Trying to plan ahead so any know if card payments are common at hostels in Israel or cash is king?
Israel isn’t purely cash or card - it’s both. Larger hostels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem take card easily, but smaller family-run places outside the city often push for cash. I had to withdraw at a Bank Hapoalim ATM in Haifa because the hostel insisted. So don’t count on card everywhere - better to carry some shekels if you want to avoid last-minute ATM runs.
My hostel in Tel Aviv accepted card payments and even contactless, which was convenient. But in Jerusalem, my hostel in the Old City wanted cash only, saying the machine was unreliable. ATMs from Bank Leumi were nearby, but I still wished I had cash on hand. So, Israel is mixed: cards are widely accepted in hotels and bigger hostels, but cash still pops up more often than you’d expect.
When I traveled Israel, I noticed a split. Hostels in Tel Aviv and Haifa generally had working card readers. But in Eilat and especially rural areas, cash was required. One hostel in Nazareth only wanted cash and sent me to a nearby Discount Bank ATM. If you’re planning ahead, cards will work in big cities but you’ll still need cash elsewhere.
Israel is largely card-friendly, but hostels are hit or miss. In Tel Aviv, my hostel near Carmel Market swiped my Visa with no issue. But in Jerusalem’s Old City, one smaller hostel asked for cash only. ATMs from Bank Hapoalim and Leumi are everywhere in the cities, but sometimes tack on fees. My advice: bring a card and some shekels so you’re covered in both scenarios.