Jerusalem Light Rail Guide: How to Use the Tram as a Tourist

The Jerusalem Light Rail — known locally as the “rakevet kala” (light train) — is the backbone of public transport for tourists navigating the city. The Red Line threads the key visitor destinations from the Old City gates and markets through the city centre, connecting to Yad Vashem in the west; the newer Blue Line adds the Hebrew University campus and western residential areas; and the Green Line, now opening in stages from July 2026, extends the network south toward Malha and Gilo. For anyone visiting Jerusalem without a rental car, understanding the tram saves time and removes the uncertainty of figuring out bus routes.

The network at a glance

Jerusalem’s Light Rail has three lines, two fully operational and one now opening in stages:

• Red Line: the main tourist artery — runs from Pisgat Ze’ev in the northeast, through the city centre, past the Old City gates, and out to Herzl/Yad Vashem in the southwest. Approximately 14 km; around 23 stations.
• Blue Line (opened 2024–2025): covers the western approach — Hadassah Hospital (Ein Kerem), Hebrew University Givat Ram campus, and connecting to the main Red Line interchange. Check the latest network map at nta.co.il for the current Blue Line extent.
• Green Line (opening in stages): a separate southern network running from Malha Mall in the southwest to Gilo (19.6 km, 37 stations at full build-out). The first section — Malha to Binyanei HaUmah/Convention Centre — opened July 2026. The full line to Gilo is expected in 2027. For most tourist itineraries, the Red Line remains primary; the Green Line is useful for reaching the Malha Mall area and, when complete, the Gilo neighbourhood.

All lines use the same Rav-Kav card and the same 90-minute transfer window. The Red Line is where most visitors spend the majority of their time.

Operating hours: roughly 05:30 to midnight Sunday to Thursday, until approximately 14:00–15:00 Friday (before Shabbat), then resuming Saturday night after Shabbat ends (approximately 20:00–21:00 depending on the season). Verify at nta.co.il or the Moovit app for the current schedule.

Key tourist stops on the Red Line

Damascus Gate (Sha’ar Shkhem)

The most direct Light Rail access to the Old City from the east. Damascus Gate station brings you to the Ottoman gate at the entrance of the Muslim Quarter — the busiest and most atmospheric of the Old City’s seven gates, set in a deep plaza that is active from early morning. From here, the Christian Quarter’s key churches (Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa) are a 10–15 minute walk through the lanes.

This stop also gives you direct access to the East Jerusalem Arab market on Nablus Road, a different character from the Old City bazaar. Note that security checks occur at the gate itself during heightened periods — factor in a few extra minutes.

Jaffa Gate / City Hall (Sha’ar Yafo)

The Jaffa Gate station sits at the most tourist-accessible entrance to the Old City, immediately adjacent to the Mamilla pedestrian mall. From here:

• The Old City’s Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall are a 15–20 minute walk south through the Old City or via the Zion Gate route.
• The Mamilla area (outdoor upscale mall, hotels, restaurants) is right at the station.
• The Tower of David Museum is metres from the gate.

If you are visiting the Western Wall, the Western Wall Tunnels, or the Jewish Quarter, this is your stop.

Ben Yehuda (Kikar Tsion)

Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Street — one of Jerusalem’s main shopping and café thoroughfares — is at this central station. The area between Ben Yehuda Street and Jaffa Street is dense with cafés, bakeries, fast food and tourist shops. This is also close to the Mamilla area and the city centre hotels on King George Street.

Mahane Yehuda Market (Shuk)

Mahane Yehuda station delivers you to Jerusalem’s famous covered market — arguably the most atmospheric food market in the country. The shuk runs Monday to Thursday and Saturday afternoons (mostly closed Friday afternoon and Saturday daytime due to Shabbat at the market-stall level); by evening, the stalls give way to bars and restaurants in the same narrow lanes.

