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Israel Travel Money Guide

See the Holy Land without worrying about your finances with these quick tips and easy solutions on how to best spend money in Israel.

Alex Keshen
Alex Keshen

Spending in Israel is similar to spending at home and card payments are widely accepted. We recommend bringing a debit card for easy tap payments and withdrawals as well as making sure you have some cash on you – especially if you're heading outside of a major city.

Compare travel money options for Israel

In Israel, debit and credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are readily available in tourist areas, but you will need cash for purchases at smaller shops, restaurants and markets. A good idea is to bring your debit card for regular purchases and to withdraw cash as needed while having a credit card as your backup.

Rates last updated November 13th, 2019
Name Product Foreign Currency Conversion Fee Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee Overseas Cash Advance Fee Annual fee Product Description
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard
0% of transaction value
$0
3% of the cash advance or $4 (whichever is greater)
$0 p.a.
Save with 0% foreign transaction fees on purchases. Plus, complimentary flight delay passes and a global wifi access.
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Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
2019 Winner
Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
0% of transaction value
$0
2% of transaction amount or $4 (whichever is greater)
$0 p.a.
Offers a $0 annual fee, 0% foreign transaction fees, complimentary international travel insurance and a balance transfer offer.
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Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
0% of transaction value
$0
2% of transaction amount or $4 (whichever is greater)
$0 p.a. annual fee for the first year ($99 p.a. thereafter)
Enjoy 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 6 months and a $0 first year annual fee. Plus, complimentary insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
More info
ING Orange One Platinum
ING Orange One Platinum
2.5%
of transaction value
$2.50
$149 p.a.
Enjoy up to $30 cashback per month and 100% foreign transaction fee rebates. Available when you hold or open an Orange Everyday account.
More info
Coles Rewards Mastercard
Coles Rewards Mastercard
0% of transaction value
$5
$5
$99 p.a.
Enjoy up to 120,000 bonus points (worth $600 flybuys Dollars / 52,200 Velocity Points ) when you meet the spend criteria and 2 flybuys / $1 spent.
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Rates last updated November 13th, 2019
$
Name Product Product Description Debit Card Access ATM Withdrawal Fee Monthly Account Fee Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee Overseas Eftpos Fee
Westpac Choice
Westpac Choice
Take advantage of Westpac's Global Alliance and save on overseas ATM fees at over 50,000 locations worldwide with fee-free cash withdrawals.
Mastercard
$0
$5
3%
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Citi Global Currency Account
Citi Global Currency Account
Hold up to 10 currencies.
$0 monthly account fee.
Enjoy one linked debit card to hold up to 10 currencies and receive foreign currencies for free. Earn up to 1.50% p.a. interest on your AUD balance.
Mastercard
$0
$0
$0
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Updated November 13th, 2019
Name Product Minimum Order Amount Maximum Order Amount Delivery/Pickup Method Commission Fee
Travelex Foreign Currency
Travelex Foreign Currency
$500
$5,000
In Store, At Airport
$0
Travelex makes it easy to exchange and get the best rate on over 40 currencies so you can be prepared for your next holiday.
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Updated November 13th, 2019
Name Product Available Currencies ATM Withdrawal Fee Initial Load Fee Reload fee
Travelex Money Card
Travelex Money Card
AUD, USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD, THB

Overseas: $0

Domestic: 2.95% of the amount withdrawn
1.1% of initial load value or $15, whichever is greater
1.1% of transaction value or $15, whichever is greater
Lock in exchange rates for up to 10 currencies, pay no overseas ATM fees and get exclusive merchant offers.
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More Info

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Should I bring a pre-paid travel card, credit card or debit card to Israel?

Travel money option Pros Cons
Pre-paid travel money card
  • Accepted worldwide like a credit card
  • Protected by a PIN and a chip
  • Not connected to your bank account's funds should it be stolen
  • Emergency card replacement and back-up cards
  • Exchange rates for the Israeli shekel can't be locked in when loading the card
  • Local ATM fees
Credit card
  • Widely used and accepted worldwide
  • Protected by a PIN and a chip
  • Access to funds up to your credit limit, even if it's not in your transaction account
  • Higher fees for cash advances and withdrawals
  • May have a foreign transaction fee
Debit card
  • Some cards don't charge a fee for ATM withdrawals or foreign transactions
  • Emergency cash facilities
  • ATMs are widely available
  • Subject to currency conversion and international ATM fees
  • Not always accepted at smaller stores, restaurants or markets
  • PINs longer than four digits may not work at ATMs
Cash
  • Greater payment flexibility
  • Convenient
  • Higher risk of theft
  • More difficult to manage expenses

What's the Israeli currency?

The local currency used in Israel is the shekel, which is broken down into 100 agora. Shekel bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100 or 200. Coins come in denominations of 10 or 50 agorot or 1, 2, 5 or 10 shekels.

Over the last few years, the exchange rate has hovered between 2.6 and 3.2 shekels to 1 Australian dollar.

Travel money tips for Israel

  • Watch out for shops that advertise "commission-free" shopping. These shops may have a worse exchange rate than one you can find elsewhere.
  • Bring cash if travelling to smaller towns. ATMs aren't as widely available outside major cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Haifa.
  • Don't leave it until the last minute to get shekels if you're running low. ATMs in Israel sometimes go down for international connections.
  • You may not have ATM access on Friday/Saturday. ATMs aren't stocked on Shabbat (from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday), so most people take money out on Friday, which could leave you without cash if the ATM runs out of money.
  • Avoid using traveller's cheques. They're pricey to cash, and that's if you can even find somewhere to cash them.
  • Exchange or withdraw your money when you get to Israel. You'll most likely find a better rate than you will in Australia. ATMs are available at the airport, so you won't be stranded without cash.
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