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View a selection of our best tours in Israel below. We offer numerous opportunities to tour Israel in popular destinations such as Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, the Galilee and more. For a complete selection of our guided Israel tours, browse the menu above according to destination and desired length of the tour. For a longer stay, check out our Israel Tour Packages which each includes several exciting tours of the most important destinations in Israel.

BETHLEHEM TOUR

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DAY TOUR OF BETHLEHEM AND JERUSALEM

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Petra, jordan.

From Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat

Explore the sensational city of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Join us as we take you on an amazing journey!

GUIDED ISRAEL TOURS

Egged Tours offers the most enjoyable, enriching, and affordable guided tours in Israel! Egged Tours, a subsidiary company of the Egged Bus Cooperative, the largest transit bus company in Israel, offers numerous Israel tours, both private and with groups, to the most popular destinations in Israel as well as to some less known destinations. We begin each Israel tour by picking you up at your hotel, whether in Jerusalem or in other major cities, and let you save both time and money.

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The guides on all our Israel tours are selected for their excellence and their experience. They will take care of all the details, allowing you to relax on each guided Israel tour and enjoy historic and modern Israel as it ought to be experienced - on Egged's Israel tours! With our experience and extensive knowledge of the land of Israel, we have made it our mission to provide you with an unforgettable experience on our Israel tours as you discover the Holy Land and its remarkable culture, history and nature.

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Going on carefully planned guided tours in Israel with Egged Tours means that you don't need to rent a car, study maps or search for the opening hours of various attractions. Or even to figure out what attractions are worth seeing or what a good itinerary for any given day would like like. Besides being more convenient, going on our Israel tours is also more enriching than traveling alone while trying to make sense of what you see.

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Full Guide to Public Transportation in Israel

“How will I get around?” That’s one of the main questions people ask before arriving in an unknown country. In Israel, you can choose to explore the country in various ways. You can join an organized tour, rent a car, or use different forms of public transportation. In this post, I’ll try and make public transportation in Israel a bit easier for you.

Let’s start with the two most important things you need to know when using public transportation in Israel: Shabbat and the Rav Kav.

Table of Contents

Public transportation on Shabbat in Israel

Shabbat is the holy day of the week for the Jewish people. It begins on Friday evening and ends on Saturday night. According to the Jewish religious laws, you cannot ride or drive a vehicle during Shabbat. Israel is a Jewish democracy. That’s why most public transportation does not operate on Shabbat.

Taxis operate on Shabbat. There are also some places where there is public transportation. For example, Palestinian buses operate in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Some public transportation lines also operate in Haifa because it is a city of both Jews and Arabs. And some private transport companies operate in the main cities. Lately, Tel Aviv has started operating free public lines on Shabbat (read more on their website – Weekend Transportation ). But other than those, most public lines do not operate from Friday evening to Saturday night. You should take this into account when planning your trip.

Need to travel on Shabbat? Learn about transportation options on Shabbat in Israel.

The Rav Kav, Israel's public transport card

The Rav Kav is Israel’s public transportation smartcard. It is how you pay for bus and train rides in Israel. On some buses (like the bus to Eilat ) and on trains, you can still buy a ticket in the ticket office. But on most buses, you will need a Rav Kav or a public transport payment app , which I’ll write about later.

Where can you get the Rav Kav?

Are you landing at Ben Gurion Airport? If so, you can get the card at the Public Transportation Service Center at the airport. It’s located in the Arrivals Hall. The service center is open Sundays to Thursdays from 8 AM to 1 PM and from 1:30 PM to 6 PM.

If you’re landing at Ramon Airport, there’s supposed to be a service center there, too. And if you can’t make it to any of those centers, you can get the card at any service center in the main cities or central bus stations. Tourists can pick up a special Rav Kav for tourists at Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Read more about this Rav Kav here.

How much does the Rav Kav cost?

Someone told me that tourists can get the card for free by showing their passports. If not, it costs 5 ILS to purchase the card. Then, you will need to load it with money to use it.

You can load money in several ways:

• Daily Pass: This all-day pass is good if you’re planning to take at least three rides in one of the cities. Keep in mind that you can board as many buses as you want in the city within 90 minutes and still pay the same price. Following the “ One Way ” revolution, there are multiple daily passes based on distances, each one in a different color. If you’re traveling within a city, the yellow one should be enough. If you’re traveling outside the city, check your travel distances. It is a personal pass, so there is no way to share it with other people.
• Nation-Wide Monthly Pass: Now, you can use a nationwide monthly pass to travel all around Israel for only 225 ILS! If you want to use the train, too, you will need to purchase the unlimited monthly pass, which includes both bus and train, so you will need to pay more. It starts from 255 ILS. If you’re going to travel more than 225 km, you will need to pay 610 ILS for the pass. And it’s personal, so there is no way to share it.
• “Stored Value”: With stored value, you can load 30, 500, 100, 150, or 200 ILS to the card. With the “stored value” you can buy several tickets using the same card on the bus. On the light-rail train in Jerusalem, it isn’t possible to do that. In the past, you got additional value when loading the “Stored value”, but since the “ One Way ” revolution in public transport, you only get what you load.

For more information about options and prices, check out the Rav Kav website.

Where can you load your Rav Kav?

I recommend loading it in central bus stations and train stations. But, there are loading points all around the main cities, wherever you see the “Charge your Rav Kav here” sign. In Jerusalem, there are plenty of points on Jaffa Street and inside the Old City. In Tel Aviv, there are some points around Rothschild Boulevard and a lot of points near Gordon Beach. You can also load your Rav Kav by using the machines at the new Dan Kal light rail stations. You can load money with shekels or a credit card.

If your phone has an NFC feature, you should also be able to load money using the HopOn  app or the official Rav Kav app . Make sure to load before getting on the transportation. 

How do you validate your ticket?

There are several ways to validate your public transport card:

• On buses – There are several Rav Kav scanners on every internal bus. Place your card on the card scanner and wait for the green light, which confirms you’ve paid for the ride.
• On trains – Simply place your Rav Kav on the station barrier, and it should open. You’ll need to swipe the card again at your exit station so it can calculate how much you need to pay. If you don’t have money on your card, you’ll need to load it at the station.
• On the light-rail train in Jerusalem – Place your Rav Kav on the scanner when entering the train and wait for the green light, which confirms you’ve paid.
• On the Dan Kal light-rail train in Tel Aviv –  At the underground stations, there are station barriers.  You need to place your loaded Rav Kav on the barrier or scan a barcode with your public transport application to open the gateway. At the regular stations, there are validation stands where you need to validate your ticket before boarding the train. There is no way to validate your ride on the train itself. 

Useful public transportation apps for your trip in Israel

Google Maps – This is my favorite. It has great maps in English and you can use it to see exactly where you need to go. It also shows the LIVE bus arrival times. You can also try the Offline Maps.

Moovit – A good navigation app for public transportation. It is possible to type destinations in English, but the map is in Hebrew. It shows you approximate LIVE bus arrival times, but I’ve noticed that it’s less accurate than Google Maps. Also, it underestimates the time it takes to get from one point to another. I always multiply the time it shows, so I won’t be late. Lately, Moovit has also added an option to pay on public transportation rides directly from the app.

HopOn (Rav-Pass)- I downloaded this app a few months ago and use it every time I use public transportation. It’s a great app for paying for public transportation! Instead of using the Rav Kav card, I use HopOn to pay directly through the app. Paying on buses is a bit complicated because you need to scan a barcode, choose the bus line, and then choose your destination. But, paying on the train or light rail is very easy. The payment is reduced from my credit card at the end of every month.

More public transport payment apps include Pango and Cello, which are originally parking payment apps.

Should you pay with the Rav Kav or use a payment app?

The prices are the same on Rav Kav and the payment apps. The only difference is that with the payment apps, you don’t have to know your travel plans in advance. The app will calculate the most profitable price for the travels you made and deduct that price from your credit card. So, personally, I would use the payment apps.

Main public bus companies in Israel

Where will you find Egged buses?  Almost everywhere. Egged is the biggest bus company in Israel. They usually operate as intercity buses, except for some cases in Northern Israel. Egged is also the main player in most Israeli cities, except for the Tel Aviv area. Their buses are completely green. Lately, they’ve also added a fleet of greyish buses.

Check for routes and timetables through the Egged website.

Where will you find Dan buses? In the central area of Israel. This bus company is the strongest in the Tel Aviv area. The Dan buses are white, with a blue stripe all along the bottom.

Good to know:  You can use your credit card or Google Pay to pay for the ride on Dan buses in Tel Aviv. Using a Rav Kav or public transportation app would be better if you’re using public transport a lot, but if you only want to take a one-time ride or you still don’t have the Rav Kav, it’s useful. From what I know, Dan is currently the only bus company in Israel that permits paying with credit card. 

Nateev Express

Where will you find Nateev Express buses? In the northern regions of Israel. You will need to take it to reach Safed, for example. There’s no Nateev Express line from Tel Aviv or from Jerusalem. so if you need to use this bus company, you’ll need to take a bus ride to a different northern town, such as Karmiel or Afula, and take Nateev Express from there. The Nateev Express buses are white and orange.

