Local Customs

Services in Jerusalem are likely to be very restricted on Shabbat, which is to say between Friday at about 5pm to the same time on Saturday. Do bear in mind that almost 80 percent of the population are Jewish and the great majority of the remaining population are Arabs.

Jerusalem Dining

Jerusalem's cuisine offers the visitor an amazing amount of choice; from fifteen-dish Palestinian 'mezze' hors d'oeuvres and modern Israeli cuisine, to faithfully recreated biblical dishes and unpretentious, but excellent, hummus. You can also choose from authentic Italian pasta dishes, pizzas, and a wide variety of other international fare.
The more internationaly-styled establisments are in the western part of Jerusalem, while the restaurants in the eastern part of the city are usually more Middle Eastern. Take note that religious festivals such as Ramadan may mean that restaurants will close or alter their hours; since the festival requires that Muslims eat nothing between dawn and dusk and that many restaurants in the city's eastern part, equally for religious reasons, refuse to sell alcohol.

Jerusalem Tipping Advice

Tipping is now expected in Israel and you'll be required to give at least 15 percent in restaurants and to taxi drivers.