subject: Getting Around Israel [print this page] Getting Around Israel Getting Around Israel
Israel's main international hub is Ben Gurion International Airport. As Israel is surrounded by Arab territory, it may make it complicated for many people to enter Israel by ground transportation through one of the surrounding countries. Thus, most tourists enter Israel by plane at Ben Gurion Airport which is an easy transfer to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. As expected, security procedures at the Israeli airport are much more intense than you would encounter in most other airports. The security level is always high and therefore arrivals and departures out of Ben Gurion airport can be time consuming. Keep in mind that the Israeli inquisition is for everyone's benefit, so be patient and cooperative. If you would like to expedite your arrival or departure, there are several ways to pay forVIP services at Ben Gurion airport. If time is money, take advantage of the VIP treatment to breeze through airport security and passport control and be escorted to an airport limo service.
Once you have arrived safely at your hotel or holiday apartment, there are several ways to get around and explore the cities. Public transportation within the larger and more popular cities (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa) is widely available. City busses are well marked and run throughout the day. Sheruts (shared taxis) are big yellow vans that hold 12 passengers and cost around the same as a one-trip bus ticket. They have predetermined routes but will stop anywhere along the route to pick up or drop off passengers. Taxis are everywhere and easy to come by. The meter starts at almost 12 shekels and will increase by time and distance. Be aware of where you are going so that the taxi driver does not take you on the long route and rip you off!
Traveling between cities is relatively easy to do as well. Buses and trains are easy options. Schedules are available at the bus/train stations as well as usually online.
One thing to keep in mind while touring Israel is the lack of public transportation on Shabbat. Public transportation will not run beginning about 2-3 hours before sundown on Friday and not ending until after sundown on Saturday. This can make traveling on weekends difficult and stressful. To avoid getting stuck, you can rent a car. Keep in mind that Israeli's are known to be crazy drivers though! Another option is booking private car services in Israel to take you from site to site. While this may cost a little bit more than public transportation, it will definitely save you time and energy.
