Calling family, scheduling a business meeting or planning a trip? Here is what you need to know about the current time in Washington, its time zone and the time difference with Israel.
Washington’s time zone
Washington is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET). In winter it uses Eastern Standard Time (EST) (UTC-5), and in summer it switches to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (UTC-4).
Time difference between Washington and Israel
For most of the year, Israel is 7 hours ahead of Washington. When it is 12:00 noon in Tel Aviv, it is 05:00 in the morning in Washington.
There is one catch: the United States and Israel change their clocks on different dates. The US moves to daylight saving time on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November, while Israel changes on the Friday before the last Sunday in March and on the last Sunday in October. During those few weeks in spring and autumn, the difference is 6 hours instead of 7.
Best times to call Washington from Israel
- Late afternoon and evening in Israel (around 16:00 to 23:00) is morning to afternoon in Washington – the best window for business calls.
- Morning in Israel is the middle of the night in Washington, so avoid calling then.
- Remember that the US working week runs Monday to Friday, so Friday afternoon in Israel is still Friday morning there, and Sunday is a day off.
Flying to Washington: jet lag tips
There are usually no direct flights between Tel Aviv and Washington, so most travellers connect via New York or a European hub. Flying west is usually easier on the body than flying east. Try to stay awake until a normal local bedtime on the day you arrive, get outside in daylight, and drink plenty of water during the flight.
Visiting Washington, D.C.?
The US capital is home to the free Smithsonian museums, the National Mall, the Capitol and the White House. It is also an easy train ride from New York, so many visitors combine the two cities.
More time zones
Planning calls or a trip across the US? See the time in New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and check our ESTA application guide before you fly.
Find cheap flights to the US | Join our WhatsApp groups | Flight Hunter
