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Will Jerusalem be open on my dates?

Pick your dates. For each day you'll see whether it's an ordinary day, a short Friday, Shabbat or a holiday, what that means for shops, food and transport, and the candle-lighting times.

Up to three weeks at a time. Times are for Jerusalem.

1 Closed days 1 Short days

  1. Thursday 1 October

    Half-holiday: Sukkot (chol hamoed)
    Shops
    Shops and restaurants are open; some businesses work shorter hours and schools are closed.
    Getting around
    Buses and the light rail run. Roads, attractions and the Old City are crowded with families on holiday.

  2. Friday 2 October

    Short day: Shmini Atzeret (Simchat Torah) starts tonight

    Hoshana Raba

    Candle lighting 17:43

    Shops
    Most shops and supermarkets close between about 13:00 and 15:00; banks and offices close early or don't open.
    Food
    Kosher restaurants close in the afternoon. Arrange tonight's meal in advance: a hotel dinner, a host family or food bought earlier.
    Getting around
    Buses, the light rail and trains wind down in the early afternoon and stop before candle lighting (17:43). Taxis keep running.
    • Friday morning is the busiest shopping time of the week; the Mahane Yehuda shuk is crowded, loud and worth seeing once.

  3. Saturday 3 October

    Closed: Shmini Atzeret (Simchat Torah) and Shabbat

    Havdalah 18:58

    Shops
    Most of West Jerusalem is closed: shops, supermarkets, banks and kosher restaurants.
    Food
    Hotels serve meals; a few non-kosher places in the centre, the First Station and East Jerusalem stay open. Buy food in advance.
    Getting around
    No buses, light rail or trains. Taxis and ride apps run, at the higher tariff.
    Open
    Parks and promenades, the Old City's Christian, Muslim and Armenian quarters and East Jerusalem stay open; some museums and the zoo open with tickets bought in advance.
    • It ends at 18:58. Buses, the light rail, shops and cafés start again within about an hour.

  4. Sunday 4 October

    Ordinary day
    Shops
    Shops, restaurants and offices are open as usual.
    Getting around
    Buses, the light rail and trains run normally.
    • Sunday is a normal working day in Israel.

  5. Monday 5 October

    Ordinary day
    Shops
    Shops, restaurants and offices are open as usual.
    Getting around
    Buses, the light rail and trains run normally.

  6. Tuesday 6 October

    Ordinary day
    Shops
    Shops, restaurants and offices are open as usual.
    Getting around
    Buses, the light rail and trains run normally.

  7. Wednesday 7 October

    Ordinary day
    Shops
    Shops, restaurants and offices are open as usual.
    Getting around
    Buses, the light rail and trains run normally.
Shabbat for visitors Airport to Jerusalem How the year runs