Staying connected and navigating Israel is straightforward once you have the right apps installed. Download these before you land at Ben Gurion Airport — you will want them the moment you step off the plane.
Transport apps
Moovit — public buses, light rail and trains
Moovit is the essential app for anyone using Israeli public transport. It covers every bus route, both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv light-rail lines, and Israel Railways intercity trains — with real-time arrivals and step-by-step directions in English. Google Maps is far less accurate for Israeli bus networks (route numbers and live arrivals are unreliable); Moovit is what Israeli commuters use.
Use it to plan any journey by bus or train, check live platform information, and confirm exactly where to board. It pairs well with a Rav-Kav transit card — plan the route in Moovit, pay the fare with your Rav-Kav.
Download: before you fly, while you have home Wi-Fi.
Waze — driving and navigation
Waze was founded in Israel and is still developed here, which shows: it has the most accurate local traffic data available, including real-time alerts for speed cameras, police patrols, and road incidents. For intercity driving it handles Route 6 tolls correctly (it will tell you whether a specific route uses the toll road and route around it if you prefer). For city driving in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, Waze handles the maze of one-way streets and traffic pinch-points better than competitors.
See the driving in Israel guide for parking rules, right-of-way conventions, and what to know before you get behind the wheel.
Gett — taxis (Jerusalem, Haifa, countrywide)
Gett is the dominant ride-hailing app in Israel outside Tel Aviv. It works in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva, and most other cities. Unlike flagging a metered taxi, Gett shows a fixed price before you confirm the ride, and the app is fully in English — no language barrier with the dispatcher.
Uber operates in Tel Aviv only; if you are anywhere else, Gett is your app.
For airport arrivals: pre-arranged transfers and licensed taxis from the Ben Gurion arrivals hall are reliable; see Ben Gurion airport transfers for the full breakdown of options.
Rav-Kav Online — load your transit card remotely
The Rav-Kav Online app lets you load credit onto an Israeli Rav-Kav transit card via your phone rather than queuing at a machine. This is useful for topping up mid-trip.
Honest note: some travellers report that loading credit with an international payment card on the app is unreliable — the app sometimes rejects foreign Visa/Mastercard numbers. Keep a physical Rav-Kav card (available at Ben Gurion Airport on arrival and at any train station) as your primary method, and use the app as a convenient backup if it works with your card. See the Rav-Kav guide for full buying and loading instructions.
Lime — e-scooters and e-bikes
Lime operates electric scooters and e-bikes in central Tel Aviv and central Jerusalem. Unlock with the app, ride to your destination, and park at any permitted spot. Useful for short city hops — from a café in Florentin to the beach, or from Mahane Yehuda to the Old City entrance. Check the app for current operating zones, as these change seasonally.
Parking
Pango — metered street parking
Pango is the official app for paying Israeli street parking. Blue-and-white kerb markings indicate paid parking zones. When you park:
- Note the zone number displayed on the nearest parking meter, or scan its QR code.
- Open Pango, enter the zone, and set your parking duration.
- You can extend time remotely without returning to the car.
Pango eliminates the need for coins and prevents you from being ticketed for slightly overstaying — you extend from your phone. Yellow kerb markings mean no parking at any time; red-and-white means no stopping.
Food and delivery
Wolt — food delivery
Wolt is the leading food-delivery app in Israel, operating across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and other major cities. The English interface is excellent, menus are clearly presented, and delivery times are generally 25–40 minutes. Useful for evenings in apartments or hostels, or when you want to order from a restaurant without a Hebrew menu.
Ten Bis — restaurant discovery and local vouchers
Ten Bis is a restaurant discovery platform used heavily by Israeli workers for lunch deliveries and dining-out vouchers. As a tourist, its main value is as a restaurant discovery tool — search by neighbourhood and cuisine type to find well-rated local spots that don’t always appear in English-language travel guides. The app is primarily in Hebrew, but restaurant listings include addresses and photos that are navigable without fluent reading.
Communication
WhatsApp — essential for all Israel travel
WhatsApp is not optional in Israel — it is how the country communicates. Hotels send booking confirmations via WhatsApp. Tour guides message meeting points. Guesthouses and zimmers reply to enquiries on WhatsApp first. Airbnb hosts use it. Independent taxi drivers confirm arrivals on WhatsApp.
Before you arrive: make sure WhatsApp is installed and active on the phone number you will use in Israel. If you are getting an Israeli SIM, register WhatsApp to your home number (not the Israeli number) so your contacts can still reach you.
Google Translate — camera scan for Hebrew menus
Download Google Translate with the Hebrew language pack saved offline before you fly. The camera-scan feature (point your camera at text, see the translation overlaid) is invaluable for:
- Menus without English translations (ubiquitous in local restaurants and markets)
- Street signs in areas where English is not posted
- Product labels in supermarkets
The offline Hebrew pack means this works without data — useful if you are in a less-connected area.
Your pre-flight app checklist
Download and configure these before you board, while you have home Wi-Fi:
| App | Why before you fly |
|---|---|
| Moovit | Needs an account; confirm it finds Israeli routes |
| Waze | Pre-download map data for Israel |
| Gett | Register and add a payment card |
| Pango | Register and add a payment card |
| Must be active on your number | |
| Google Translate | Download Hebrew offline pack |
| Wolt | Optional — useful from night one |
Also sort your data connection: see the Israel eSIM guide for the easiest way to get affordable 4G from the moment you land.
Apps you might already have — and how they work in Israel
- Google Maps: serviceable for walking directions, but use Moovit for transit and Waze for driving.
- Booking.com / Airbnb: work normally. Book accommodation with a flexible cancellation policy — Israel’s situation means dates occasionally need adjusting.
- GetYourGuide / Viator: both work normally for booking tours and activities.
- Apple Maps / Apple Pay: Apple Pay works at most modern Israeli terminals.
Related guides
Planning the logistics of your trip? These guides cover the underlying systems the apps connect to: