Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv isn’t just one of the funkiest and most forward-thinking cities in the Middle East – it is also one of the easiest to access from the UK. With plenty of direct flights from Luton (LTN), Heathrow (LRH), Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester (MAN), travelling to this action-packed Israeli city couldn’t be more straightforward. Read on for the lowdown on Tel Aviv flights.

With three budget airlines competing to offer the cheapest fares between London and Tel Aviv, it’s possible to pick up some amazing bargains. EasyJet flies from Luton (LTN) to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) year-round, with additional seasonal flights out of Gatwick (LGW). Hungarian-based Wizz Air stepped up the competition by adding a Luton to Tel Aviv route at the beginning of 2017. Budget Israeli airline Arkia also offers flights between Stansted and Tel Aviv.

It’s worth comparing prices via TravelSupermarket’s holiday, flight and hotel price comparison tools, to see if you can find a well-priced package deal and save money compared with buying a flight and hotel separately.

If comfort is your priority, two national carriers also run services between London and Tel Aviv. Israeli airline, El Al, offers flights to the city from both Heathrow and Luton – passengers can choose from four classes including first and business class. Another option is to fly with British Airways, which operates out of London Heathrow and also offers first class and business class seats. Regardless of which airlines you travel with, a direct flight between London and Tel Aviv takes around five hours on average.

Based up north? You’ll find it equally easy to visit Tel Aviv, thanks to a range of budget and high-end options. EasyJet offers cheap flights from Manchester (MAN) to this popular Israeli destination.

One of the best ways of bringing down the cost of your journey is to consider a connecting flight. There are plenty of speedy stopping services between the UK and Tel Aviv. For instance, Swiss Air (in partnership with El Al) flies out of Heathrow (LHR) with a stopover in Zurich.

From Manchester, Swiss Air and Lufthansa also provide indirect services to Tel Aviv, with a stopover in Zurich, Munich or Frankfurt respectively.

From other UK cities, the cheapest and speediest options include an Edinburgh to Tel Aviv Lufthansa route that stops in Frankfurt and an Air France flight from Birmingham with a connection in Paris. From Belfast, Glasgow and many other UK airports, it’s quickest to fly to London and hop on a connecting flight there.

Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport is the gateway to Israel, handling over 16 million passengers every year. It has two active terminals and three runways, with most international flights arriving into Terminal 3. British tourists do not need to apply for a visa but are given an entry card on arrival which they need to show at passport control when leaving the country.

Your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of entry into Israel.