This is one of the most-visited destinations in Jerusalem. The tram is by far the easiest way to reach it from the Old City or from central Jerusalem hotels — walking is also reasonable (20–25 minutes from Jaffa Gate), but the tram is quicker. See the Jerusalem food guide for what to eat and when to go.

Mount Herzl / Yad Vashem

The western terminus of the Red Line’s tourist-relevant section. Mount Herzl station gives you access to:

• Yad Vashem — Israel’s national Holocaust memorial and museum; closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays; book timed entry online at yadvashem.org.
• Mount Herzl national cemetery — burial site of Theodor Herzl and numerous Israeli leaders; free, open daily.
• The Jerusalem Forest entrance (a starting point for several walking trails into the forested western hillside of Jerusalem).

From the city centre (Jaffa Gate area), this journey takes approximately 25 minutes by tram.

Connecting the airport and the Light Rail

The most efficient airport connection into Jerusalem:

1. Train from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem Navon station — the high-speed rail line; approximately 25–30 minutes; runs every 30 minutes on weekdays. Navon station sits underground in the western part of the city.
2. From Jerusalem Navon, the Red Line Light Rail runs eastward into the city centre (Jaffa Gate, Ben Yehuda, Mahane Yehuda) — around 10–15 minutes to the central stops.

Total airport-to-Old-City journey: approximately 45–60 minutes, far cheaper than a taxi. See the Ben Gurion to Jerusalem transport guide for a full comparison of all options.

On Shabbat: neither the train nor the Light Rail operates. Pre-book a private transfer (see the CTA above) or use an intercity sherut shared taxi.

Ticketing and the Rav-Kav card

The Rav-Kav is Israel’s national public transport smart card, usable on the Light Rail, city buses, and intercity trains. See the full Rav-Kav guide for all buying options and loading methods.

In Jerusalem specifically, you can buy and load a Rav-Kav at:

• Jerusalem Navon railway station (staffed counter and machines)
• Jerusalem Central Bus Station (Binyanei HaUma; dedicated service desk and machines)
• Staffed service points at key Light Rail stations (Jaffa Gate, Damascus Gate areas)

Contactless payment (Visa or Mastercard bank card, or Apple/Google Pay) is accepted at all Light Rail validators — tap on and tap off at each journey end, and the system deducts the correct fare. This is the simplest option for short visits without a Rav-Kav card.

The 90-minute transfer rule applies: one tap-on allows connections to city buses within 90 minutes at no extra charge — useful for journeys that combine the tram and a bus segment.

Using the Light Rail with Moovit

The Moovit app is the standard tool for real-time Jerusalem public transport — it shows live departures, route planning that combines the Light Rail and buses, and step-by-step navigation. You need mobile data to use it. An Israel eSIM (see the CTA above) gives you data from arrival; alternatively, buy an Israeli SIM card at Ben Gurion Airport. See the Israel eSIM guide for the full options.

Practical tips

• Validate on entry and exit: the Light Rail requires a tap-on when boarding and a tap-off when alighting. Missing the tap-off results in the maximum possible fare being charged to your card.
• Platform direction: signage is in Hebrew, Arabic and English. The platform shows the end-of-line destination; for the Old City from the west, you want the direction of Damascus Gate / Pisgat Ze’ev.
• Frequency: at peak hours, trains run every 5–8 minutes. Off-peak, expect 10–15 minutes. Real-time arrivals are on the Moovit app.
• Accessibility: all Light Rail stations and trains are fully wheelchair accessible. Yad Vashem and Mahane Yehuda station areas have accessible entry routes.
• Combining with buses: the Egged and Superbus city network in Jerusalem covers areas the tram doesn’t reach. The same Rav-Kav and 90-minute transfer rule applies.

See also

Rav-Kav Israel guide · Tel Aviv Light Rail guide · Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem transport · Getting around Israel: transportation guide · Jerusalem food guide — Mahane Yehuda · Yad Vashem visitor guide · Israel eSIM guide