By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
Welcome Pickups A driver meets you at arrivals and takes you door-to-door to your hotel — flight tracked, fixed price, any hour including Shabbat.
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Almost every visit to Israel begins at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), about 15 km southeast of Tel Aviv. Here are your options for the ride into town, from the cheap-and-fast train to a door-to-door private transfer.
| Option | To Tel Aviv | To Jerusalem | Shabbat? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | ~20 min, ~$5 | ~30 min, ~$5 | No |
| Private transfer | fixed price, door-to-door | fixed price, door-to-door | Yes |
| Taxi | ~$30–50 | ~$80 | Yes |
| 485 bus | — | ~1 hr, cheap | No |
| Sherut | shared, cheap | shared, cheap | Yes |
A pre-booked private transfer has a driver waiting at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and takes you straight to your hotel for a fixed, all-in price — no haggling, no luggage or night surcharges. It is the most stress-free choice after a long flight, for families, late arrivals, or Shabbat, when trains and buses stop. Book it before you fly using the options above.
Israel Railways runs from the airport to central Tel Aviv in ~20 minutes and to Jerusalem (Yitzhak Navon) in ~30 — for only a few dollars with a Rav-Kav. The catch: no service on Shabbat (Friday afternoon to Saturday night) or major holidays.
Airport taxis are metered (the rank is app-based via Gett). Sheruts are shared minibuses that run around the clock, including Shabbat. The 485 bus serves Jerusalem 24h except Shabbat. All are covered in our full transportation guide.
Sort your eSIM and travel insurance before you land, and if you are exploring beyond the cities, compare car rental. New to the country? Start with the first-time-in-Israel guide.
The train reaches central Tel Aviv in about 20 minutes for a few dollars (not on Shabbat). A taxi runs roughly 30 to 50 US dollars; a pre-booked private transfer is similar but with a fixed price, a meet-and-greet and no luggage surcharges. Sheruts (shared minibuses) run day and night.
The high-speed train to Yitzhak Navon station takes about 30 minutes (not on Shabbat). The 485 bus runs 24 hours except Shabbat. A taxi is roughly 80 US dollars; a pre-booked private transfer offers a fixed fare and a waiting driver, useful for late arrivals or families with luggage.
Yes. Trains and most buses pause from Friday afternoon to Saturday night, but private transfers, taxis, ride apps and sheruts run throughout — pre-booking a private transfer is the most reliable option for Shabbat arrivals.
A metered taxi can be cheaper for a quick Tel Aviv hop, but pre-booked private transfers fix the price up front with no surcharges for luggage, extra passengers, or night/weekend hours — often working out cheaper and stress-free for Jerusalem or late arrivals.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated