What is the best way to leave the airport in Israel

The ways are known!

In the small country of Israel, there are 17 civilian airports. There are 2 international airports – Ben Gurion (center of the country) and Ramon (south). Haifa (north) only accepts domestic flights. Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv is Israel’s main airport. It is located 14 kilometers from the city. It is one of the safest airports in the world. If in the past all roads led to Rome, in Israel, they lead to Tel Aviv. It is from there that you can reach any part of the country. But first, you need to get from the airport to Tel Aviv.

The first option is a car.

You can get to the center of Tel Aviv by transfer or taxi in 25 minutes. It’s worth noting that taxi drivers are the same worldwide – they stand in the arrival area and offer to take you anywhere for a fixed price. We would not recommend using their services. If you don’t have a taxi-hailing app on your phone, it’s better to avoid this method of leaving the airport. You can order a taxi through the dispatch service at the airport or on the GetTaxi service website.

If you arrive officially and have a hotel reservation, it’s better to pre-book a transfer to the hotel. If you arrive on your own or the hotel does not offer transfer services, it’s better to arrange transportation for yourself and your family in advance and order a transfer service on a special website. You will be met in a comfortable car, helped with luggage, and delivered to the desired address safely. This service will cost slightly more than a regular taxi, but comfort and safety are guaranteed!

Car Rental

There are rental company counters located at the airport where you can rent a car. The service is available 24/7 and is not affected by the Sabbath. It’s convenient and practical.

Cost: It depends on the car class. It starts at $36 USD per day for a compact car, $37 USD for a mid-sized car, and $52 USD for a full-sized car. You will also need to pay an additional $29 USD for rental and return of the car at the airport. Prices may change, so be prepared for that.

The second option is public transportation

Public transportation includes trains, buses, and shuttle taxis.

Important! Remember that from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening in Israel, it’s Shabbat, so during this time, you can only use taxis or transfers.

The train is one of the most comfortable modes of transportation. Trains have restrooms, gadget charging points, and the option to reserve seats in advance. To board the train, you need to go to the lower level of the third terminal at the airport. There, you will find the train station. If your flight arrived at the first terminal, you can reach the third terminal by taking shuttle bus number 5, which operates within the airport. From the train station, the train follows the following route: HaShalom-Center-Savidor-University. The travel time varies from 13 to 25 minutes.

Trains operate from 5:00 AM to 10:20 PM, departing every 30 minutes. However, we highly recommend checking the exact train schedule from the airport on the website as changes may occur. On Fridays, trains only run until 3:00 PM, and on Saturdays, train service starts after 8:00 PM. The fare is $4.1 USD. Children under 5 years old ride the train for free, and children aged 5 to 10 receive a 10% discount. You can purchase a train ticket from a machine at the airport or at the ticket counter. It’s important to keep the ticket until the end of your journey because you’ll need it to exit through the turnstiles. To reach the Tel Aviv train station and the bus station, you can also take a train. The Tel Aviv Savidor Central train station and the Arlozorov bus station are located next to each other. You should disembark from the train coming from the airport at the Tel Aviv-HaHagana station.

Shared taxis (sherut) are the most popular mode of transportation in the city because they stop on demand, although they can only accommodate 10 passengers at a time. The taxi stop is located at the terminal exit. The shared taxi will depart when all seats are occupied, and there is no fixed schedule. The travel time to the city is approximately one hour, and the fare ranges from $9 to $12 USD. Payment is made in cash to the driver. Of course, if you have a lot of luggage or it’s bulky, this may not be the most convenient option at the airport.

Buses also operate at the third terminal, at exits 21 and 23. Look for the green Bus #5! This bus runs from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM and is free, but unfortunately, it’s not the most direct means of transportation to the city. It will only take you to the Airport City transfer station. You will need to transfer to city buses at this point, such as 268, 249, 423, 930, 947, 950, depending on your destination. Here, you will need to pay approximately one dollar. The travel time is at least 30 minutes. These buses operate from 7:00 AM until half-past eleven in the evening. On Shabbat, which is Friday at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM, and on Saturday at 9:30 PM. We recommend always checking the schedule on the website. Bus tickets should be purchased at the ticket counter at the bus stop.

