International card payments are widely accepted in Israel. In all international hotels, shopping malls and larger shops in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Eilat you’ll be able to use your Visa and Mastercard debit and credit card without any issues.

Some vendors in Israel may ask you if you want to pay in instalments, allowing you to split the payment in three parts. If you would like this you’ll first need to register with the vendor.

Contactless payments haven’t been introduced in Israel yet. But pilot programs were launched in July 2019 by Israel’s railway company.

If you are going to pay by card in Israel: Be aware of currency conversion fees: British banks may charge heavily for international card payments made in Israel. In addition, your bank’s ILS to GBP exchange rate may not be so good. This is how banks make money. Before using your bank card for payments in Israel, it’s certainly a good idea to contact your bank. This will avoid your card becoming blocked due to international transactions that your bank may find suspicious.

Cash is still an important means of payment in Israel, often preferred by locals. You’ll need cash to pay for taxis, public transport, for tipping and for buying from smaller vendors, food stalls, local markets, beach vendors, tour guides and souvenir stalls.

We recommend that you take sufficient Israeli Shekel cash with you on your trip to Israel.

A coffee in a cafe in places like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will cost 10-20 shekels. For a three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant expect to pay around 120 ILS.

Prices in Israel are generally higher than prices in the UK: The cost of living in Israel is 23% higher than the cost of living in the UK.

You should certainly leave a tip in Israel. Tipping 10% or more is considered very normal. Not tipping is considered rude and will be frowned upon.