Transportation in Jerusalem

Transportation in Jerusalem

If you’re planning a trip to Jerusalem in the near future, there are many options of getting around during your stay. Read on to discover your options and decide what works best for you and your family!

Car Rental

If you feel confident enough to drive in Israel, there are plenty of car rental companies to choose from. Make sure to bring your passports to the car rental office and always get insurance! Check out the following reputable companies:

Taxis

Gett - If you don’t have a car, but still want to get around without using the buses, Gett offers you a way to hail a taxi from your cell phone. You can hook it up to your credit card or you can pay in cash.The app also works with foreign credit cards, so if you’re on a visit you don’t need to worry about having the right change. We’d recommend that you put in your destination when hailing the taxi, as you’ll see a route mapped by the app, so you’ll know if your driver is literally taking you round the houses to get to your destination.

Gett also offers a number of specialised services:
• Gett Mehadrin - This will only offer you a ride from drivers that don’t work on Shabbat
• Gett Kids - This will only offer you a ride from a driver with a booster seat for children aged 3-8, so no need to worry about schlepping it round with you all day!
• Fixed price intercity rides - Enter a destination in a different city and the app will give you a fixed price quote to get there.
*Please note that depending on the time of day, taxi drivers can charge you for ordering through the app. The app will tell you when those fees apply. The driver should charge by the meter when you are riding in the cab, unless you’re on a fixed fare intercity trip.

Busses, Trains, and the Light Rail

Israel is truly the land of public transportation. Busses, trains, and the Light Rail are pretty much running around the clock. 

The Light Rail is a fantastic means of transportation within the city, from Pisgat Ze’ev to Har Hertzel and everywhere in between. Check out the Light Rail’s website at https://www.cfir.co.il/ to find directions for your trip and to order tickets ahead of time. Otherwise, tickets can be purchased at any Light Rail Station.

Busses are another great means of transportation both within the city and to another city. Check out Egged’s website to plan your trip: https://www.egged.co.il/homepage.aspx. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Central Bus Station. You will need a Rav Kav card to board the bus, which can be found at most Makolets around the city. You are not able to pay for the ticket on the bus without a Rav Kav.

Moovit is a handy little app for public transportation which tells you the exact bus lines you need and where the bus stops are located. It works like Waze, but for public transport, and since it has users on the buses themselves, it’s often pretty good at telling you when the next bus is actually going to arrive.

The high-speed train leaving from the new station across from the Central Bus Station is the fastest way to get from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv or the airport. Visit https://www.rail.co.il/en to plan your journey and buy tickets.

Parking

Pango- This is a great app that doesn’t seem to exist at scale outside of Israel (that we are aware of, anyways). Pango allows you to park without needing to carry a bunch of change for the parking meters. Just set up your credit card details and your license plate on the app, and you’re ready to go (well, park)!

Look out for the yellow and blue parking signs which indicate the zones and times you will need to activate Pango. The app charges per minute, and will automatically turn off when the parking restrictions end. Very importantly, the app will keep going until you turn it off, but there is a mode to automatically stop when it detects the car moving again - just be aware that you might end up paying more if you forget to turn it off!

**Please note that paid parking areas are indicated by the yellow and blue signs, as well as by blue and white paint on the curb. Areas where there are no signs, and the curb is grey (not painted), indicates a free parking zone.

Any areas with curbs which are painted red are strict no-parking zones. Also make sure to keep an eye out for signs that indicate parking for vehicles with stickers only- these are not paid parking spaces and you can be sure to receive a ticket if you park there without the proper stickers. 

Airport Transfers

Bus Service - There’s a relatively new bus service that goes to and from the airport to a couple of stops in Jerusalem. Short of getting a free ride off of a friend, this is one of the cheapest ways to get between Jerusalem and the airport. The bus runs 24 hours a day on the hour and for 6 days a week (excluding Shabbat) and will go to the Central Bus Station amongst other stops. Check the schedule for more information.

Nesher - The classic shared taxi is the way that many of us get to and from the airport. Famed for their legendarily grumpy customer service and their long winding pick up routes, this is cheaper than a taxi and they will pick/drop you and your suitcase up at your door. Call them a few days before your flight at +972-2-625-7227.

Taxis - A taxi service may be arranged prior to your arrival/departure as well as at the airport itself, with set prices per city. Look out for the taxi stands or for the cab drivers who will undoubtedly ask you if you need a ride, but make sure to ask the driver for the price list to make sure you aren’t getting ripped off.

VIP Car Service - A private car service may be arranged ahead of time. Please contact us for more information.

Israel Railways - The new, high-speed train leaving from the station across from the Central Bus Station. Visit https://www.rail.co.il/en to plan your journey and buy tickets.