Local Info

Participants from most EU countries and the USA do not need visas to Israel. For participants from other countries, we suggest you check with your travel agent, local Israeli embassy, or consulate.

All visitors to Israel must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date they enter the country. Please contact the conference secretariat if a letter of invitation is needed to assist in applying for a visa. Refer to the Israeli tourism site for information on Israeli visas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website contains information on how to obtain a visa for those traveling to Israel.

The site also includes contact information for the Israeli embassies and consulates worldwide. Because regulations for visa authorization tend to change periodically, we recommend that you verify the information on the web site with the relevant embassy or consulate.

For visa support letters, please send all requests to supportletters@acm.org as instructed here.

Participants are advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance coverage. The conference organizers shall not be liable for any loss or damage to property belonging to conference participants nor for personal injuries sustained during or as a result of the SYSTOR Conference.

Ben Gurion International Airport is the main international gateway to and from Israel. It is situated approximately 50km (31 miles) west of Jerusalem.

It is summer in Israel in June. Average temperatures: 18°C – 28°C (64°F – 82°F). Casual dress is appropriate for all conference occasions. Sunscreen, a sun hat, and sunglasses are essential items throughout the year.

The voltage in Israel is 220-240 volt AC.

Stores are generally open Sunday through Thursday 09:00-19:00 and Friday 09:00-14:00. Most shopping malls are open also on Saturday from one hour after sundown until 22:00. All "Superpharm" and "Newpharm" stores include a pharmacy.

Banks are open Sunday through Thursday 08:30-12:00 and on some afternoons. Hours vary by branch. All banks are closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

The New Israeli Shekel (NIS) is the official currency in Israel. Foreign currency of all kinds may be exchanged at the airport, banks, post offices, most hotels or licensed exchange agencies. Most if not all establishments that accept credit cards will honor cards issued outside of Israel. These cards will also work in most ATMs to withdraw NIS or $US.

Ben-Gurion International Airport - Haifa: 100km/ 62.5 miles
Ben-Gurion International Airport - Tel-Aviv: 15km/9.5 miles
Ben-Gurion International Airport - Jerusalem: 47km/ 29.5 miles
Haifa - Tel Aviv: 95km/59 miles
Haifa - Jerusalem: 145km/91 miles

• Lonely Planet: Top Things to do in Haifa
• PlanetWare: 14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Haifa
• The Visit Haifa tourism guide
• The InIsrael guide to Haifa
• Israel21c: 18 cool things to do in Haifa

Transportation from Ben Gurion Airport

Train
From the Ben Gurion Airport train station, located near the arrivals hall in the airport, you can take a direct train to Haifa. Buy a ticket to the Hof HaCarmel station in Haifa and go down the escalator to the train. Make sure you board on the correct track. Take a taxi from the Hof HaCarmel station in Haifa to your destination.

For more information, see the Israel Railways site. Note that trains and buses do not generally run on Saturdays in Israel. If you arrive on Friday afternoon or Saturday, you will probably want to rent a car or take a taxi to Haifa.

Bus
You can take a direct Egged bus from the airport to Haifa. Take the 947 bus to the Hof HaCarmel station in Haifa and take a city bus or taxi from there to your destination.

To find out more about the buses that serve the University of Haifa campus, go to the main Egged Web site.

Sherut Taxi Service
Shared taxis, called Sheruts, are available from the airport to all destinations in Israel. Sheruts are much cheaper than the price of a private taxi, so they're a good deal, especially if you're going to a distant area such as Haifa or Jerusalem. Keep in mind that you may have to wait a while, since the taxi only leaves the airport when it is full. Generally, there are 10 seats in such a car. The rate for a one way trip from the airport to Haifa (city center) is about 75 NIS (~USD$20) or 115 NIS (~USD$32) for a specific address.

You can also pay in dollars, but there is no credit card payment available--only cash.

Taxi
As you exit from the terminal building, look for the supervised taxi stand. Give your destination to the dispatcher and he will direct you to the correct taxi. The fares from the airport to some destinations including Haifa are fixed, so the driver should not use the meter.

The rate for a one way taxi trip from the airport to Haifa is about 521 NIS (~USD$140) or 637 NIS (~USD$172) during nights and Saturdays.

Rental Car
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and other local firms have offices at the airport.