Best time to visit Jerusalem

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Jerusalem

Best time of year to visit Jerusalem

April to May and September to November are deemed to be the best time to visit Jerusalem. Spring and autumn are mild, less crowded and pamper visitors with lower prices outside religious holidays like Passover, Easter, and Lailat al-Miraj. If you can don’t mind the heat, visit Jerusalem for summer events such as Light Festival and Mekudeshet. Keep in mind the unruly crowds and skyrocketing room rates between June and September. Time from December to March is known for its fickleness: one day is sunny, and the next one—gloomy and chilly. So if you want to hike the Jerusalem Trail in winter, pack a raincoat.

6 THINGS TO DO IN JERUSALEM (JUNE 27 - JULY 06)

Jerusalem Light Festival

Jerusalem Light Festival

unconfirmedlate June/ early July 2024 • event

With thrilling light installations, sound effects, and the overall majesty of the old city, Jerusalem Light Festival will be a high point of your visit

Jerusalem Friday Street Parties

Jerusalem Friday Street Parties

July–August • event

Get the feel of celebration and watch the whole city dancing at one of summer Friday parties

Tower of David Night Shows

Tower of David Night Shows

all year round • event

Watch unique laser shows dedicated to Jerusalem, King David, and world culture

Midnight Biking

Midnight Biking

all year round • activity

Discover Jerusalem without the traffic and crowds of tourists

Bridge of Strings (Jerusalem Chords Bridge)

Bridge of Strings (Jerusalem Chords Bridge)

year round | May 14 • activity

The bridge resembling a tent in the desert or King David's harp is a work of art and one of the tallest structures in Jerusalem

Rappelling (Snappling)

Rappelling (Snappling)

all year round • activity

A unique way to see the Old City is by rappelling off the side of the Tayelet or Gei Ben Hinnom

17 THINGS TO DO OUT OF SELECTED DATE RANGE

Holy Fire in Jerusalem

Holy Fire in Jerusalem

out of rangeMay 4, 2024 • event

The miracle that is believed to occur on Orthodox Easter Saturday for centuries

Yom HaShoah Siren

Yom HaShoah Siren

out of rangeMay 5-6, 2024 • event

Empathize with the locals over the darkest pages in the world's history

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur

out of rangeSeptember 24–25, 2023 • event

Streets and roads are empty—the whole country is celebrating Yom Kippur, the holiday of atonement and forgiveness

Holy Week & Easter

Holy Week & Easter

out of rangeCatholic: March 24–31, 2024 | Orthodox: April 28–May 5, 2024 • event

There is no better place to experience Holy Week than the Holy Land, where it all occurred

Purim Street Party

Purim Street Party

out of rangeMarch 23-26, 2024 • event

Have fun all night long, celebrating the country's most popular holiday

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

out of rangeMarch 24, 2024 • event

One of the most significant events in Christianity opens the Holy Week with a palm walk

Almond Blossom

Almond Blossom

out of rangeJanuary–February • nature

Tender pinkish flowers cover the almond trees all over Israel during early spring

Jerusalem Beer Fest

Jerusalem Beer Fest

out of rangeJuly 1–31, 2023 • event

One of the largest and noisiest summer events in Jerusalem

Levivot or Latkes

Levivot or Latkes

out of rangeDecember 7–15, 2023 • food

Probably the tastiest potato dish you have ever tried, only in Israel, only for Hanukkah

Sufganiyot

Sufganiyot

out of rangeDecember 7–15, 2023 • food

Traditional Jewish doughnuts are the sweetest reason to visit Israel for Hanukkah

Hanukkah

Hanukkah

out of rangeDecember 7–15, 2023 • event

Visit the country for one of the most well-known Jewish holidays, the Feast of Lights. Take part in the local celebrations and try traditional dishes

Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO)

Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO)

out of rangeNovember–March (all year round) • nature

A unique park and research station right in the heart of Jerusalem

Jerusalem Trail

Jerusalem Trail

out of rangeOctober–April • activity

Take a spectacular circuit hike around all the greatest places of the Israeli capital

Mekudeshet

Mekudeshet

out of rangecanceled in 2020 • event

The Old City is filled with tunes from all over the world

Lekach

Lekach

out of rangeSeptember 15–17, 2023 • food

Israeli sweetest cake that will bring you joyfulness and prosperity for the following year

Jerusalem Day

Jerusalem Day

out of rangeJune 5 • activity

Take part in celebration of the Jerusalem Day hand in hand with the locals

Blooming of Cyclamens

Blooming of Cyclamens

out of rangeDecember–February • nature

Take a look at Israel's valleys covered with a magnificent carpet of cyclamens in winter

Last updated:
Jan
10.5
Feb
10.5
Mar
10.5
Apr
10.5
May
10.5
Jun
10.5
Jul
10.5
Aug
10.5
Sep
10.5
Oct
10.5
Nov
10.5
Dec
10.5

Jerusalem weather in January

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
January is the coldest and the wettest month of the year in Jerusalem. The air temperature remains quite mild and rarely falls below freezing. So you can get away with taking just a light jacket. But you will definitely need to take your umbrella. With about 13 rainy days in January and constant high humidity, the chances to get wet are rather hight. Snow is also possible a couple of times per month. The city that is usually sunny gets just 6 hours of sunshine in January. Overall, January is not a good month to visit the city because of the constantly grey and gloomy skies, lack of sunshine and frequent rains that can make sightseeing rather problematic.

Jerusalem weather in February

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
February is the second coldest and rainiest month of the year after January. The temperature remains above freezing levels and is even slightly higher than in January. With over 10 hours of daylight, sightseeing in the afternoon and evening has become possible. It rarely snows in February, but it will definitely rain. There are 12 rainy days in February, so take some waterproof clothes and shoes. Tourists generally avoid Jerusalem in February since it’s rather gloomy and cold. However, you can also get lucky and witness a few bright clear days. There are already plenty of sunshine in Jerusalem in February. Also, you can witness the wildflower bloom in the Negev desert by the end of the month.

