tex13

Planning my first trip to Israel and was wondering about the weather in late March and late May. Looking at different web-sites and it seems that May would be quite hot. Curious to know how crowded it gets before the holidays, ie Palm Sunday and Passover. Thanks

JoeyZee

It depends on where you are staying.

Although Israel and Palestine are small countries, the climate in Tel Aviv is pretty different from Jerusalem, although it's just an hour drive, tops.

What is the purpose of your visit? Stay on the beach or tour the area, including the holy sites in Jerusalem?

AlexA

Late March to April are just about the best times of the year weatherwise! Occasionally you can start to get a hot day, but usually just pleasantly warm and little or no rain.

Passover vacation for school kids begins about a week before the holiday so this year April 1st is when things start to get busier. But nothing compares to the week of the holiday itself which brings thousands of overseas visitors and much of the adult population of the country is also on vacation. Prices on hotels and airfare also go way up then.If you can come and leave before March 31st, I think that's ideal.

End of May is summer already and depending on what you're used to and where you want to travel, it might be less enjoyable weather. Also you'd need to work around another holiday, Shavuot on May 27th this year which brings schedule changes and closures which might get in the way of a short trip

schmerl

We were there the first two weeks of May last year and the weather was perfect. In fact the evenings were a bit chilly. We were not really hot at all even with all the walking we were doing. Of course weather varies from year to year.

mbgg

Both are good. May will be warmer but still comfortable. Avoid the Passover holiday !!

qwovadis

www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/israel
May better more rain with fronts in March

AlexA

I still think March is better, having been to Isarel many times at that time of the year and a few times in May.

March is the end of the rainy season so while of course you can get rain, it is unlikely. By late May , much of the country is uncomfortable traveling weather for many people. Jerusalem is almost always cooler.

You can get 35C/ 95F weather as early as Late March/Early April,, but obviously it's more likely later in in the year. March does have less daylight and Israel swithces to Daylight Savings Time somewhat later than the US

tex13

Thank you everyone for your input. This trip would be to tour as many sites as possible. Airfare is expensive in March and in May. If I go in March it would be from March 23 to April 1 so Passover should not be a problem. If I go in May it would be from May 25 to June 2. My plan is to stay in Tel Aviv for 5 nights and Jerusalem for 4 nights but have not set an itinerary. Thanks Alex for letting me know the date of Shavuot. I should have checked a Hebrew calendar.