Over one and a half million Israelis are expected to travel abroad this Passover as the Ben-Gurion International Airport returns to pre-coronavirus numbers.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
In honor of the upcoming holiday, Israel Hayom conducted an examination to find out this year's most popular destinations.
Surprisingly, the number one choice for Israelis is Turkey. Istanbul and Antalya are returning to the list of favorites, due to the growing ties between Turkey and Israel, the reasonable prices of tickets, the availability of flights (approximately 20 a day), and a relatively short flight.
Number two on the list is the United States. Four airlines have direct flights from Israel to the US, and many Israelis also travel to the Land of Opportunity with stopovers in Turkey, Europe, Canada, and other countries. The US is open to visitors who have been vaccinated against COVID with at least two doses and children, with most restrictions on public life having been removed.
Paris came in third, with tens of thousands of Israelis planning to celebrate the Festival of Freedom in the City of Lights. The country too has removed almost all COVID-related limitations. Just like in the US, so too in France, observant Jews will have plenty of kosher for Passover restaurants to enjoy.
Italy ranked number four, somewhat lower on the list, as the country that is famous for bread and pasta is not the first choice for Israelis at this time of the year, as many of them do not eat chametz, or leavened bread, on Passover.
And last, but not least, is Greece, which offers not only amazing cuisine and wonderful people but lots of sun and breathtaking scenery. And although relaxing at the beach might not be an option at this time of the year, many Israelis booked tickets to spend the holiday on the island.
Israel Hayom has also checked different countries' passport validity requirements.
The passport of Israelis traveling to Iceland, Sweden, Romania, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, France, Italy, and Denmark must be valid for at least 90 days from the date of return, and Turkey 150 days.
Israelis traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), Dubai and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), and Peru must make sure their passports are valid for at least 180 days from the date of return, and in the case of South Africa, 30 days.
Experts have recommended the https://www.traveldoc.aero/ website to keep up to date with the information regarding such requirements, as they tend to change.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
