How to Get Around Israel
Israel is a easy country to navigate. It's easily explored on a road trip and has an affordable and efficient public transport system. Read our in-depth guide on getting around Israel by car, train, bus, taxi, plane, sherut, or with a tour.
Israel is one of the most incredible countries we've ever visited. It's also a country where it is very easy to get around, which is something first-time visitors to Israel always appreciate.
One of the first things you need to figure out once you start planning your itinerary and connecting the dots on the map is how to get around Israel.
Fortunately, Israel is very compact, and it's easy to get around the country regardless of your preferred mode of transportation.
Whether you decide to rent a car, use public transport, or take a tour, we've got you covered.
While we believe having a car is the best way to travel around country, it heavily depends on your Israel itinerary.
If you decide to stay mostly in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and travel only around the Mediterranean coast, you might not need to rent a car at all.
Unlike some other countries in the world, Israel has a pretty good network of public transport.
Of course, exploring places such as Nimrod Castle, the Sea of Galilee, or even the Dead Sea by using public transport will be time-consuming and not very enjoyable.
Therefore, we believe that the combination of renting a car and using public transport is a smart approach.
Ways to Get Around Israel
On paper, everything seems easy enough, but how is the reality? To give you a good example of what traveling around Israel might look like, here's what we did.
We landed at Ben Gurion Airport and took the bus to Tel Aviv from there.
The bus stop was directly in front of the hostel we stayed in. Otherwise, the train might have been a faster alternative.
We stayed a few days in Tel Aviv, joined a tour to West Bank from there, and then took a train to Jerusalem.
It usually makes more sense to take the tour from Jerusalem, but it was on Shabbat, so we decided to visit this area from there. But back to the point.
So far, we didn't need a car as the public transport was more than good enough.
And after experiencing traffic in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem later on, we were quite glad that we didn't have to drive there every day.
On the last day in Jerusalem, we rented the car there and started exploring the country beyond these two hectic cities.
We then explored the Mediterranean coast, Golan Heights, Galilee, the Dead Sea, and Negev Desert and then drove back to Tel Aviv, where we returned the car.
Later we took a taxi to get to the airport and flew back home.
While every itinerary is specific, our approach can give you a rough idea of how to plan your trip around Israel.
Car
We knew we would rent a car in Israel right from the start. We had such a positive experience last year on our Jordan road trip that we couldn't choose otherwise.
Visiting a destination in a short time can be challenging, especially if you want to explore the top attractions scattered across the countryside.
Having your own transport will allow you to visit as many places as possible in a short time to get the most out of your trip.
And after we spent two weeks in the country, we believe that it was the best decision we could make.
In general, driving in Israel is very easy, probably even more straightforward than we had expected.
The roads are in good condition, and the signage is not only in Hebrew and Arabic but also in English.
The only two downsides of driving in Israel are finding parking in large cities and traffic jams, especially in places such as Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
However, the first problem can be fairly easily avoided by doing research and finding parking before your trip or using the Pango app.
If you want to leave your car in the city center, be prepared that it can get expensive, and it can be difficult to find there an empty space.
If you decide to stay in the city overnight, there is nothing easier than to book your accommodation with private parking.
The other problem can be avoided by having a car only for the countryside and following in our footsteps.
It's true, you really don't need your own transport for Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, even if you decide to travel between the cities.
Rent a Car in Israel
As usual, our trip was quite spontaneous, so we didn't have a set itinerary and planned things as they came.
Therefore, we rented the car directly from the office in Jerusalem. Keep in mind that it was a specific situation, and we still checked the availability online.
Otherwise, this is not the best approach if you want to save money or secure a car during the peak season.
Trusted and reliable companies such as Avid, Budget, Hertz, or Sixt operate in Israel.
Here you can find the best deals on rental cars in Israel.
Don't forget that the most popular and best GPS navigation app in Israel is Waze.
It's not surprising as Israelis developed the app and proudly use it daily. If you're not a fan of Waze's interface, Google Maps work here just fine.
Public Transport
Even though we've mentioned that public transport in Israel is good, there is one thing you need to understand before you get all excited.
First and foremost, it's aimed at the locals and not tourists.
While it might seem obvious, it's good to know that some areas are impossible to reach by train and some really hard to reach by bus.
Getting between cities by bus or train is often easy, but it's far more difficult to visit some of the top attractions outside them.
For example, you can get to Beit Shean in Lower Galilee by train.
From here, you can get to Beit Alfa by bus and then to Mount Tabor, and eventually end your day in Nazareth.
While you can easily make this relatively short trip with a car, it will be a different story when using public transport. It's not that it's impossible.
It just usually requires too much planning and a lot of time.