Arab-run buses

Those buses operate in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. They are mostly colored white with blue or green stripes of them. Most of those buses depart from the East Jerusalem Central Bus Station on Sultan Suliman Street near Damascus Gate. Check the main East Jerusalem lines here.

Taxis in Israel

Taxis are very common in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and you can hail them down from the street. Outside of those cities, you’ll see fewer taxis on the streets. If you plan to use a taxi, you should download Gett, which is the leading app for ordering taxis in Israel. With Gett, you can order a taxi wherever you are and pay through the app. You can also use Uber, but in Israel, it’s just like ordering a regular taxi.

Rides inside cities will usually cost between 25 to 70 ILS, depending on the distance. The fare goes up during Shabbat. Taking a taxi from the airport to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv should cost around 150-300 ILS. There are also Sherut Taxis (Shared Taxis) from the airport, which are much cheaper. Learn more about transportation from the airport.

Taxis in Israel are white with a yellow cap. Sherut taxis usually have more yellow on them. Starting 18 August 2019, you can use your Rav-Kav on sherut taxis number 4 and 5 in Tel Aviv (but not on Shabbat, only on weekdays).

Getting around Israel with public transportation

Egged buses run regularly between the main cities in Israel. You can catch them from the main bus stations in each city. Some towns are reachable only by other bus companies. For example, Safed is reachable by Nateev Express. You can find suitable routes by using Google Maps or Moovit app.

Prices between the cities change. Between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the price is 18 ILS per way. But, if you take a bus to a farther distance, it will cost you more. For example, a bus from Jerusalem to Eilat costs 70 ILS. You can check the price beforehand by using the Egged website.  

Buses also stop at main attractions such as Masada and Ein Gedi. Again, it is best to check the route on the Egged site.

If you are traveling to or from Eilat

It’s recommended to book a seat in advance. If the bus will be full, the driver might not let you board the bus. If he or she will, then you might find yourselves standing the entire way. If you plan to take a ride to Eilat and back, it’s also recommended to book the return ticket when booking the first ticket because that will save you a few shekels. Learn how to buy a bus ticket to or from Eilat in advance.

The Israel Railway is well-connected throughout the country. It can take you from Nahariyya or Acre (Akko) in the north to Be’er Sheva in the south. Though, you’ll need to change some lines for that route.

If you want to visit Haifa, Netanya, Acre, Beit She’an, Tel Aviv, and Be’er Sheva, this could be a good option for you. There’s also a new train to Jerusalem that passes through Ben Gurion Airport. Prices change according to destination. If it’s farther away, it’s more expensive. You can check fares on the Israel Railway site. See the full list of stations and lines here . 

Public transportation in Jerusalem

Most main attractions in Jerusalem are very near each other. This means you can easily walk between them. You may want to use public transportation from the central bus station to the city center. Or, you can use public transportation to reach far points, like the Israel Museum, Yad Vashem, and Mount Herzl.

Learn more about getting around Jerusalem here .

In Jerusalem, there are three types of transportation:

The light-rail train (or the tram)

This is the easiest way to get around Jerusalem. It costs 5.5 ILS for a one-way ride. You need a Rav Kav or a payment app to ride the tram. You must validate your Rav Kav or payment app the moment you board the train. Ticket inspectors get on the train very often, sometimes even twice during one ride.

The light-rail train currently (July 2023) has only one line that connects most main points around the city. It is very frequent during the morning and afternoon hours. At night, its frequency drops, and a train arrives every 15 minutes or so. It drives a bit slow, but during rush hours (7-9 AM and 2-6 PM) it is the best way to get around, as it skips all the traffic jams. During these hours, it can be very-very crowded on the tram and there are never enough seats for everyone, so be ready for that.

The train operates from around 6 AM to midnight. On Fridays, it operates only until around 3:30 PM and on Saturdays, it operates only from around 8 PM.

The main bus company operating in Jerusalem is Egged. You have to use the Rav Kav to take a ride on the buses in Jerusalem, and the card must be preloaded before you board the bus. A bus ride costs 5.5 ILS. If you get on another bus within 90 minutes of your first boarding, you get a free pass. But you still have to validate your card.

Buses in Jerusalem can get you anywhere, but it can be a bit tricky to take them. Most stations don’t have English signs on them. You will also need to figure out which bus direction you need for your destination.

One of the destinations which you’ll probably need a bus to is the Israel Museum. Line number 66 or 66א goes from the city center to the museum. Try checking possible routes with Google Maps or Moovit.

Another popular way of transportation in Jerusalem is the taxis. Like mentioned before, taxis are white cabs with yellow tops. You can hail them down, but the best way to get a taxi is by ordering it through the Gett app . 

Public Transportation In Tel Aviv

Main attractions in Tel Aviv are a bit farther away from each other compared to Jerusalem. But, you can still walk between most of them if you’d like. The main way to get around Tel Aviv is by bus and the sherut taxis. 

In Tel Aviv, there are five types of transportation:

The light-rail train (Dan Kal)

The light-rail train opened in Tel Aviv in August 2023, so it’s pretty new! Currently, there is only one line – the Red Line – running through five different cities, including Tel Aviv.  It costs 5.5-12 ILS per ride, depending on your destination. Visit NTA’s website for more information about the Dan Kal in Tel Aviv .

The main bus company in Tel Aviv is Dan. The ride costs 5.5 ILS, and you have to use a Rav Kav, so make sure to load it before boarding the bus. Bus stations don’t always have signs in English. Try checking which station and which bus line you need through one of the apps I suggested at the beginning of the post.

Sherut taxis

They look like big taxis and have room for about 10-12 passengers. They have specific routes, which they take through Tel Aviv. You can see their line number on the windshield and if it’s good for you, you can wave for it to stop and get on it. Then, you can sit down and ask the driver how much to pay him for a ride to your stop (it should be around 7-10 ILS for a ride inside the city). It is not possible to use Rav Kav on the sherut taxis. Edit : Starting from 18 August 2019 it is possible to use Rav-Kav on sherut lines 4 and 5 (not during Shabbat, only on weekdays).

The sherut taxis have fixed routes, so it’s not like regular taxis. The two most popular lines are line number 4, which goes from Central Bus Station through Allenby and Ben Yehuda streets to the Tel Aviv Port, and line number 5, which goes from Central Bus Station through Rothschild avenue, the Dizengoff Center, Dizengoff street Nordau Street, Ibn Grvirol Boulevard to Weitzman Street and Kikar Hamedina.

What’s good with the sherut taxis is that they operate on Shabbat.

Of course, there are also the regular taxis, which are very popular in Tel Aviv. While Gett is the most popular taxi ordering app in Jerusalem, the most popular one in Tel Aviv is Yango.  

The Israel railway has four stations in Tel Aviv: University, Savidor Center, HaShalom, and HaHagana. Most likely is that you’ll only use it to get into the city and out of it. But, as I’ve already mentioned, you’ll need to buy your ticket at the ticket vendor area using the ticket machines or through the vendor, and only then will you be able to proceed through the train station barrier. You can also use your Rav Kav.

Taking public transportation might take you more time to travel around Israel, but it will usually be cheaper. There are plenty of ways to get around, including buses, taxis, trains, and even trams. Hope you’ll have an easy trip in Israel!

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If you need any more advice, please don’t hesitate to send me a message on my  Facebook page  or to contact me at [email protected] .

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What to do in Eilat in 3 to 5 days?

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[…] do about it? If you have plenty of time in Israel, you can use public transportation (check out my Full Guide to Public Transportation in Israel), but if you don’t have too much time and want to see as much as you can – don’t […]

[…] And if you need to know more about public transportation, check my post – Full Guide to Public Transportation in Israel. […]

[…] We planned on taking a train from Ben Gurion Airport-Station to Jerusalem Central-Bus-Station, From Tel Avis Airport to Jerusalem – Tips you need to know (youtube) A friendly guard at the entrance to the train station helped us purchase a ‘RAV KAV’ smartcard at one of the electronic kiosk’s, which accepted our US credit card. We added the amount for a Daily Pass to our card, which we used later that day. Full guide to public transportation in Israel. […]

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Public transit in Israel

• 1 Operators
• 3.1 Postpaid: credit and debit cards
• 3.2 Postpaid: mobile ticketing apps
• 3.3.1 Payment methods
• 3.3.2 Stored value
• 3.3.3 90-minute transfers
• 3.3.4 Periodic passes
• 3.3.5 Multi-ride contracts
• 3.3.6 Other details
• 3.5 Heavy rail
• 4.1 At stations and stops
• 4.2 By Internet and smartphone
• 5 Night buses and trains
• 6 Amenities
• 7 Haredi-oriented lines
• 8 Stay safe

Buses are the most common form of public transportation in Israel for Israelis and foreigners alike. They are generally frequent and modern, but often slow.

Since the late 1990s, trains have changed from a niche element of public transit to a popular network covering most major cities: ridership increased more than tenfold from 1996 to 2016 and keeps rising. However, as many train stations are located awkwardly in highway medians out of town, you'll often have to add a local bus ride to your train trips.

