrians should not assume cars will stop, so cross with care even on marked crossings.