Sometimes, you would need to split your journey even into more days to be able to see as many places as you would otherwise with a car.
So the conclusion is that while you can get around Israel without a car, we believe it's often worth renting one, even if just for a few days or even if you visit Israel on a budget.
Rav Kav Card
There are a few more essential things you should know about public transport in Israel. Firstly, you should get a Rav Kav when using public transport.
Rav Kav is a contactless card for making payments for public transportation in Israel.
Moreover, you can't use paper tickets for buses in Israel anymore, so you will probably need them either way.
It can also be used on the national railway, Jerusalem Light Rail, and all buses in the country.
It can be recharged by automatic machines at some stops, stores, or through a smartphone. Keep in mind that Rav Kav is not free and costs 5 NIS.
Moovit App
Secondly, the Israeli Moovit is an app that provides real-time information on public transport.
Therefore, it will often be one of your best friends while in the country if you want to get around by train or bus.
Moreover, you can even use Moovit to pay for your rides.
Shabbat
Another essential thing to consider is that public transport doesn't run on Shabbat in Israel.
And for tourists, this is one of the most significant inconveniences when visiting Israel. Shabbat starts on Friday after the sunset and ends on Saturday after the dusk as well.
It's crucial to make your plans in advance, especially if you don't have a car.
Lately, there might be a bus service running even on Shabbat in Tel Aviv, but that's just the exception that proves the rule.
Trains don't run on Shabbat in Israel at all. Read this guide if you want to learn more about Shabbat and the best time to visit Israel.
Sheruts still run on Shabbats, but be prepared to pay a bit extra for the service. Alternatively, you can use taxis or your own car.
Luckily, national parks, nature reserves, and similar places such as Hermon Stream, Ein Gedi, or Tzipori are open even on Shabbat.
By the way, don't forget to bring your Israel Pass with you.
Train
In our opinion, trains are one of the best ways to get around Israel, especially if you want to use only public transport on your trip.
Israel Railways offers good, reliable, and fast service for affordable prices.
We especially enjoyed the fast and modern train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and we believe it's the best way to travel between these cities.
If you've just arrived in Israel and looking for the best way to get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, using a train is probably your safest bet.
Moreover, trains connect nicely almost the entire stretch of the Mediterranean coast, making traveling around this area easier than ever.
Therefore, we would probably use trains when traveling between places and cities such as Akko, Haifa, Caesarea, Tel Aviv, or Ashkelon.
The trains also serve Beer Sheva and other inland towns.
The only downside is that the trains, unlike the buses, don't cover the entire area of Israel. Also, some train stations are not located in the city centers.
Bus
Even though we prefer traveling by trains in Israel, many areas can be reached only by bus when using public transport.
Buses in Israel are fairly cheap, reliable, and safe.
As mentioned above, they connect even remote areas with large cities as they cover the most extensive network of routes.
Therefore, traveling by bus is arguably one of the best ways to get around the country.
Currently, the largest bus company is Egged, which has mostly intercity routes in Israel.
Still, relying on getting around Israel solely by bus is not the best approach if you're short on time.
The bus schedules are created for locals, making getting from point A to point B often complicated and not time-efficient, especially if you need to take two or three buses.
By the way, Haifa also has Metronit, a bus rapid transit system (BRT) using dedicated bus lanes to connect the city center with the suburbs.
Lately, some bus companies offer bus service even on Shabbat in Tel Aviv, though it's still not very common.
Taxi
As usual, taxis are one of the most efficient (but more expensive) ways to get around the cities in Israel.
We returned the rental car to the office in Tel Aviv on the last day of our trip, so the only thing left to do for us was to figure out how to get to the airport.
As we had a flight early in the morning, we decided to take a taxi from the hotel.
We pre-arranged the ride at the hotel's front desk to make our life easier.
Even though it was probably a bit more expensive to reserve a taxi this way, we wanted to avoid any stressful situations at 3 AM. The ride was fast, comfortable, and safe.
Otherwise, the most popular taxi app in Israel is GETT, an Israeli alternative to Uber.
It allows you to get around cities and find taxis any time of the day. Moreover, using an app is also a great way to avoid scams as it's transparent to passengers.
The situation is a bit complicated when it comes to Uber in Israel.
Firstly, Uber is still illegal in Israel though this might change someday in the future. However, Uber operates in Israel as they use licensed taxi drivers.
Of course, you can always hail a cab on the street.
Just make sure to roughly know how much the trip should cost before you go. Don't forget to ask the driver to turn on the meter or agree on a price before starting the journey.
As taxis are more expensive than public transport, try to travel in a group to share the cost of travel.
In many cases, taxis are often the best way to get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
Sherut
A shared taxi van, also known as sherut, is probably a mode of transport you wouldn't expect to find in Israel.