Rav-Kav , a public transit smartcard, ties the whole system together. Buses must and trains can be paid by Rav-Kav or a payment app. It is strongly advised that any traveler to Israel get a Rav-Kav, ideally when they arrive at Ben Gurion Airport or Ramon Airport . You can also use a supported mobile ticketing app to pay for your travels without a Rav-Kav card. You cannot use cash to pay for rides directly to drivers.

Operators [ edit ]

Every bus route in Israel is operated by a single bus company. Egged and Dan used to be the dominant operators, but they have been replaced by other companies in an effort to increase competition. In order to find the route you need and which company operates it, see the #Understand section below. Trains are operated by Israel Railways , and the Jerusalem light rail system is operated by Cfir . While buses cover most of the country, the rail network ends at Beer Sheva and Dimona . If you wish to go to Eilat without flying, you'll have to take a bus.

The quality of service of the newer bus companies varies from very good to poor, not only between companies but also between regions and routes of the same company.

Bus operators include:

• Electra Afikim Transport 2021 ( Egged Ta'avura ), ☏
• Extra Public Transportation ( אקסטרה תחבורה ציבורית ), ☏
• GB Tours , ☏ +972 4 6036100 , [email protected] . Operates some of the regional lines in Haifa region.  

Stations [ edit ]

Major cities have Central Bus Stations ( תחנה מרכזית , " takhana merkazit "), which are the terminals where most intercity routes begin and end. Most of these stations have been rebuilt as air-conditioned malls. Generally, many city bus routes run on the street just outside the central bus station. Sometimes these stations are in a city's downtown, but often they are on the edge of a city, next to a main road to minimize travel time.

While the Ottoman and British colonial authorities built some train lines, most train stations date to the 1990s or later, and they are often located out of town in highway medians. Train stations are usually served by local buses which will get you to your final destination.

Fares and tickets [ edit ]

Fares are relatively low by Western standards. As of Aug 2022, a single nationwide fare system reform has been introduced, valid for every transit operator in the country and dependent on aerial distance covered from boarding to alighting stop. There is no more mixup of over 190 different fares that were different from one operator to another on same distances on intercity rides. Train rides are slightly more expensive than buses.

See the English-language fare guide for updated information. There is a lot to read here;

• Distance level is counted per each ride separately, so it's entirely possible to travel half a country with a short distance pass, provided you alight and interchange transport for a new ride of the pass' distance level. Pay attention to the status of the interchange stop (boarding only, alighting only, boarding and alighting) per each route used on such a travel.
• You can use this page for prices of periodic passes and their coverage distance.
• Be very careful when choosing fares from or to different stations of the same city. Depending on your origin station, the fare to destination differ per each station scale, not grouped per city as a whole, as it used to be before August 2022. For example, from Hadera West to Tel Aviv University it's the green fare (₪18), but to Tel Aviv Savidor Center it's the cyan fare (₪24) because that journey exceeds 40 kilometers.

Ticket validation can be done at validators in the bus. A loaded Rav-Kav, or a supported self-service mobile ticketing app, is required. If you're using Rav-Kav, it is better to validate from the validator directly: you don't need a terminal ticket booth if you already have a periodic pass or enough balance loaded. Ticket contracts can also be bought at ticket booths in terminals to be loaded on a Rav-Kav card. Exact change is not necessary: cashiers will give change for notes up to 10 times the fare. Payment by credit card is accepted at ticket booths for fares over ₪22.

• * Includes bus, Metronit BRT, Technion cable car and the Carmelit
• ** Transfers from bus to light rail incur a fare correction from bus to light rail fare (started ride on bus yellow fare ₪5.5, transfer within 90 minutes to light rail charge ₪2.5 to make it ₪8). If the farthest alighting stop on a bus is within yellow fare, it's not possible to choose the green fare from the bus, therefore a transfer from bus to light rail for green fare on the light rail will charge a new full green fare light rail ride.

Postpaid: credit and debit cards [ edit ]

Since October 26 2022, it has become possible to pay for a single ride on Dan company bus routes using contactless payments by credit and debit cards, or contactless mobile payment services that emulate a payment card from a smartphone or wristwatch NFC module, such as Google Pay and Apple Pay. Only Visa and Mastercard are supported. Isracard, Diners, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, and any card that requires PIN confirmation even for small charges are not supported. Payment by this method is for the time being only valid at Dan and only for a full fare standard single ride without transfers.

Postpaid: mobile ticketing apps [ edit ]

Since December 15, 2020, it has been possible to pay for your rides through mobile apps.

• Rav-Pass ( רב-פס ), ☏ +972 775316747 , [email protected] . Support center is open on transit operation hours Su-Th 05:30-00:00. F and holidays eve from 5:30 until before start of Shabat or holiday. Sa or holiday from end of Shabat or holiday to 00:00 . App run by HopOn.  
• Moovit . App run by Moovit via Pango.  
• Other apps, such as Cello and Pango (car parking payments) embed the aforementioned apps within their functions.
• There is also an app called ZUZU, however that one is used exclusively by IDF soldiers.

To pay for public transit, install the app, link a credit card, and create your passenger profile. Israel citizens or long-term visa foreigners may as well apply for applicable discount profiles (same as with Rav-Kav below). Then, when boarding, select to pay-as-you-go for a ride. The method of doing so, varies:

• For buses, scan the QR code in the bus, or for Metronit, you can either scan the QR code on the platform stop shed before boarding or the one in the bus, and confirm the route number, its direction, and boarding and alighting stops.
• For Israel Railways and Tel Aviv Light Rail underground section, display a QR code generated in the app to the scanner on platform entry gates, then confirm exit when getting off at your destination and make sure to display that exit QR code to the exit gates (even if they are open for any reason); otherwise, you will be charged the fare for the longest possible ride. On Carmelit, an entry QR is enough as there are no exit gates. When entering Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Light Rail on a street-level station, you still need to create an entry QR even though there's nowhere to scan it on (platform gates only underground).

You pay in shekels post-paid on a monthly basis for your rides done in the previous month if you used an Israeli credit card. You pay on an end-of-day charge basis if you used rides when a debit card or a foreign issued credit/debit card is linked to the passenger profile account.

Fixed one-way ride fares depend on aerial distance from ride start point to the alighting point per each ride. Free 90-minute transfers available in the entire country for yellow distance level only from the first ride start point. Please refer to the table above for fares. Day and month billing caps are available: if the total fare for the one way rides inside a distance level per each ride would exceed the day pass fare, only the day pass fare will be posted without subsequent charges for the day, and if the total one-way rides in a month would exceed the nationwide month pass fare cap for a distance level, then the total will be converted to the nationwide month pass fare and no more charges will be posted for subsequent rides within the distance level, but if a travel day included trains, that travel day as a whole (including bus rides of that travel day) will separately count towards the trains-inclusive distance level month cap fare based on the longest train ride of the day, and at that point total month charges can suddenly become unexpectedly high per train fare cap, therefore it might be cheaper to pay train travel days with Rav-Kav instead of apps.

Notes in regard to mobile ticketing:

• Day is considered from 04:00:00 to 03:59:59 of the next day.
• Month is considered from 04:00:00 of the 25th of month up to 03:59:59 on the 25th of the next month (month billing cycle reset).
• 90-minutes yellow distance level transfers: from the moment of first ride start, on any transport method except Israel Railways.
• Foreign credit card users do benefit from the month discounts, even though foreign cards are charged on a day basis. When the month cap is reached, no more charges will be posted for rides within the distance level.

Prepaid: Rav-Kav [ edit ]

• Israeli shekel-based stored value for single one-way rides;
• prepaid discount deals for multiple rides on specific bus routes (phased out);
• periodic passes that cover all transportation within a distance level in included zones.

The card offers an additional discount for registered youth, student, national insurance beneficiaries, disabled, senior citizen and others.

You can obtain Rav-Kav in Ben Gurion Airport, Terminal 3, Arrivals hall - at a service center post that is open Su-Th 08:00-18:00 (break 13:00-13:30), or at the service center post in the arrivals hall of Ramon Airport.

You can use the Rav-Kav Online (רב-קו אונליין) app and a few others to charge your ticket contracts if you have an Android phone that have a supported NFC module. iPhones are supported since iOS 13. It allows you to top it up through Google Pay and Apple Pay, view information on loaded contracts such as balances, view a few usage history events, view top-up history and more. It is very refined and works well. It is recommended to have installed on your device if you are travelling in Israel. You can't get a refund for loaded stored value or for any other contract after the contract was validated, so don't load more than you need or are comfortable to lose.

Rav-Kav does not work on any internal routes in the Palestinian Authority or Gaza Strip, or for any transit that is not considered public transit by Ministry of Transport. For example, the Haifa Bat Galim - Stella Maris cable car is a Ministry of Tourism venue. However, the cable car from HaMifratz Central Bus Station at the foot of Mount Carmel to the Technion, is classified as public transit, and thus, accept Rav-Kav and mobile ticketing apps.

Service taxis ( sherut ), which run on fixed routes like bus lines, do not accept the Rav-Kav, unless they have a validator and usually state Rav-Kav acceptance on the outside. Rav-Kav service in service taxis does not work on Sabbath (Friday afternoon to Saturday evening).

