Paying by American Express in Israel?

Think of Amex in Israel as a partial-use card. It will work for hotels, car rentals, and some chain restaurants, but not for daily travel. ATMs don’t support Amex, so always have Visa/Mastercard handy. Budget about ₪300-400 per day for meals, transport, and attractions, and most of that won’t go on Amex. Public transport tickets, hummus joints, and local markets all want shekels or another card. Bring Amex as a backup, but plan your trip around more widely accepted options.

Israel was not very Amex-friendly for me. Outside my hotel and one upscale restaurant, almost every shop or café declined it. ATMs wouldn’t connect, which was stressful. I needed cash for buses, shawarma, and tours, and Amex was useless. For a modern country, I expected better coverage. I felt limited and annoyed, especially in Jerusalem’s Old City where everyone wanted shekels. If you’re heading to Israel, don’t rely on Amex. Visa and Mastercard are the real lifesavers here.

I used my Amex without problems at a hotel in Tel Aviv and for a fancy dinner along Rothschild Boulevard. But when I tried grabbing falafel in Jaffa or paying for souvenirs in Mahane Yehuda market, they refused it. ATMs didn’t work with Amex either, so I switched to Visa at Hapoalim ATMs. Day trips like Masada and the Dead Sea tours were much easier to pay for with Mastercard. Amex is okay in luxury spots, but for normal Israeli experiences you’ll need cash or a backup card.

American Express is moderately accepted in Israel. Large hotels in Tel Aviv, international car rental desks, and higher-end restaurants often take Amex. But when you go to local cafés, street food vendors, and smaller shops in Jerusalem or Haifa, Visa and Mastercard dominate. ATMs linked to major banks like Bank Hapoalim or Leumi rarely support Amex. If you’re budgeting ₪50-70 for a casual meal or ₪200 for a day tour, carry another card or shekels in cash. Amex works for upscale transactions but is unreliable for everyday Israel travel.