Jerusalem weather in March

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
The first month of spring brings some improvement in terms of weather. You’ll still need a jacket outside though with the average temperature slightly below the comfortable range, but it is surely less rainy. Don’t leave your umbrella at home though: there are still 10 rainy days in March. Daylight hours increase to 12 hours in March, but it is actually less sunny than in February with about 7 hours of sunshine daily. The biggest advantage of visiting Jerusalem in March is nature awakening that can be observed in Negev Desert as well as in gardens all over the city. Blooming flowers and fresh greenery will bring lots of positive impressions about the Holy City.

Jerusalem weather in April

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
The weather improves significantly in Jerusalem in April. The temperature stays in a comfortable range that is perfect for sightseeing or any kind of outdoor activity. Rainy days decrease significantly in comparison to the previous few months. With just 4 four wet days, April can be called a dry month. The days are mostly clear and sunny. With almost nine hours of sunshine per day, it almost feels like summer. You will never see Jerusalem more green and blooming than in April. Spring reins in gardens and all over the city. It is clearly one of the best times to visit Jerusalem.

Jerusalem weather in May

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
The third month of spring brings perfect summer-like warmth to Jerusalem. You won’t need your coat or warm clothes, or even an umbrella. The temperature is comfortable to stay outside for hours. And with just 1 rainy day in May, the chances to get wet are rather small. The days are perfectly sunny and the skies are clear and blue. Get advantage of 10 hours of sunshine per day and plenty of hours of daylight to explore the city and vicinity. It is perfectly understandable why May is one of the most popular times to visit Jerusalem. The city is simply gorgeous during that time.

Jerusalem weather in June

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
It surely feels like summer in Jerusalem! The temperatures are in the high twenties by Celsius or eighties by Fahrenheit. The air is very dry. There are no rainy days in June on average and over twelve hours of sunshine. So if you need to seek shelter, it will definitely be from the sun, not rain. Despite the rising temperature, June, overall, boasts quite mild weather and is one of the best months to visit Jerusalem. It’s perfect for sightseeing, hiking and exploring the city by bicycle. But don’t forget to take a sunhat, some sunglasses, and clothes to cover up your body from the sun if you plan to be out during midday.

Jerusalem weather in July

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
July is a truly hot month in Jerusalem. By that time the scenery gets pretty dry since it hasn’t rained for some time. July won’t bring any rainy days either. The temperature is not so comfortable anymore. It would be hardly pleasant to stroll through the city when the temperatures get to 30s in Celsius or 90s in Fahrenheit. If you like heat, you’ll find the Holy City perfect. With extended hours of daylight, you can squeeze a lot of activities and sightseeing in one day. However, if you don’t tolerate heat, visit Jerusalem some other time. Generally, in July the city is full of people and very much alive so it’s a good time to visit.

Jerusalem weather in August

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
The third month of summer is the driest and hottest in Jerusalem. There is no rain, and the air is very hot and dry from the very morning. During midday everything slows down because of the heat, but August nights are perfect in Jerusalem. Everyone is out and about. It’s a great time to enjoy the atmosphere in the city. Even though days are getting a bit shorter, there are still plenty of hours of daylight so you can plan many activities. Just don’t forget to bring some sun protection and sunglasses. August is still a good time to visit Jerusalem if you are ok with heat.

Jerusalem weather in September

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
The air finally slightly cools down in Jerusalem. It’s not boiling hot anymore, which brings relief to everyone in the city. September is still a very dry month with chances of rain nearly absent. The landscape looks rather dull and dry by now. There are 10 hours of sunshine every day, which is perfect for sightseeing or any kind of outdoor activity. Nights are still warm and there are so many things that you can do outside! Rosh Hashanah, festivals, concerts, and various events take place throughout September due to its mellow dry weather. It’s a great time to visit the city!

Jerusalem weather in October

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
October brings first chills and rains to Jerusalem, but on most days it still feels like summer. The air is perfectly warm and comfortable for strolling through the city, hiking or cycling. The sun is less intense and it’s now possible to stay outside even through midday. There are just four days of rain in October, and after a few rainless months, they feel like a blessing. October is a perfect time to visit the Holy City. There’s a lot going on, and the weather is usually very cooperative. There is still many hours of daylight in October, so you plan lots of outdoor activities. At night, it’s still nice to be outside and enjoy the breeze.

Jerusalem weather in November

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
November The third month of fall brings more rain and some cold air to Jerusalem. However, the temperature is still quite comfortable to stroll through the city and enjoy the outdoors. In fact, you don’t tolerate heat November can be a good time to visit. The afternoons are usually pleasant enough to spend time in outdoor cafes. It can get cold during nighttime so definitely bring a jacket and a sweater. There are 7 rainy days in November, so an umbrella will also come handy. But it doesn’t rain too much. There are just 7 hours of daily sunshine now, and days are getting shorter, but you can still see and do many things in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem weather in December

10.5/10 score
Ideal
10° average
average temperatures
10 mm
precipitation
6h 24m
daylight duration
The beginning of winter in Jerusalem is wet and chilly. The temperature doesn’t fall below freezing but it’s not as pleasant outdoors as in the previous months. The average temperature usually stays in double digits by Celsius, but rain gets more and more frequent. There are about 11 rainy days this month. Always sunny, Jerusalem gets somewhat gloomy in December, with the shortest days during the year. There are just six hours of sunshine on average. December is considered to be not a good month to visit Jerusalem, but it still has decent weather to explore the city. Just pack an umbrella and a warm jacket.