There are three types of cards:

Card validity is eight years after issuance. If your card is near expiration, you can get fresh eight years of validity with transfer of your balances to a new card (but not for Anonymous) at any Rav-Kav service center. You can also extend the validity for another six months (and afterwards again unlimited, so basically no expiration if you remember to do it in time every six months) in the Rav-Kav Online app. Anonymous can also be extended that way. However, if your card is starting to glitch up on reading, it's best to have it reissued at the service center.

Payment methods [ edit ]

The card can be recharged with pay-as-you-go "stored value" credit (Hebrew: erekh tzavur ) and/or with other special fare cards (each one called a "contract", Hebrew: hozeh ) like a daily, weekly or monthly pass or a multi-ride ticket (multi-ride have been phased out as of January 2020, continue to exist in a one-ride version). All three card types can hold up to eight different active contracts simultaneously.

If your Android smartphone has an NFC module, you can check the content of your Rav-Kav, purchase and load contracts using credit/debit cards, as well as check your ride history (last six events are recorded on the card), using the Rav-Kav Online or HopOn, or a few other apps. Check at your smartphone's app store. iPhones can be used for this purpose with the Rav-Kav Online app only if you run iOS 13 or later.

It is also possible to obtain a USB card reader in Rav-Kav service centers for ₪10 and recharge the card yourself using credit/debit cards at Rav-Kav Online or at HopOn . Other USB contact and USB NFC contactless card readers do also work, so if you already have one for an eID, for example, you may use that also. For USB NFC, ensure that the reader works with Type B ISO 14443 contactless cards (13.56 MHz). For USB contact, any smartcard reader for ISO 7816 chip cards will work.

You can recharge contracts at cashier's terminals at participating stores. Map is available here , here or here or in some apps such as Bus Nearby (אוטובוס קרוב) used for transit planning on-the-go. Be wary of points labeled as "ATM only": see below.

You can recharge Rav-Kav at Casponet ATMs. The method is not recommended (at direct use) though, because the Casponet ATM often only offer to reload the contract types that already were on the card. It is often not what you may want to load, so it may create a false perception of which contract types there are. For stored value, it may only offer to recharge the same recharge amount type that was on the card previously (you used up your ₪50 charge, wish to only recharge for ₪30, but the ATM often will offer you to "renew" the ₪50 charge type that was on the card previously).

• You can directly recharge in the ATM if you wish to try it: you insert your credit card, choose Rav-Kav button option, take out the credit card, insert the Rav-Kav in its place (Rav-Kav with contact chip only), then select one of the offered contracts to load and confirm. You don't need to re-insert your credit card back.
• You can use the Casponet ATM indirectly (this is the recommended way, should you choose to use it) by using the contract reservation feature of Rav-Kav Online (if you neither have a NFC module in your phone, nor a USB card reader to use the service directly). First reserve any desired contract at Rav-Kav Online website (mobile browsers also work), then insert the Rav-Kav card that you reserved a contract for, into the ATM and confirm the contract load.

It is no longer possible to recharge cards with bus drivers. You have to find a recharging point, a shop with Rav-Kav recharge cashier terminal, or use the mobile app or website with card reader, or other methods noted above.

Stored value [ edit ]

Almost everywhere, the simplest way to use the card is to add credit to your stored value balance. At transit operators' recharge points, it's only possible to add fixed amounts of ₪10, ₪30, ₪50, ₪100, ₪150 and ₪200. The fixed amount is loaded to the card, and, if you are a special profile holder, with the appropriate additions to the available stored value balance to grant the appropriate discounts for one-way fares as follows:

Standard profile used to get a 20% discount by getting values of 37.5, 62.5, 125, 187.5 and 250 respectively, but that was cancelled on August 1, 2022. Existing stored value does not get converted over on any profile, so you get to keep the prior discount until you use your balance up. New reloads add up to the existing balance. Loading as low as ₪10 became possible since August 2023 (previously no less than a ₪30 load).

This stored value amount can then be used bit-by-bit to pay for one-way fares. If you are using stored value of a special profile, the fare is cheaper by the appropriate discount than a full-fare ticket of a standard profile passenger.

You can not use the stored value balance to purchase other ticket types for it, because you already received the discount when charging it — no double discounts. Remember that stored value is not a shekel amount, but a value representation of passenger profile discount, even when there is no longer a standard profile discount. Occasional wrong use of the shekel ₪ symbol in reference to stored value balance at validation receipts, recharging points and applications, is an ongoing problem that often causes the passenger to forget that the profile discount was already given at (re)load time.

Using Rav-Kav Online app, its website with card reader, or a recharge point at a supported store cashier, you may also load a flexible amount (from ₪10 to ₪300 per transaction) to your stored value balance. Paying amounts such as ₪30.06 (that get 60.12 to discounted 50% profile balance) should be avoided, though. If the stored value balance amount (that is to be received and to be summarized with the existing balance, not the amount you pay, regardless of if you get a passenger profile discount or not) does result in a value that is not a multiple of 0.10, you will have issues using 90-minute transfers. So, if your balance does not end in xx.x0, you will pay twice on transfers on Egged, Carmelit and Superbus (Metronit) on each validation. If you have a personal card with special discount profiles (for foreigners that usually apply to transfer students), and at any point in time used stored value conversion as a result of expiring profiles, you should fix up your balance with a flexible amount load, for it to be multiples of 0.10.

You can combine reloads or load several times, such as load ₪50 then ₪30 to get 80 of standard profile balance or ₪30 twice to get 60. It's not possible, however, to have more than 999.90 of stored value credit across all profiles on the card (including locked balance on expired profiles, that need to be converted up) at any given time simultaneously. If after several charges your overall balance would exceed the maximum value, that charge attempt won't succeed.

Stored value payments are accepted everywhere.

You usually won't be using the same stored value for group travel of several passengers. It is recommended that each passenger have their own Rav-Kav card. Most importantly, you cannot group travel on one card on Israel Railways. But if you still insist on other transport means, it works as follows:

• On buses you should choose the passenger amount on the middle door validator prior to validation and ensure the fare distance code that you are about to get charged. Several separate one-passenger validations in a row won't grant 90-minute transfers for any ride that isn't the last one recorded. To get transfers as a group, the entire validation has to be a group as one operation. On the next transport, you validate once for the entire group.
• If you are using a periodic pass, you validate it on yourself. The other passengers use your stored value for a one-way ride.
• On the Jerusalem light rail, you cannot start a group trip for several passengers on one card (double-use block). If you took an Egged city bus as a group first, you can transfer as a group to the light rail.
• Group travel works only for anonymous cards, half-registered or personal cards with the Standard profile, or said cards with Youth profile. Youth must use group travel only with passengers who are also eligible to youth profile. They must not use their 50% discounted stored value balance towards grouping with an adult. No other special profile can use group travel.

90-minute transfers [ edit ]

One-way journeys for ₪5.50 in the yellow distance level have automatic free 90 minutes transfers for up to 15 kilometers from the validation on the first transport means except Israel Railways. Transfers are available for up to 15 kilometers everywhere. Travel on a higher distance level does not include any transfers.

Sometimes the buses perform their route while misconfigured. This may happen with Metropoline, Kavim and Afikim. A line that performs a long route may have the validators' and driver terminal's GPS be stuck on the wrong stop, which causes validations to be started from that stop and count your distance fare until the distance you selected, from that stuck stop. If the route goes across Zones 1 and Zone 2, you may be unable to use a Zone 1 month pass on that route, if the validator is stuck on a Zone 2 stop.

Metronit validation can be done on the platform ticketing machines, or on validators in the bus. Choose one method for validation, otherwise you will be double charged. If using the platform ticket machines, insert Rav-Kav card to the recharging point into the correct (green) slot, select the Choose contract for validation option, then the contract to be used, and take out the card on the beep, then board the Metronit. The smallest validation poles on the platform will only validate for the yellow distance level (₪5.50 up to 15 kilometers) and will only work if you have only either the periodic pass, or stored value loaded on the card, and won't work if you have (or had) more than one contract loaded (or the flexible charge reload type of stored value). So, use the recharging point.

• If you choose to reload any contract on the Rav-Kav via the Metronit platform charging point, be aware that since October 4, 2021, it does not accept recharges by cash, only credit/debit cards. Also, it is no longer possible to buy a one-ride no-transfer Metronit paper ticket from it.

Periodic passes [ edit ]

Periodic passes will let you ride for less at times, such as if you need round-trip intercity travel, or wish to visit several cities in a day, or hopping on seeing half a country in a day. Distance coverage is counted per each ride separately. There are day passes that only either include bus, Metronit, Carmelit, light rail, Technion cable car, or all of them plus Israel Railways at a slightly higher price.

If you buy a day or month pass for the appropriate distance coverage level for the requested transport means, then that pass is valid for unlimited travel on those requested transport means until the furthest stop of the chosen distance level on each ride.

A "Zone 1" month pass is available for "rural" settlements for ₪99. You cannot use that one to travel in or into settlements that are considered to be in Zone 2. You must either use a single ride, a distance level day pass, or the nationwide pass without or with Israel Railways to cross zones.

On Rav-Kav Online you can choose a validity start day in advance as well. Advance selling times vary for each contract type, variants and chosen issuing operator though, most offer you one week into the future, but some may be stocked for up to three weeks.

