If you are considering coming to Palestine to volunteer, intern, visit and/or to learn Arabic, you may have some anxieties about the infrastructure: How will I travel around? Will my mobile phone work?  In fact, visitors to Palestine may even be surprised to encounter modern buildings with bright lights of giant advertising screens and see local people driving new cars and using the latest smart-phones.

Of course, this is a country with a long and eventful history, resulting in many contrasts and some differences from the ‘western’ world, but this article will offer reassurance that the infrastructure is more than sufficient to make for a comfortable stay.

Travel in Palestine

Roads in Palestinian cities, including Hebron, are generally busy, especially during rush hour.  Depending on where you call home, you may consider that not all the roads are well-surfaced and driving habits are more casual than you are used to, but there is nothing much to shock anyone familiar with some parts of Southern Europe. You may find your pavement ends and you need to cross the road to pick it up again and visitors from the UK must, of course, remember that in Palestinians drive on the right – in common with most of the rest of the world!

Taxis in Hebron, Palestine

In Hebron, taxis are cheap and plentiful. Most often, people share taxis that are making point-to-point journeys, picking up and dropping off en route. A shared journey within the city is extremely cheap – unlikely to cost more than a couple of shekels. If you wish to take a taxi from door to door, you can.  It will cost relatively more, but still, most likely cheaper than at home.

Shared taxis (often in the shape of mini-buses) are available to many destinations in the West Bank and can be boarded at the central bus station on the upper floors of a shopping mall/car park. Shared Arab taxis to Jerusalem depart from a different place not far away. 

Phones and internet

All over Palestine you will see many people using the latest smart phones. Young people in particular, like young people everywhere, are keen to have the latest technology, fashions, and accessories.

The availability of a phone signal in Palestine is like anywhere else in the developed world. You’ll most likely get a text message on arrival to the country telling you the rates for calls and texts, but if you are staying a while, it will most likely be more cost-effective to buy a local SIM card from a store in the city center, which you can use to make and receive cheap international calls. 

It’s a good idea to bring a cheap Nokia flip-phone with you, and you can keep your smart phone for the internet and use the cheap phone for the local SIM calls. This is advisable because it will be indestructible, undesirable for the taking, and the battery will last forever.

You will find Wi-Fi at our organization Travel to Palestine and at most of the other locations you would expect, like cafes, so you can use the internet and make WhatsApp calls. Please bear in mind that you may not have wifi at your accommodation.

Electricity and water

Regarding electricity, Palestine uses European-style round two-pin sockets (as well as the local three pinhole format), so, depending on where you are coming from, you may need to bring an adaptor for your phone charger! 

You may find hot water to be a rare commodity. Unlike northern Europe and North America, buildings tend not to be centrally heated but rather built with thick walls to be well insulated against hot and cold.  This means that if you visit in winter, bring warm clothes!

Conclusion

Palestine, including Hebron, is a place of many contrasts. There are some dilapidated and derelict buildings, and you may see models of cars that have long disappeared from the streets of western Europe. Horses and carts are still used to carry vegetables to the market.

Overall, however, Palestinian cities are bright, busy, bustling and full of life. Yellow taxis are everywhere and very cheap. You will be able to use your phone and the internet, and there is generally water, electricity, and WiFi available. The food is delicious and cheap, and people are friendly and helpful and always interested and happy to meet foreign visitors. Our staff at our organization will always be around to help with any issues or questions you may have at any point as well!