A complete 2026 guide to managing currency, navigating payment apps, and handling everyday expenses while traveling in Israel.
New Israeli Shekel (NIS)
Visa & Mastercard
Apple Pay & Google Pay
12–15% (Restaurants)
Mobile Payment Apps: What Works and What Doesn’t?
Israel has a highly digitized economy with widespread tap-to-pay infrastructure, but many popular North American payment applications are geographically restricted.
- Does Venmo work in Israel? No. Venmo is restricted strictly to the United States and cannot be used to pay vendors or transfer money in Israel.
- Does Zelle work in Israel? No. Zelle requires a US-based bank account and cannot be used for transactions in Israel.
- Does Cash App work in Israel? No. Cash App does not operate in the Middle East.
- What DOES work? Apple Pay and Google Pay are universally accepted. As long as your digital wallet is linked to an active Visa or Mastercard, you can tap to pay at almost every restaurant, convenience store, and boutique in the country.
What Currency is Used in Israel?
The official currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS).
- Bills: 20, 50, 100, and 200 shekels.
- Coins: 10 agorot (cents), ½ shekel, 1 shekel, 2 shekels, 5 shekels, and 10 shekels.
While hotels and some large tourist-focused souvenir shops may accept US Dollars or Euros, local restaurants, markets (shuks), and everyday vendors operate exclusively in NIS.
Credit Cards, ATMs, and Currency Exchange
- Credit Cards: Visa and Mastercard are the undisputed standard. American Express is accepted at high-end hotels but routinely rejected by small businesses and restaurants due to high merchant fees. Discover cards are rarely accepted. Crucial step: Notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent automated fraud blocks.
- ATMs (Kaspomat): Bank-affiliated ATMs (Leumi, Hapoalim, Discount, Mizrahi-Tefahot) offer the most secure transactions and standard exchange rates. Avoid private, standalone ATMs found in convenience stores (often branded with bright yellow or blue generic signs), as they charge exorbitant withdrawal fees.
- Currency Exchange: Standalone exchange booths (“Change”) found on major city streets offer the best rates and generally do not charge a commission. Exchange at the airport only for immediate taxi or coffee money, as airport rates are significantly poorer.
The 2026 Tipping Guide
Israel has a robust tipping culture heavily reliant on cash.
- Restaurants & Cafes: 12% to 15% is the standard. Unlike in North America, there is rarely a line on the credit card receipt to write in a tip. You must explicitly tell the server to add the tip to the total before they run the card, or simply leave cash on the table.
- Taxis: Tipping is not expected. Rounding up to the nearest whole shekel for convenience is polite but unnecessary.
- Tour Guides & Drivers: Customary to tip in cash (USD or NIS) at the end of the day.
Paying for Transportation
- Taxis: Download Gett or Yango. These apps link directly to your international credit card, preventing any need to negotiate cash fares with drivers.
- Public Transit (Buses, Trains, Light Rail): You cannot tap a physical credit card directly on buses or trains. You must download a local transit app like Moovit or HopOn Rav-Pass, link your credit card, and scan the QR codes located on the transport doors.
Simplify Your Logistics
To avoid the hassle of daily currency conversions, transportation apps, and navigating the most expensive city in the world, many travelers opt for all-inclusive guided experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best method is tapping a Visa or Mastercard (or using Apple Pay/Google Pay) for major purchases, while carrying a few hundred NIS in cash for street food (shuk vendors), small purchases, and restaurant tips.
No. Outside of high-end hotels and specific tourist shops in Jerusalem’s Old City, vendors require the local currency (NIS).
No. US-based peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle do not function in Israel.
Israeli credit card receipts usually do not have a tip line. You must verbally tell the waiter to add the specific tip amount to the bill before they process the card.