Please note that in Israel, it often seems like all public transport drivers are preparing to become Formula 1 racers. They drive their vehicles at the maximum possible speed and skillfully navigate narrow streets, which may not seem designed for such large buses at all. It can be quite an adrenaline rush for passengers, so it’s important to hold on tight and keep a firm grip at all times!   

If you still decide to use public transportation instead of a taxi or transfer service, let’s look at how to get from Tel Aviv to several popular destinations in Israel.

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem you can take a bus or a train if you don’t have a car. Buses depart from Tel Aviv-Savidor Train Stations/Platforms B to Jerusalem Central Bus Station/Alight. Depending on the bus and the company, the travel time ranges from 50 minutes to one and a half hours (depending on where you get off in Jerusalem). There are direct buses and ones with transfers. The ticket prices are approximately 19-26 shekels.

Trains depart from Tel Aviv – Merkaz – Central Station. The travel time is about an hour, and the cost is 26-35 shekels.

To reach the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv, you can take a direct bus 421 that departs from the Arlozorov Central Bus Station. Bus 421 runs 2-3 times a day from Sunday to Thursday and once on Fridays. It stops in Neve Zohar, Masada, Ein Bokek, and the final stop is Ein Gedi. The journey takes 2.5 – 3 hours, and the fare ranges from 40 to 50 shekels.

From Tel Aviv to Haifa from Tel Aviv, you can take a train or a bus. The train departs several times a day from Savidor Station (1285, Street 9) and arrives at Haifa-HaShmona (Azmaut Road, 67) in about an hour to an hour and ten minutes. The ticket price is 26-40 shekels.

Bus routes No. 910 and No. 921 run between Azrielli Mall (Menachem Begin Road, 132) and Hof-Ha-Karmel (Yohai Ben Nun, 1) three times an hour, taking approximately 90 minutes. The ticket price is 13-19 shekels.

You can also reach Haifa by train directly from Ben-Gurion Airport. This will take approximately 1.5 hours. However, it’s essential to check the schedule and tickets for public transportation on the websites of Israel Railways or bus companies.

If you are flying to the southern part of the country, you can use Eilat — Ramon Airport. Airport. It is the second-largest airport in Israel. While Haifa is about 100 km from Tel Aviv, Eilat is almost 400 km away, so taking a taxi could be more expensive than airplane tickets. Israeli airlines “Arkia” and “Israir” operate local flights to Tel Aviv and Haifa from Ramon Airport.

The airport is located approximately 20 kilometers (10-15 minutes by car) from the city of Eilat. It is a modern airport opened in 2019.

In the terminal, travelers have access to free wireless internet, medical personnel for providing first aid, and equipment adapted for those with special needs, in accordance with Israeli laws on equal rights for individuals with physical disabilities and Israeli accessibility standards.

Many foreign airlines, such as Wizz Air, ASL, Ryanair, and Lufthansa, offer direct flights from Eilat to Europe, including major European cities like Moscow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Berlin, Budapest, and others.

Outside the terminal, there are four parking lots: a large parking area for the general public, as well as parking lots for taxis, employees, and car rental companies. The parking fee for the parking area located in front of the terminal (exits for boarding gates 33-34) is 5 shekels per hour and 25 shekels per day.

Public transportation to Eilat is provided by buses. The northern side of the terminal serves as the “Timna” terminal for arriving passengers, while the southern side is the “Avrona” terminal for departing passengers. Public transportation to Eilat is operated by the bus company “Egged.” You can find information about schedules, bus routes, and fares on their website. There is also a taxi stand located outside the terminal, and fares from Ramon Airport to Eilat are strictly based on the meter reading.

We wish you a safe and enjoyable visit to Israel, and we hope you have a wonderful time in our beautiful and warm country!