So, you've arrived in Israel. Ben-Gurion Airport. It's the center of the country. And you need to get to the capital, Jerusalem. Many travelers sometimes come to our country just to see Jerusalem. Of course, it's the capital, the cradle of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It's that very home promised by God to the Jews. Of course, Jerusalem is beautiful, made of white Jerusalem stone - that "golden city" - which shines differently at different times of the day.
Jerusalem is located approximately 70 miles northeast of the Mediterranean Sea. The population is approximately 950 thousand people. It's the third-largest city in Israel. This city is at least 6 thousand years old, which in itself presents historical interest for any educated person. Speaking about the national affiliation of the inhabitants is practically impossible – everyone lives here. The city is located in the Judean Mountains between the Dead and Mediterranean Seas at an elevation of approximately 650 to 840 meters above sea level.
From the 11th century BC, the city became the capital of the Kingdom of Israel. Since the beginning of the Christian era, the city has come under the rule of Byzantium, Crusaders, Mamluks, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, and Arabs. In 1538, defensive walls were built around the city (under Suleiman the Magnificent). The walls have remained the boundaries of the Old City to this day. In 1981, the Old City became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was included in the World Heritage List under threat. Since the 19th century, it has been known that the Old City is divided into 4 quarters: Jewish, Christian, Armenian, and Muslim. The entire Old City is located on just one square kilometer. From the 1850s, the first settlements outside the Old City began to appear, which became known as the New City. It's still called that today.
How can guests get to Jerusalem if they don't order individual or group transfers from the airport?We will now introduce you to all the options for independent travel, and then we will return to the possibility of ordering a transfer.
Train. The main operator of railways in Israel is ISRAEL RAILWAYS. The trains are good, the carriages are modern, the seats are comfortable, and the service is decent. The journey time between Ben-Gurion Airport station and Jerusalem can take just over an hour. Although the ISRAEL RAILWAYS website states a travel time of 26 minutes. But you have to consider stops, and in general, you're in Israel. So, 20 minutes doesn't necessarily mean exactly 20 minutes! The train departs from platform No. 1 at Ben Gurion Airport station and arrives at platform No. 2 at Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon station.
Fares are fixed. The current ticket price and discount amount are only available on the official Israel Railways website.
It's better to buy tickets in advance; they cannot be exchanged without a commission, and in case of missing the connection, if you have a transfer, refunds are not possible. So, check in advance that you are on the right train. And another thing: you can only buy tickets in advance through applications that need to be downloaded to your smartphone: "Station" App, Moovit App, Rav Pass App, ANYWAY App. All applications are in Hebrew. And remember, the Jerusalem train does not operate at night, but you have the option to take a night bus to Jerusalem to reach your destination.
Bus. To get from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem Central Railway Station, you can take a regular Egged bus from the airport to Ramat Eschkol or Ramat Gilad (not to Givat Shmuel), and then take a bus to Jerusalem and transfer to the line going to Jerusalem Central Railway Station. This also applies to the return route from Jerusalem Central Railway Station to Ben-Gurion Airport. Buses run every 20-40 minutes, and the stop is right in front of the Ben-Gurion Airport terminal (at the entrance).
Bus No. 485 by Afikim is a popular bus route from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem. It operates around the clock, departing every hour from Terminal 3, near exit 1. However, on Shabbat, from 2 p.m. on Friday until Saturday evening, No. 485 Afikim does not operate, just like other public transport in Israel.
Tram. Egged tram – the only train going to Jerusalem Central Station. Daily at 10:30 a.m., the only Egged train (or tram) departs from Jerusalem Central Railway Station to Jerusalem (and back at 12:30 p.m.). This train makes stops along the way to Jerusalem (for example, Givat Shaul, Lod, Gadera, or Beit Safafa, etc.). But remember, you still need to take a special bus from the airport to Tel Aviv to reach Jerusalem Central Railway Station.
Shared Taxi. Every 15 Minuts Sherut to Jerusalem. But it depends on the driver's willingness, who may wait until the vehicle is full. An additional fee is charged for luggage. Also, if there are many passengers, all luggage may not fit.
Taxi. Taxis can be called by phone using a special application. You can catch a taxi on the curb outside the terminal. Look for taxis of yellow color for reference. It's better not to get into the ones offered right at the exit – the price will be twice as high. The fare to the center of Jerusalem is around 45-50 shekels. Taxis are charged per kilometer, so when you get in, make sure the meter is not running. BUT!!! In the evening, you may pay 25% more. Another nuance is the amount of luggage. There are no set luggage norms for taxis in Israel, so you may be charged an additional fee for luggage or even refused altogether. Also, traffic jams often occur near the entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem (Road No. 1), and you will also have to pay for the time spent in them.
What can we offer? Individual or group transfer from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem. We will meet you at the airport. From the airport, we will take you to any place in Jerusalem, be it a hotel or the home address of your friends or relatives. Cars can be of different classes and capacities, for one person or for a group. If necessary, it can be more than one car. The driver will meet you, be in touch all the time, help load and unload luggage, and tell you where you are going along the way. All this can be ordered at any time of the day. Also, we would like to add that our drivers speak at least three languages: Hebrew, English, and Russian. Also, remember that on Friday afternoon and evening until Saturday evening, public transport in Israel does not operate. Shabbat! Shabbat is a sacred Saturday when everyone should be at home and spend time with family. Of course, not all people living in Israel observe Shabbat, there is freedom of choice here, but at the state level, Shabbat is observed. Especially in Jerusalem.
We can also offer trips throughout Israel with a driver-guide or with a driver and guide, depending on the excursion you book. All this can be booked even before arriving in the country to plan your time in advance. Detailed information about cars, prices, drivers, and excursions is available on our website. In this article, we do not specify prices because they may vary depending on the type of car you order, where you need to go, and the composition, and so on. All information on price formation is also available on our website.
See you in our beautiful country!