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Transportation in Israel

Israel is a small country, and it is therefore easy to get from one place to another in a relatively short time. 
The most useful source for information is the Kol Kav call center that has all the information (buses and trains) you might need: 072-258-8787​​

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Transportation in Israel

Transportation

Israel is a small country, and it is therefore easy to get from one place to another in a relatively short time.  Public transportation is convenient, and you can get to almost any destination for a reasonable price. 

Israel Railways operates convenient, inexpensive train service.  It is also possible to travel by taxi, but this is more expensive, particularly for inter-city trips.  It’s therefore preferable to use shared service taxis. 

Several companies provide domestic flights between Eilat and Ben Gurion Airport, Sde Dov Airport in north Tel Aviv, or Haifa, but these flights are more expensive.

Buses are the most popular form of public transport in Israel for both local transport and intercity trips.  The Egged bus company operates most of the intercity bus lines, as well as the local service in most of the large cities and towns.  Local and intercity transport in the Gush Dan area (Tel Aviv and the surrounding suburbs) is provided by the Dan bus company.  Bus service in Be’er Sheva and Nazareth is provided by private companies.  The fare for all bus lines is reasonable, the busses are comfortable and usually airconditioned, and there is regular, frequent service.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booths in the central bus station in each city or town, or from the driver.  Most of the bus lines do not run on Shabbat or on Jewish holidays.  Service ends on Friday afternoon and resumes Saturday evening. 

Students are entitled to discounts on intercity bus lines.  To receive a discount they must present an international student card when purchasing tickets.
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Buses

Buses

Egged

Egged Customer Service and Information:  *2800

Egged Website

Egged is a prime bus company in Israel and provides intercity public bus service throughout the country.  Passengers can obtain information about the various bus lines on the Egged website or by phoning the computerized customer service and information center.  Each central bus station has an information booth and electronic boards displaying the departure times and destinations. 


Dan 

Dan Customer Service and Information: 00 972 6 639 4444

Dan Website

The Dan Bus Company operates public bus service in the Gush Dan area (Tel Aviv and the surrounding suburbs) and in Yehuda and Shomron.  Passengers can obtain information about the various bus lines on the Website or from the computerized customer service and information center.

Metrodan 

Information: *5100

Metrodan Website 

The Metrodan company operates public bus service in the southern city of Be’er Sheba.  Passengers can obtain information about the various bus lines on the Website or from the computerized customer service and information center.

Nazareth Transport & Tourism
 NTT Website(is in Hebrew only) 

Operates inter-city lines in the north, covering Nazareth, Haifa, Karmiel and villages in the Galilee, and international lines to Amman (Jordan) and Sinai (Egypt).


United Nazareth Buses
 UNBS Website

Active in public transportation in the Nazareth metropolitan area.


teev Express Website​ (is in Hebrew only)

Provides urban and inter-city lines in the northern area between Zefat and Nahariya and the central area between Hadera and Netanya. On January 2007 the company won a tender for routes between the cities of Tel Aviv and Netanya.



 
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Israel Railways

Railways

Israel Railways Customer Service and Information: 00 972 3 577-4000 or *5770

Israel Railways Website

Israel Railways has expanded and improved the train service in recent years.  Trains run more frequently to more destinations, there are more train stations in the major cities, and the trains are more comfortable. 

Students and senior citizens can receive discounts by showing a student card or ID.

Because of heavy traffic on many of the roads, travel by train is recommended whenever possible.  Trains run from Tel Aviv to most of the large cities from Nahariya in the north to Dimona in the south, including Jerusalem and Ben Gurion airport.

Train tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth or vending machine at the station.  Seats can also be reserved in advance. 

There is refreshment service that includes hot and cold drinks, snacks, and sandwiches on most trains.

Trains do not run on Shabbat or on Jewish holidays.

Haifa Carmelit Subway Service

Telephone: 00 972 4 837 6661

Carmelit Website 
 
The Haifa Carmelit is the only subway system in Israel.  It runs from Paris Square in the lower city, and stops at five other stations including the Hadar business center, and ends at Gan Ha-Em in Merkaz Ha-Carmel. 


