What to Wear in Israel: Packing checklists and clothing tips for your vacation (2024)

Top style tips for Israel

Dress is casualin Israel. Even Israeli prime ministers frequently wear short-sleeved shirts without ties.
Summers are hot and humid.Lightweight layers in natural fabricssuch as cotton, linen, bamboo and silk will work best in the heat and will protect you from the sun.
Jeansare always popular and will serve as aversatile base to your wardrobe.
Ensure you bring a versatile travel jacket. We love theSCOTTeVESTtravel jacket because it has over 23 pockets, removable sleeves and RFID protection.
Even in restaurants, the dress code is casual.
Tattoosare more common that you might expect and on the beaches of Tel Aviv you will see many. If you feel a particular tattoo would be culturally offensive then as a precaution we would suggest that you cover it up, but otherwise the most you might raise is an eyebrow or two.

Dress conservatively if visiting areas likeJerusalem and the Dead Sea, but in the larger cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa women are less modest in their dress – and they are not afraid to show off their bodies withcamisolesetc.
But, although it gets very hot in the summer,very few Israeli women wear shorts.
A skirt orloose-fitting pantsare good in the heat and will protect you from the sun.
When visiting religious sites dodress modestly;you will need to cover your shoulders and bare legs – so avoid short skirts/shorts, and carry apashminaor sarong to pop round you if necessary.
Be aware that this is also true ofreligious Jewish neighbourhoods,where women (especially) are expected to wear sleeves below the elbow and skirts below the knees.
A pashmina is aversatile piecethat will cover you for modesty, dress up any outfit, or keep off the sun.
A loose cotton shirt is very useful too –cool and comfortableto wear they look great over swimwear and stylish with jeans.
The leather RedDog BagPod is a reallyversatile and stylish bag that can be used from day to evening. Wear it over the shoulder or convert it toa clutch, or use it to keep your belongingsand travel documentstidy and easy to find.

Exploring the ancient alleys of Jerusalem. Ensure you bring a lightweight wrap to cover your shoulders, particularly if visiting religious monuments.

Forversatile and stylish beach, casual and swim wear, we recommend theMadda Fellarange.

Pack somecomfy footwearfor daytime exploring – we loveHotter shoes, for total comfort along with style.
Try theLindsay Phillips Switch Flopsrange of footwear too – using interchangeable shoe and flip-flop bases with snap-on decorations, you canchange your lookfrom day to evening in an instant whilst still packing light.

Summers in Tel Avivare hot hot hot. Wear plenty of good sunscreen (we love theRiemann P20 rangefor 10 hour protection), sunglasses and a sunhat.
December, January and February are cooler and you'll needwarmer clothes.
Clever layering is the key to dressing forchangeable weather.
We love theWeather+app – it gives an accurate 6 day forecast for day and night, which when you're planning from home is really helpful. You can keep all the places you've been to too – a nice way to remember your trip 🙂

The cobbled streets and lanes of theold city of Jerusalemcry out for you to wear comfortable walking shoes. And if you have the time, take in the view of the old city from the rooftop terrace above the David Street tourist market.
What to Wear in Tel Aviv

Be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen (we love theRiemann P20 rangefor 10 hour protection) before you leave home as it isnot that easy to buythere.
And take goodinsect/mosquito repellenttoo – Israel has over30 different species of mosquitoes!
Tap water is safe to drink, but if you tend to buybottled waterconsider carrying aLifeStraw Filtration Water Bottleinstead – fill up from any source and get clean, safe drinking water without wasting plastic bottles.
A lightweight day sack orshoulder bagwill come in handy to carry yoursightseeing essentials.
Look after yourmobile phonewith aphone bunjee– it protects against loss, theft and damage.
To useelectrical gadgetsyou may need atravel adapter plug, and also astep down voltage converterif your devices are not designed for thelocal voltage (230V).
If you're aiming to travel with justcarry-on baggage, try theCabinMaxsoft-sided rucksack– it's light, roomy and has plenty of pockets to keep your stuff organized. You can usepacking cubesto compress the volume too.
Avoid paying unexpectedbaggage fees– use an accurateluggage scaleto ensure you keep within the weight allowance. Don't forget to leave room forsouvenirson the way home! Look out for variousreligious items,Armenian potteryorRoman glass jewelry.
Keep your passportwith you at all times as you are required by Israeli law to carry ID – a passport bunjee will help to keep it safe.