• A day pass is valid from midnight of the chosen day until 03:59 the next day (i.e., for 28 hours). Any night lines are considered service for the previous day, yet if you have two day passes for two days straight and travel at night in-between, they will overlap and won't automatically work: the validator will ask you which one of your passes to validate on.
• A flexible 31 days pass is valid from midnight of the first chosen day, and for 31 days until 03:59 on the 32nd day. They cannot be loaded on anonymous cards.
• A calendar month pass is valid from midnight on the first day of the month until 23:59:59 of the last day of the month, no overnight service. Calendar month passes are only sold between the 25th of the previous month until the 5th of the month of their validity. They are not valid until the 1st of the month for which they are purchased. They cannot be loaded on anonymous cards.
• Israel Railways only sells the flexible 31 day pass type. Other transit operators usually stick to the calendar month pass in their own recharge points. The two types are interchangeable, so a calendar month pass of a distance level which includes trains is valid on trains, and a flexible pass loaded in the middle of a month from Israel Railways is valid on buses. Both types are available on Rav-Kav Online, HopOn and at cashier's terminals in stores, so specify which type you need.
• Consider using the calendar month passes if you load at the start of a 31-day month, as the prices are the same. However, a flexible 30 days pass loaded on February 1 will be valid until early morning of March 3rd (or 2nd in a leap year).

Student passenger profile holders also may buy semester and annual passes for any chosen zones. There are two types of student passenger profiles:

• Standard Student: is a student who did not buy a semester or annual pass, and is receiving 33% discount for all stored value rides. May use standard profile day/month passes.
• Extended Student: is a student who did buy a semester or annual pass for any chosen distance levels, and is receiving 50% discount for all stored value rides done outwards of the distance level included in their pass, and may use standard profile day/month passes on journeys exceeding the loaded semester/annual pass distance level.

Senior citizen passenger profile holders get standard profile day and month passes for half of their price.

Youth passenger profile holders only have month passes for half price and if they wish to use a day pass, that goes for full fare.

Senior citizen over 75 years travel free on a special free usage profile freeride contract.

Multi-ride contracts [ edit ]

This contract type consists of pre-loaded trips for the chosen distance level only , to be used in a certain region on certain routes. The ones that included more than one ride are phased out as of January 2020. One-ride contracts are available for cases when you would not want to commit for a stored value load. Though all the routes are covered with stored value or periodic passes, therefore it is not recommended to commit on these multi-ride contracts.

You can load more than one one-ride contract, but they won't stack. They will occupy one of the eight contract records available on the card.

If you had unused rides on the one-ride contracts for Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem that were available before August 2022, you can still use them. However, in case you still have loaded unused rides on older cancelled multi-ride contracts of other routes as follows, you must make your way to the corresponding operator's Rav-Kav service center in order to merge the loaded rides' value into stored value balance or get a cash refund.

• Lines of Afikim in the Samaria area, ticket fare codes 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 21, 24, 26, 28, 50, 52;
• Lines of Electra Afikim (Egged Transport) in the Judaea area, ticket fare codes 24, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 63.

Other details [ edit ]

When paying on a bus with the Rav-Kav on stored value, select the desired distance level on the validator and keep your paper receipt for the duration of the ride in case of inspection. Validators at the middle doors won't give you a paper receipt but display your ride on the screen. Inspection will scan the card.

Cases of misconfigured bus validations for the wrong distance level due to validator being stuck on the wrong stop, and cases of double charges in 90-minute transfers, may be sorted in the Rav-Kav service centers of the affected operator only .

Eilat [ edit ]

Buses to and from Eilat are better to be reserved in advance (at a ticket booth, by phone, internet, or the Egged mobile app). It may be possible to board just before departure without a reservation and pay the appropriate distance level fare if there are still free seats in the bus and no one is coming with a reservation. Only the mobile app reservation method will let you reserve a seat to Eilat using Rav-Kav.

A Zone 1 Eilat month pass is available for ₪84.62 for distance level up to 40 kilometers.

Heavy rail [ edit ]

At each station there are ticket machines you can use to buy one-way rides for the distance level as paper tickets without discounts, or load them as ticket contracts to the Rav-Kav. Pass on the platform entry gates to start using the ticket. Be sure to validate on the exit gates at your destination, for the used ticket to be closed and no longer occupy one of the 8 slots of the card. You can use cash or credit cards to load one-way tickets, recharge the stored value balance, or get periodic pass contracts that include railways. It is no longer possible to get round-trip tickets, neither on paper tickets without Rav-Kav, nor as contracts.

Using the staffed ticket booth, you may also load periodic passes for advance use up to one week, so it is an option if you plan to be on a hurry on the chosen day. Or if you use the Rav-Kav Online app or website, you can choose a day in advance there as well.

Stored value balance that is already on the card can also be used to pay for one-way trips. This is recommended, as you won't get a special profile discount if you load a separate one-way contract. If you need to evaluate the fare beforehand, you may use Rav-Kav Online here - the fares are the same for stored value as well but use stored value units instead of shekels. To use the stored value for your ride, select the lower button on the ticket machine screen "Validate trip using stored value" (or "Use stored value for the ride" on newer machines' interface) then select your destination, while noting the price of your fare. It is also possible to cancel that pre-validation, if you decide to not travel or chose the wrong station, by putting the card on the ticket machine again. The stored value deduction occurs on the entry gates to the platforms.

Since March 4, 2021, it became possible to use stored value directly without prior pre-validation. You must make sure to have at least 30.00 balance units loaded (even if the fare to destination is below that) or enough balance to cover the fare to destination if it is higher. Entry without enough balance is considered ride without a ticket and is subject to a fine. There is no option to top-up for a fare fix while located inside the controlled area (after the platform entry gates), and if you use apps to top-up your balance while already inside, Rav-Kav will lose the entry-exit event chain and will not let you to exit at your destination, because the latest recorded event on the card in that case will be not an entry to the origin station, but a balance reload. You cannot use the direct stored value method if you have any additional active contract other than stored value loaded (including those that are not valid for entry to the origin station), and must use the pre-validation method above.

You cannot validate several passengers on a single Rav-Kav ticket contract when using Israel Railways. It is recommended to obtain a card for each passenger if you wish to use the railways as a group. Or you can use standard profile stored value towards issuing paper tickets for additional passengers, choose the option to "use towards paper ticket" on the stored value entry after getting the Rav-Kav contents on the ticket machine. Special profile holders cannot issue paper tickets using this option.

Understand [ edit ]

The best way to find out routes and schedules is to use apps or websites that combine information about all bus and railway companies, such as Google Maps, efoBus, Rav-Pass/Bus Nearby and Moovit.

The level of passenger information provided by the companies varies. Each company is responsible for information on its services and does not provide other companies' routes or times. (For this reason, the Ministry of Transport has established a unified information center.) Fellow passengers are usually very friendly and helpful (sometimes overwhelmingly so), so you can ask them.

The Israel Railways website offers schedules. Rail fares are on Rav-Kav Online . A handy tool on the Israel Railways website is the "crowding index" which shows how crowded the train is likely to be at specific intermediate stops based on data of the last two weeks.

Israel Railways operates a fleet of relatively modern trains with a lot of multiple units manufactured by Bombardier and Siemens, which look like the same class of vehicles in use in continental Europe, including a red paint scheme reminiscent of Deutsche Bahn. Israel Railways also uses Danish IC3. In general, Israeli rail lines are built to continental European standards.

The ridership and network size of Israel Railways have grown tremendously since the 1990s and there's been hardly a year since without a major new route or network improvement coming online. One that made international news was the 2018 opening of Israel's first electric rail line to Jerusalem via Ben Gurion Airport . Since then, electrification has progressed on more and more lines. There are plans to eventually electrify the entire network with the possible exception of the old Jaffa Jerusalem line. Some sources may therefore be outdated, but Israel Railways keeps their own website up to date.

At stations and stops [ edit ]

In many central stations you can find electronic information boards, which provide info on destinations, platforms and times of departures within the next hour. These boards usually have a column for English names but are ordered by Hebrew alphabet. In big terminals it might take a few minutes until you get the info you need.

In central stations you will find staffed information booths. There may be separate booths for the separate bus companies that serve a station.

Bus stops in cities and on the roads are marked by a yellow metal "flag". The route numbers that stop there are marked on the flag, generally accompanied by the destinations. These signs are usually in Hebrew and English, but on opposite sides of the sign. Sometimes, though, the English version is incomplete or missing. All bus stops have their ID number (5 digits) written at the top of the yellow sign, to identify your location with phone hotlines and some smartphone apps. You may also find route maps posted on the wall of the stop shed. If you need help reading this information, don't be shy to ask other passengers.

Intercity buses will refuse to pick up passengers if they are completely full (no more than 10 standing passengers), so be wary if you are planning interchanges at limited-service junctions in the middle of nowhere. Be wary of waiting at the correct stops: buses will refuse to board you, even if they stopped to alight a passenger - if the specific stop that you are trying to wait on, is designated as alighting only for that line. If you are already on the bus, be aware that you are not supposed to get off at a stop that is designated as boarding only (such as a bus station boarding platform stop, which follow the alighting platform stop).

