Palestine
Check current travel advice. Access and conditions vary enormously
Population
Around 5.5m people
Currency
Israeli New Shekel and Jordanian Dinar
Main Language
Arabic
best time to visit
Not currently advised in most areas – check government advice
Climate
Mediterranean, hot dry summers, mild wet winters, desert near the Dead Sea
Visa
No independent visa system; entry is controlled via Israel or Jordan and subject to current advisories
Country overview
The current position matters more than anything else on this page. Since October 2023 the situation across the Palestinian territories has been extremely severe, with Gaza subject to devastating conflict and humanitarian crisis, and access to the West Bank restricted and volatile. Most governments advise against all travel to Gaza and against all or all but essential travel to much of the West Bank. Check your own government guidance.
Palestine has no independent border control. Entry is via Israeli-controlled crossings or, for the West Bank, the Allenby bridge from Jordan, and movement between areas is governed by a checkpoint system. This is a practical reality that shapes any visit and is worth understanding before travelling.
In more accessible periods, Bethlehem holds the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. Hebron old city has a covered market and the Ibrahimi Mosque. Jericho has a claim to being among the oldest cities on earth. Ramallah has a lively cafe and arts scene, and Palestinian hospitality is consistently remarked on by visitors.
Annual events and festivals
- Ramadan (varies) — observed widely, with public iftar meals and lantern decorations in old cities.
- Eid al-Fitr (varies) — the main holiday ending Ramadan, with family visits.
- Eid al-Adha (varies) — the second Eid, a multi-day holiday.
- Christmas in Bethlehem (Dec and Jan) — marked on Western, Orthodox and Armenian dates by different communities.
- Orthodox Easter and Holy Fire (Apr-May) — a major event for Palestinian Christians in Jerusalem.
- Nakba Day (15 May) — commemorates the 1948 displacement. A central date in Palestinian identity.
- Land Day (30 Mar) — marks the 1976 protests over land confiscation.
- Palestine International Festival (Jul) — music and dance including dabke, held across West Bank cities in calmer years.
- Olive harvest (Oct-Nov) — a season of enormous cultural and economic significance, with volunteer programmes in normal times.
- Jerusalem Festival (varies) — traditional arts programming organised by Palestinian cultural bodies.
Palestine Travel Guides
Palestine guides are coming soon.