 
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Taxicabs

​Local and intercity taxi service is available to and from any point in the country.  Fares within the cities are charged according to the meter.  
The fares for intercity taxi service are standard fares that are set by the Ministry of Transportation. It is recommended to verify what the fare will be before boarding the taxi. 


Taxis can be ordered by telephone from a local taxi station, or stopped by waving your hand at one on the street. 

Night rates are 25% more than the normal fare.These rates also apply for Sabbath and holidays.

Drivers must operate the meter for trips within the city. Do not let the driver convince you to agree on a price ahead of time if you are not familiar with the rates! 

Service Taxis (Sherut)

Service taxis (Sherut) travel on permanent local and intercity routes coinciding with the bus routes. The fare for these taxis is set according to distance. In most cases, it is equal to or slightly cheaper than the equivalent bus fare.

Service taxis stop at permanent stops, but will also make request stops along the way.  Some central taxis lines also operate on the Sabbath. 

Departure times are not prescheduled: the taxi leaves the station when it is full.  For this reason it is wise to take into account that you might have to wait some time before the taxi fills up and departs. 

Intercity Service Taxis

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Haifa, Netanya, Petakh Tikva, Rekhovot, Lod, Ramle, Hadera, Afula, Eilat, Nazareth, and all stops on the way - Taxis leave from the new central bus station.

From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, Rekhovot, Haifa, Eilat, and all the stops on the way - Taxis leave from the central bus station.

From Haifa to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem - Taxis leave from He-Khalutz Street near Ha-Nevi’im Street in the Hadar district.

From Eilat to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem-  Taxis leave from the central bus station.

From Be’er Sheva to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and all stops on the way, leaving from the central bus station.

From Netanya to Tel Aviv - Leaving from the central bus station.


Local Service Taxis

In Tel Aviv - Service taxis operate on the main Dan bus routes.  The fare is slightly lower than that of the busses.  Passengers can get on or off anywhere along the route, and not only at designated bus stops.  These taxis also run on the Sabbath on routes 4, 5, and 16, and other routes.

Jerusalem - There are no local service taxis in Jerusalem.​

Eilat - There are no local service taxis in Eilat.

Haifa - Service taxis run on the main Egged bus routes in the city. Some lines also operate on the Sabbath.

Tiberias - There are no local service taxis in Tiberias.

Be’er Sheva - Service taxis run on the main Metrodan bus routes.
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Domestic Flights & Renting a Car

Domestic Flights

Israel is a small country, and for this reason it is only worthwhile to consider flying between Eilat and Tel Aviv. Several companies operate flights from Eilat to Ben Gurion Airport, or Sde Dov in north Tel Aviv.  Airfares are reasonable, but are still much higher than bus fares. 

There are also private companies that operate special flights from anywhere in the country upon request.

Israel Airport Authority

Telephone: 00 972 3 975 5555

Website:  http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Rashot  

Ark

ia 

Telephone: 00 972 3 690 2222,

A

rkia Website


El Al

Telephone: 00 972 3 971 6111 (Israel)

El Al Website

Scheduled Flights:

From Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) to Eilat

From Eilat to Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport)


Isr

aair

Telephone: 00 972 3 795 5777

Isr

aair Website​ 

scheduled flights:

From Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) to Eilat

From Eilat to Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport)



Renting a Car

Most international car rental companies and local companies have offices in the large cities and at Ben Gurion Airport.  It is recommended to reserve a car in advance from abroad.

To rent a car in Israel the driver must be over 24 years of age, and must hold a valid international driver’s license and an international credit card.

Driving in Israel is on the ri​ght-hand side of the road.  Israel has an extensive road system and clear signage in most places (in Hebrew, English, and Arabic).  It is a little more difficult to find your way in the large cities, but streets and roads are marked, and you can use a map, GPS  or ask for directions.

Most Rent a Car companies do not offer insurance for the areas in the West Bank under the control of the Palestinian Authority.  Tourists wishing to drive with rented cars into the areas of the Palestinian Authority are recommended to secure appropriate insurance. ​​​
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Before You Go