Many bus stops have real-time arrival info screens, although as of autumn 2021 they do not work correctly due to Ministry of Transport undergoing some extended maintenance on these systems. It's best to find real-time info in smartphone apps such as Rav-Pass/Bus Nearby, EfoBus and Moovit instead.

By Internet and smartphone [ edit ]

Most companies provide information on the Internet, but like other aspects of their service, the quality varies greatly.

• Google Maps provide trip planning.
• Ministry of Transportation ( "Call-Kav", Bus.gov.il ), ☏ +972 8 6831610 (or *️⃣8787) . Call center hours: Sa-Th 07:00-23:00, Friday 08:00-15:00, Saturday 30 minutes after end of Shabbat to 23:00 . You can send an SMS message (Hebrew-only) to 8787. This service is run by the Israeli Ministry of Transport and provides information for all bus and train routes in the country. This is the most useful and authoritative information center, although as of autumn 2021 its website is undergoing maintenance and may not correctly display any routes other than Egged.  
• Bus.co.il . This privately run site is intuitive and can be used in English. However, its information is unofficial, and its schedule information might be less reliable than the official sites. Its call center has a premium-rate number (1-900, ₪2 per min.)  
• Jerusalem transportation planner . Provides comprehensive information and trip planning for Jerusalem alone. This is an official site and is reliable. Hebrew and English.  
• Bus Nearby ( אוטובוס קרוב ). Privately run website with online information for the arrival of buses to stations. Can be used with the 5-digit station code, that is on every station's "Yellow Flag", and may also be used as a smartphone app for tracking real-time arrival times for your stop, and for trip planning.  
• EfoBus ( איפה בוס ). Privately run website with online information for the arrival of buses to stations. Can be used with the 5-digit station code, that is on every station's "Yellow Flag", and may also be used as a smartphone app for tracking real-time arrival times for your stop, and for trip planning.  
• Use the call centers of each bus company, listed in the beginning of this article.

Night buses and trains [ edit ]

Most trains stop operating at night. The line serving Nahariyya to Ben Gurion Airport , and one line along the Southern Coastal Plain to Beer Sheva , do operate during the night. Night routes are less frequent than day routes and skip some stations.

Amenities [ edit ]

Due to the relatively short bus journeys, there are no toilets on buses in Israel. Toilets are available in all central bus stations. Routes that take longer than about 3 hours, such as Tel Aviv to Tiberias or Kiryat Shmona, make a 10-minute rest stop in the middle of the route, where toilets are available. There are two stops on routes to Eilat. Trains do have accessible toilets.

Intercity buses have a baggage compartment underneath where you can store your bags while traveling. You can also store a bicycle there. City buses do not have a baggage compartment, and it is forbidden to bring non-foldable bikes aboard. Trains take bicycles free of charge (outside rush hour), and there are numbers at the doors indicating how many bikes will fit on each carriage. Israel Railways plans to forbid carrying bikes aboard altogether, so check before traveling.

The bus driver will often have the radio playing, even late at night. Many drivers object to cell phone conversations being held behind their seats.

Haredi-oriented lines [ edit ]

Often, separate bus routes serve centers of Israel's Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jews) population. This community is relatively poor, but well-organized, so they use public transportation at very high rates and get extra routes customized to meet their needs.

On these routes, passengers may self-segregate, with men sitting in the front of the bus and women in the back. When you get on a bus in Haredi areas, you may choose to follow the lead of the passengers who are already on it, or insist on your legal right to sit where you please. It is illegal for any passenger to tell another passenger where they may sit; the bus driver is obligated to assist in these situations.

It is considered impolite to sit next to a stranger of the opposite sex if there are other seats available. If you do sit next to a Haredi member of the opposite sex, they may move to a different seat or else stand.

An advantage of intercity Haredi routes is that they typically make many stops in each city's Haredi neighborhoods, rather than just the central bus station. This often saves a local bus ride at the end of trip, especially useful very late at night when local buses have stopped operating, but it makes the routes slower. A disadvantage is that they often operate less frequently, so check the schedule first. They often operate at times other buses do not, especially early morning and late at night.

Haredi-oriented routes can often be identified by their terminus. For example, most intercity Haredi routes in Jerusalem begin and end their route at Har Hotzvim/Atirot Mada rather than the Central Bus Station.

Stay safe [ edit ]

City buses and bus stops were frequently the targets of suicide bombers in the 1990s and early 2000s. Though this hasn't happened in many years now, it is still a risk one should be aware of. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, or discover an unattended object, immediately notify the driver, a soldier, or a police officer. If you can, avoid standing in large crowds of people in order to further minimize any risk.

Buses that travel into the West Bank are often armored to protect against shooting or rock-throwing attacks.

If you're waiting at a bus stop with multiple routes, stick out a hand/finger (also the Israeli hitchhiking sign) to flag down the driver as the bus approaches. If the driver doesn't realize you're waiting for that particular bus, you may get passed by completely. Do not wave, some drivers think that means you don't want that particular bus. If there's a large crowd to get on the bus, don't be afraid to assert yourself firmly (but not impolitely) when people try to push ahead of you.

If you want the driver to tell you your stop, it is best to be clear about it. If you just tell the driver where you want to go, he may ask you at the following stop why you didn't get off. Also, he might forget, so it is often better to ask the passengers.

While Israeli manners may be rougher than in some other countries, they are also more likely to actually help you, with several people debating the best route for you.

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A Comprehensive Guide to Transportation in Israel

• December 17, 2023

Welcome to Israel! To ensure a seamless journey, here’s all you need to know about transportation and staying away from any unexpected costs. This guide will take you through public transportation payments and navigation, Taxies, basics of car rental, navigating the roads and streets in Israel, parking and bike rentals. Stay seated and enjoy the ride!

Public Transportation

Generally, public transportation in Israel is notably cost-effective compared to Europe, and it often boasts reasonable frequency in various locales. Explore our guide to discover the best ways to maximize your experience with public transportation in Israel.

Types of public transportation

• Buses : Extensive network covering cities and towns.
• Trains : Connects major cities efficiently.
• Light Rail : Available in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
• Metronit : is a bus rapid transit system (designed to offer fast, efficient, and comfortable service similar to light rail or metro systems) in the Haifa area.
• Haifa’s Cable Car : connects the bay area with the Technion and Haifa university.

Paying for transportation with an app

• Bus: Look for the QR code next to the doors or inside the bus and scan with the app.
• Light rail: Start a new ride, choose light rail and start the ride.
• Train: Start a new ride and pick a station. You will get a QR code that you scan when going through the gate at the station. When you get off the train you end the ride and get a new QR code to scan at the exit as you pass through the gate.

Moovit is a popular public transportation app with over 80 million users in over 3,400 cities around the world, including Israel. It provides real-time information about bus, train, and light rail schedules in Israel, as well as other features such as:

• Live directions with Get Off Notifications: Moovit will tell you exactly when and where to get off the bus, train, or light rail so you don’t miss your stop.
• Trip planning: Moovit can help you plan your trip by showing you the best route and how long it will take.
• Multimodal trip planning: Moovit can help you plan trips that combine multiple modes of transport, such as buses, trains, and light rail.
• Fare information: Moovit can show you the fares for different modes of transport in Israel.
• Saved places: You can save your favorite places to Moovit so you can easily find directions to them later.
• Service alerts: Moovit will notify you of any service disruptions so you can be prepared.
• Accessibility information: Moovit provides information about the accessibility of different modes of transport in Israel.

Moovit is a great way to get around Israel if you are using public transportation. It is easy to use and has a lot of useful features. Here are some additional tips for using Moovit in Israel:

• Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (you need to have a data package plan from your cell phone provider) when you are using Moovit.
• Enable location services on your phone so that Moovit can show you your real-time location. Check for service alerts before you start your trip so you are aware of any disruptions.
• You pay the best rate with the app – at the end of the month the app will calculate the best tickets to purchase to get the lowest cost based on the different daily/weekly pass available.
• Beware traveling time may be slightly off, so don’t plan last minute, always allow extra time.

Moovit App on Google Play Moovit App on the App Store

The HopOn app is a popular tourist app that offers hop-on, hop-off bus tours in Israel. With HopOn, you can explore major cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa at your own pace, getting on and off the bus at designated stops whenever you want. Here are some of the things you can do with the HopOn app in Israel:

• Purchase tickets: Buy tickets for HopOn tours directly through the app. Plan your route: View the tour map and plan your stops using the app’s interactive features.
• Track your bus: See the real-time location of your HopOn bus and estimated arrival times at stops.
• Access audio commentary: Listen to informative audio commentary in multiple languages while you’re on the bus.
• Get discounts and promotions: Enjoy exclusive discounts and promotions offered through the HopOn app.
• Charge the Rav Kav card if you have an NFC chip in your phone.

HopOn app on Google Play HopOn App on the App Store

There are other apps for paying on public transportation but these are the 2 most popular and recommended ones

Spotting a taxi in Israel is relatively easy, as they are readily available in most parts of the country, especially in urban areas. Taxis will have a yellow cap on the roof of the car reading taxi מונית Always ensure the taxi has a meter and that it is used during your journey. Negotiate the fare in advance if the taxi doesn’t have a meter. Unfortunately, taxi scams are not unheard of in Israel. Be sure to use a reputable taxi company, negotiate the fare clearly, or use an app for ordering a taxi. That way all the tracking including distance, time of travel and payment are through the app.

