Transportation in Israel

# Getting Around Israel Israel's transportation network is surprisingly efficient for a small country, but it comes with one major quirk: everything stops for Shabbat. From Friday evening to Saturday evening, public transport shuts down completely (except in Haifa and Arab areas), so plan accordingly or budget for taxis. The country runs on three main systems: intercity buses (Egged dominates), trains (Israel Railways connects major cities along the coast), and sheruts (shared taxis that follow bus routes but run during Shabbat). Download the Moovit app — it's the local standard for real-time schedules and works across all transport modes. From Ben Gurion Airport, you have three solid options. The train to Tel Aviv runs frequently and offers budget-friendly pricing, taking about 20 minutes to reach the city center. For Jerusalem, buses provide direct service, though the journey takes longer due to the climb into the hills. Taxis and ride-shares are available but check current rates before departing — airport taxis should use meters or agree on prices upfront. What NOT to do: don't assume you can hop on public transport late Friday or Saturday; you'll be stuck paying premium rates for private transfers. **Insider tip**: Buy a Rav-Kav card (Israel's rechargeable transit card) at any train station or many convenience stores. It works on buses and trains nationwide, offers discounted fares, and saves you from fumbling with cash. For intercity travel, trains are generally faster and more comfortable than buses along the coastal corridor, while buses are your only public option for reaching southern destinations like Eilat or exploring the West Bank.

Download the Rav-Kav card app or purchase a physical card at train stations - it works across buses, trains, and light rail throughout Israel

Sherut (shared taxis) run on Shabbat when most public transport stops - they follow bus routes and depart when full

Train service between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem runs frequently on weekdays but stops from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening for Shabbat

Use Moovit app for real-time public transport navigation - it's widely used in Israel and includes all bus, train, and light rail routes