Still, these shared taxis that can usually seat eight to ten passengers are fairly popular across the country.
They follow fixed routes, though they usually only connect the popular ones, such as Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Nazareth, or Tiberias.
The concept of Sheruts is very easy to understand, as they leave as soon as they fill up, and you pay on board.
Sheruts leave from designated places, but you can even hail one on the street.
For obvious reasons, sheruts are way more popular among locals.
If you want to be more adventurous, then sheruts might be an interesting alternative to get around Israel, especially if you are on a loose schedule.
Flying
Quite frankly, Israel is such a small country that taking a domestic flight makes sense only in a few specific situations.
Israir and Arkia operate flights between Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa, and Eilat. El Al, the Israeli flag carrier, currently doesn't operate any domestic flights.
If you want to explore Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa and then spend a few days in Eilat lying on the beach, taking a fast flight to travel between these destinations might be a good alternative.
The flight from Ben Gurion Airport to Eilat takes about an hour, and you will avoid the monotonous drive across the Negev Desert.
However, we believe this desert area with places such as Makhtesh Ramon, Avdat, or Ein Avdat is worth visiting.
Aerial Tramways
Rakavlit, the only integrated cable car in public transport, is currently in Haifa.
It's brand new, and while it might become a tourist attraction in the future, its main purpose is to bring the students and locals from HaMifrats Central Station in the bay area to the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
The tourist cable car that will take you from the Bat Galim Promenade to Stella Maris on the top of the Carmel Mountain is a popular attraction in Haifa.
From the top, you can walk to Louis Promenade and the iconic Bahai Gardens.
Some top tourist attractions have their own cable cars, such as Masada or Rosh HaNikra.
On Foot
Whether in large cities such as Jerusalem or Tel Aviv or smaller towns such as Akko or Safed, we always tried to get everywhere on foot.
We like to stay fit while traveling, and walking is one of the best ways to achieve it. We felt very safe walking around the cities even after dark and regardless of the destination.
Still, you should know some basic rules to stay safe in Israel.
While walking around cities seems like such obvious advice, we have one more tip for you.
If long-distance trails and hiking are your things, then you should know that Israel has its own epic trail.
The 1000-kilometer Israel National Trail starts at Kibbutz Dan in the Upper Galilee and ends in Eilat on the Read Sea.
It can be done in forty to sixty days, but it's pretty challenging, and only about half of the hikers complete the trek.
The trail is well-marked and connects some of the best attractions in Israel.
If you don't have two months for trekking across Israel, then we really enjoyed shorter hikes such as Snake Path Trail and Red Canyon.
Cycling
Tel Aviv has several hundred kilometers of bike paths, making it one of the most popular ways to get around the city.
The sharing system has many stations and bicycles for rent, making it reasonably accessible even for tourists.
Renting a bike in a crowded city can be a great way to cover longer distances in a fairly short time.
Alternatively, e-scooters are very popular in Tel Aviv as well.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Light Rail
Jerusalem has a great light rail system that can make reaching some city parts very easy and time-efficient.
It's true that most of the top attractions in Jerusalem within the Old City, such as the Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or Western Wall, can be reached on foot.
It's easy even to get to the iconic Mount of Olives on foot, at least if you're staying near the city center.
Still, the Yitzhak Navon Train Station is about 2.5 kilometers from the City Hall station near the Old City, so taking a light rail from there might be a good option, especially if you have a heavy suitcase.
We also took the light rail to Mount Herzl, the nearest stop to Yad Vashem Museum.
Regardless of your plans, it's good to know that Jerusalem's Light Rail is one of the best ways to get around the city.
You can purchase the ticket directly at one of the Light Rail stops or use your Rav Kav smartcard. Just make sure you have enough credit.
Tours
If using public transport in Israel seems too confusing and driving is not an option for you, you can always consider taking a tour.
Tours are a great way to explore Israel as they usually include a local guide who will make your trip even more memorable.
And even though it's feasible to explore the entire Holy Land on your own, guided tours occasionally make sense even for people who prefer to travel independently.
For instance, we took the popular West Bank Tour from Tel Aviv on Shabbat, which was one of our trip's highlights.
Not only were we able to see multiple sites on the West Bank, but the local guide(s) really turned this trip into an unforgettable experience.
We also avoided Shabbat's restrictions by taking a tour of the West Bank on Saturday.
Moreover, there is so much history in Israel, and a knowledgeable guide can bring even the most damaged ruins back to life.
Additionally, if you decide to base yourself in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, tours will give you an excellent opportunity to explore the country.
For example, you can take Mediterranean Coast Tour from Tel Aviv or the Dead Sea Tour from Jerusalem without changing hotels daily.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