Gett and Yango

• Fare estimates: The apps provides upfront fare estimates so you know how much your ride will cost before you book it.
• Multiple payment options: You can pay for your ride with cash, credit card, or through the app’s wallet.
• Driver ratings and reviews: See ratings and reviews from other passengers to help you choose the best driver.
• Real-time tracking: Track your driver’s location in real time and see their estimated arrival time.
• Ride history: View your past rides and receipts.

Car Rentals

Renting a car can be a convenient way to explore Israel and its many tourist attractions.

Here are some essential things to know about car rentals in Israel as a tourist:

• Book in advance: Especially during peak seasons, securing a rental car in advance is crucial to ensure availability and potentially better rates.
• Compare prices: Explore different rental companies to compare prices and find the most suitable option for your budget and needs.
• Understand insurance options: Car rental companies in Israel offer various insurance options. Carefully review the coverage provided by each option and choose the one that best suits your needs.
• Parking: Be aware of parking regulations in cities. If you get a parking ticket, car companies will charge a service fee as well.
• Toll Roads: Be aware of toll roads, Route 6 and Route 6 North, car companies tend to charge an additional service fee if you travel on toll roads.

Renting a bike in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv can be a fantastic way to explore these vibrant cities for several reasons:

• Efficient City Exploration: Biking allows you to navigate through city streets efficiently, easily reaching popular attractions, markets, and cultural sites.
• Eco-Friendly Travel: Biking is an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, contributing to sustainable and green tourism.
• Local Experience: Riding a bike immerses you in the local atmosphere, letting you experience the city from a unique perspective and interact with locals.
• Traffic Avoidance: In congested city centers, bikes can often maneuver through traffic more easily than cars, helping you avoid delays.

Metrofun and Jerufun

Here are some things to know about renting a bike from Metrofun or Jerufun:

• How to rent a bike: To rent a bike, you will need to download the Metrofun or Jerufun app and create an account. You can then find a bike station near you and scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it.
• Returning a bike: To return a bike, simply find a bike station near you and dock the bike in an empty slot. There will be a green light if the bike is docked correctly.
• Helmet: Helmets are not required by law in Israel, but Metrofun recommends that you wear one. The bikes have Helmets that can be released through the app.
• Stations: the apps and websites have a full list and maps of all the stations you can rent a bike from.

Cost: if you don’t get a subscription plan you will pay for unlocking the bike and by the minute. The price may change between the different cities, the type of bike you rent (regular or electric) and on weekends. Weekends are from Friday / holiday eve at 14:00 until Saturday/end of the holiday at 19:00

Jerufun App on Google Paly Jerufun App on the App Store

Metrofun App on Google Play Metrofun App on the App Store

There are many other options to rent a bike in Israel but they are private places and not available to rent off the street at any time of the day.

Traffic and Parking

• User-Powered Traffic Updates: Waze relies on a community of users to report and update real-time traffic conditions, accidents, and road closures.
• Dynamic Route Optimization: Waze dynamically adjusts your route based on real-time traffic data, ensuring you reach your destination efficiently. It provides alternate routes to help you avoid traffic jams and delays.
• Points of Interest: Discover nearby points of interest, including gas stations, restaurants, and attractions.
• Voice-Guided Navigation: Enjoy turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation for a hands-free and safe driving experience. Choose from various voices, including celebrity options.
• Parking Assistance: Find parking spots with ease and get information on parking availability and prices in some areas.
• Offline Maps: Download maps for offline use, ensuring navigation even in areas with limited connectivity.
• Community Engagement: Waze encourages community interaction with features like reporting accidents, hazards, and police presence.
• Safety Alerts: Receive alerts about potential safety hazards, speed traps, and road conditions, enhancing your awareness.

Waze App on Google Play Waze App on the App Store

Key Features of the Pango App: Parking

• Pay for parking: Easily pay for street parking, parking lots, and parking garages throughout Israel.
• Extend parking sessions remotely: No need to rush back to your car; extend your parking session from anywhere using the app.
• Receive parking reminders: Set reminders to avoid parking tickets. Manage multiple vehicles: Link multiple vehicles to your Pango account for convenient parking management.

Fuel Payments Pay for fuel at Sonol stations: Make contactless fuel payments at Sonol gas stations.

Electric charging If you have an electric vehicle you can pay at the chagrin stations through the app.

Toll Road Payments: Pay for toll road passages: Settle toll road fees directly. Car rental companies will charge a service fee if you travel on toll roads with out paying.

• Purchase bus tickets: Buy bus tickets within the app for seamless travel on Israeli buses.
• Plan your journey: Use the app’s integrated journey planner to find the best route and schedules for your public transportation needs.
• Real-time bus tracking: Track your bus’s location and estimated arrival time in real-time.

Pango App on Google Play Pango App on the App Store

Some of the functions may be available only with a payment plan – basic parking functions are all in the free plan

Key Features Transportation:

• Parking management: Find and pay for parking spaces, extend parking sessions remotely, receive parking reminders, and manage multiple vehicles.
• Ridesharing services: Book taxis, private drivers, and ride-sharing options with major providers like Gett and Yango through the Cello app.
• Public transportation: Plan journeys, track bus routes and real-time arrival times, and purchase bus tickets directly through the app.

Cello App on Google Play Cello App on the App Store

Google Maps

Google Maps on Google Play Google Maps on the App Store

Israel offers a variety of transportation options to suit different needs and budgets. By following these tips and using the available resources, you can navigate the country efficiently and enjoy a hassle-free travel experience.

Enjoy the ride!

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THE 10 BEST Israel Bus Tours

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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Jerusalem

2. Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Jerusalem

3. Galilee Day Tour

4. From Tel Aviv: Masada, Ein Gedi and Dead Sea

5. Masada, Ein Gedi, and The Dead Sea from Tel Aviv

6. Old and New Jerusalem Full-Day Tour

7. Old and New Jerusalem Day Trip from Tel Aviv

8. Private Full Day Tour to Bethlehem and Jerusalem From Tel Aviv

9. 7-Night Israel Highlights and Bibleland Tour

10. Travel To Bethlehem, Jericho & Jordan River - Group Guided Tour from Jerusalem

11. Day Trip: Masada Sunrise, Ein Gedi, and Dead Sea from Tel Aviv

12. Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Jerusalem

13. Masada, Ein Gedi and The Dead Sea from Jerusalem

14. 3-Day Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Jerusalem

15. Gaza Border Tour to Sderot and Nova Music Festival

16. Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv

17. Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee Day Trip from Tel Aviv

18. Old Jerusalem Full-Day Tour

19. Jerusalem Guided Tour from Tel Aviv

20. Caeserea, Rosh Hanikra and Acre Day Trip from Tel Aviv

21. Unforgettable Tour to Caesarea, Haifa, Acre and Rosh HaNikra from Tel Aviv

22. Jerusalem Boutique Tour from Tel Aviv

23. Bethlehem, Jericho, and Qasr El Yahud Day Trip from Tel Aviv

24. Dead Sea, Masada and Ein Gedi Day Tour from Tel Aviv

25. Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip from Tel Aviv

26. Tour to Bethlehem, Jordan River, Dead Sea Mini Group. Up to 6 pax

27. 4-Night Jordan Wonders Amman Hotel:Petra,Wadi Rum,Aqaba& Dead Sea

28. Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains

29. Dead Sea, Masada at Sunrise and Ein Gedi Tour from Jerusalem

30. Jerusalem Half Day Tour: Holy Sepulchre and Western Wall

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Transportation in Israel

Israel’s transportation options range from trains, planes, and automobiles, to buses, bikes, and guided tours. On arrival at Ben Gurion, you can arrange a convenient airport transfer. There is an extensive, budget-friendly bus service, and a limited train system. Israel’s public transportation system uses a smart travel card (RavKav) and you cannot pay cash on Israeli buses. On national holidays, and Shabbat public transportation in Israel virtually shuts down. 

Renting a car in Israel is great for traveling between cities, but petrol is pricey, and you should try to avoid large cities where traffic is heavy and parking scarce. Jerusalem’s Light Rail runs past most major attractions and domestic flights connect Tel Aviv to Eilat. Taxis are convenient, and not too expensive unless you’re traveling at night, on Shabbat, or on a public holiday. Private shared mini-van taxis (sherut) are budget-friendly. They run on a set route stopping to pick people up along the way. Private transfers will take you wherever you need to go. One of the best ways to see Israel’s cities is on foot or by renting a bicycle.

Your best option for getting around is to use several forms of transport in Israel combined with guided tours to some of the more remote destinations like Masada, and difficult to reach places like Bethlehem and Jericho.

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• Take advantage of the personal headsets that enable you to listen to explanations in 8 languages: Hebrew , Arabic, English, French , German, Russian , Italian and Spanish.
• On Fridays, the first bus leaves the Central Bus Station at 09:00, there is another bus at 11:30 and the last bus before Shabbat , leaves the CBS  at 13:30.
• Tickets can be bought from the bus driver or at your hotel
• When touring Israel in the summer , always make sure you have drinking water with you.  Summer’s are hot and it is easy to dehydrate .

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Israel Tours & Trips from Tel Aviv

Find your perfect adventure! We have 141 tours of Israel that start in Tel Aviv, Israel. The most popular month is September, and tour lengths range between 3 and 15 days.

141 Israel tour packages from Tel Aviv with 759 reviews

• In-depth Cultural

Past to the Future - The Story of the Israeli State - 11 days

I thoroughly enjoyed the Past to the Future - The Story of the Israeli State tour with Consolidated Tour Operators, Boaz, our tour guide, had a deep understanding of the history of the area, which made the experience come alive. The way he presented the places he took us, and in the order he presented them, gave us a real appreciation of Israel and its place in history. His attention to detail, easy-going personality, and expertise gave us an on parallel tour! Using Consolidated Tour Operators for our days in Israel was a treat. Not having to deal with or wait for strangers in a larger group also made the experience more personal. Will definitely recommend Consolidated Tour Operators and Boaz to friends and associates who are planning a trip to Israel! Many thanks, Lisa

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year

Jewish Israel Tour Package, 8 Days

excellently organized, guides very knowledgeable and approachable, accommodation very good and tour very good value.

Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Dead Sea 4-Day Excursion

The tour was amazing! Masada sunrise - Ein Gedi - the Dead Sea - a wonderful mix of mountain hiking (not easy, but such a satisfaction from a successful ascent!), walking in the park and then relaxing in the Dead Sea. Jerusalem - history and modernity - it was interesting to see two sides of this city. And a cherry on the cake - a Tel Aviv bike tour - it was fantastic! Architecture, parks, history and especially the promenade - I enjoyed it so much! And also a complete delight from the hostel! There is a lovely lounge where a lot of events, nice bar and rooftop for guests to relax. Stunning atmosphere! The staff is friendly and professional - any help at any time. Thank you all, guys, you are amazing!

8 Days Highlights of Israel

Amazing trip, exceeded our expectations. Guide and driver did a great job.

Jewish Israel Tour Package, 5 Days

We love the entire trip and were happy to cover most of the places in Israel and also some places which were not in the original itinerary. The Guides and drivers were very pleasant throughout the day and ready to help if needed.

Discover Israel

Informative and interesting historical and biblical sites. Accommodations and food were very good and guides and drivers were friendly. Only real glitch was pairing English speaking and Spanish speaking tourists together. Lead tour guide had to repeat everything in both languages. Both sets of tourists were frustrated as it slowed things down. Queue line control at the church of the holy sepulcher was lousy, allowing people to cut lines; and at one point the line didn’t move at all from 3:00 until 4:15. By 5:00, they rushed everyone through — if they maintained flow speed throughout the day instead of just at the end and had more queue line discipline, people could get through faster and suffer less frustration. Jordan river— site near Jericho had putrid looking water; should use a site closer to the Sea of Galilee where the water is cleaner. Dead Sea was disappointing— staff would not allow people to swim or float — only wading.

• Coach / Bus

Heritage & Holy Land - 8 days

Everything is great I had an amazing time. Thanks be to God. And thank you, tour radar. Thanks also to CTO and our tour guide Joseph. He is the best. I can’t say anything more.

The Story of the Israeli State - 10 Days

My husband and I had never been to Israel and booked this tour as a “bucket-list” event. Our tour guide, Efraim Native, was the best - he was a history professor, knew philosophy, religion, politics, economics, abd engineering - answering every question we had. He was friendly, helpful and made excellent food recommendations. Our tour covered Tel Aviv (our new favorite city), Haifa, the Golan (do not miss the Hula Nature Preserve), and Jerusalem (Old and New). We added the Masada/Dead Sea tour at the end. Finally, we chose the 5-Star hotel option and stayed in true luxurious accommodations). We will use Tour Radar and Click Tours again!

Heritage & Holy Land 5 star - 8 days

Heritage of the Holy Land

Thoroughly recommend this tour. The itinerary covered everything we wanted to see. All the arrangements worked ike clockwork, our guide was absolutely fantastic! Only criticism would be the choice of hotels, the food was buffet style, never hot and finished by 7.30 to 8 so very early nights. Not really 4 star. But that’s only a minor point, overall it was one of the best holidays I have had. Thank you Tourrader!

Tailor-Made Private Israel Tour with Daily Departure

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Jewish Israel Tour Package, 4 Days

This was one of the best tours ever!! All excursions were explained to us by our tour guides. Our favorite stops were the Masada fortress and the sacred Western Wall. Will definitely recommend this tour to my friends and relatives! Very enjoyable tour.

The best of Israel in 4 days

The tour was amazing! All of the guides spoke fluent english and were very knowledgeable. All transportation was early and provided excellent guidance. I will definitely use TourRadar again.

Israel - Holy Land Tour

Classical Israel Tour Package, 7 Days

The tour guides Yoav, Haya, and Moshe were fantastic and so full of local knowledge and the drivers were so helpful and considerate. the hotel accommodation and coach were all first class. The only downside was the fact that the lunch wasn't covered.

What people love about Israel Tours from Tel Aviv

Tours starting from tel aviv.

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• Family from Tel Aviv (133)
• In-depth Cultural from Tel Aviv (113)
• Explorer from Tel Aviv (38)
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• Israel Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

To learn more about the guidelines about travel to Israel - click here

TOURIST INFO

When you travel, part of the fun is discovering new things. However, it always helps to get the inside scoop on how to get things done quickly and easily. Below are some tips and tourist information to get your trip off on the right foot!

Is Tel Aviv Gay Friendly?

Tel Aviv is known for it's gay friendly atmosphere and there is no shortage of attractions specifically for the gay community. From the awesome parties at amazing clubs and bars to the sunny chilled beaches, the gay scene in the city is hot, wild and like the city itself - definitely non stop

Since Israel is a major global tourist destination, direct flights are available from most major US and European cities. Connecting flights can be found from all major hubs.

Electricity

Electrical current in Israel is 220 volts AC, single phase, 50 Hertz. The electric outlets used are types H and C. Most H outlets can also accept type C European two-pronged plugs.

Value-added tax refunds

Foreign tourists may request VAT refunds on purchase made during their visits. Be sure to keep your receipts. More information about VAT refunds can be found  here .

Currency exchange

The local currency is the shekel, and there are plenty of places to change money at the airport throughout the city. When you exchange currency, make sure you are getting a realistic rate. You can check on the official exchange rate  here:  To find the change spot nearest you:  Click Here  Most businesses do not accept foreign currency, so we recommend that you buy shekels. You can also pay almost everywhere with international credit cards. To check the cost of things compared to the cost at home, you can do quick conversions  here:

Getting from the airport to Tel Aviv

Never fear. Getting from the airport to Tel Aviv is simple and there are several options:

•  By bus  – El AL Junction: Kavim 475 & 500, Egged 268. Service: Egged every 2-3 hours. Fare: Kavim – NIS 12.60 NIS, Egged – NIS 14.70

•  By train  – There is a train station at the airport and there are four stations in Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv Central Station, Ha’hagana, Ha’Shalom and University. Trains run every 20-30 minutes. Check with your hotel to see which station is best. Fare: about NIS 10.50.

•  By taxi  – If going by regular taxi, be sure to follow the signs and catch a cab from the official taxi stand only. Here the dispatcher can tell you the price upfront.

To help you get oriented with the layout of the city, here you can find a  map of Tel Aviv .

Getting around town

Tel Aviv has lots of options for moving about the city. For those of you who like public transportation, two bus companies operate in Tel Aviv:  Egged  and  Dan  . Both websites provide information on fares, lines and timetables. The bus drivers do not automatically stop at each bus stop, so it’s important for you to let them know when you want to get off.

Another option is renting a bike or even electric bike to ride around the city. One place to do that is Pole Position, located at 13 Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv. Phone: 03-5252134. Click here to visit their  website . Another option is  Tel-O-Fun .

Just remember that when the temperatures climb, you may find it difficult to ride around the city. Be sure to take a big bottle of water with you!

Need to take a longer trip? Try the train – you can find information about tickets, timetables and rates on the  Israel Railways website .

And like in any big city, you can always hail a cab. Here in Israel, taxis have two sets of rates – a day rate and a night rate that is higher. And if you have any issues with the driver, their name and number appear on a plate positioned on the side.

The weather

The weather in Israel is one of its strongest selling points. Here’s what you can expect as the summer approaches. In May, expect temperatures of 25°C-29°C during the day and 17°C-20°C at night. In June – 29°C-31°C during the day and 20°C-23°C at night. You can find detailed information about average weather conditions  here .

When you’re out and about in the sun all day, don’t forget to drink lots of water.

useful numbers

The following are some useful numbers that are always good to have on hand.

Ben-Gurion International Airport: 03-9754260

Tel Aviv Tourist Information Office: Tel Aviv Promenade, 46 Herbert Samuel Street. Tel: 03-5166188

Jaffa Clock Tower Tourist Information Center: 2 Marzuk VeAzar St. (near the Clock Tower)

Tel Aviv Tourism Info   website

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