Whole Truth About Getting From Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem

A trip to Israel, in general, would not be complete without a visit to Jerusalem. But what if you’re not ready to make the entire journey? What if you only have a few days in Israel and Jerusalem is not on your itinerary? Perhaps you still want to go and see the capital, which is the seat of the government of Israel and the cradle of the Jewish people.

Jerusalem is a city in the Middle East, about 70 miles northeast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the third largest city in Israel with a population of about 900 thousand people. Also one of the oldest and most revered cities in the world. It was the center of a powerful Empire during the Roman era. It is also called ancient Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, “Eternal Jerusalem” or “Holy City”.

It is extremely important to have some basic information about how public transport works before you decide to take it. For example, the Jerusalem train will not run at night, but you have the option of taking a night bus to Jerusalem to reach your destination.

Why Private Transfer From Airport To Jerusalem Is Better Than Bus, Train, Taxi

Before you know the whole truth about public transport in Israel, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the benefits of a private transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem.

What Awaits You When Buying a Railway Ticket On-Line

At the Jerusalem station, you can see the train that departed from Ben Gurion International Airport. While it is possible to take the train without a ticket, tickets are available and usually at an affordable price. There are also ticket machines outside the station where you can buy a ticket. If you speak Hebrew, then you will not have the difficulty of buying a ticket from a vending machine.

The main operator of Israel’s railways is ISRAEL RAILWAYS. Modern carriages, comfortable seats, and friendly service. Travel time between Ben Gurion Airport Station and Jerusalem can take just over an hour. Although on the ISRAEL RAILWAYS website the travel time is 26 minutes. On a high-speed train, the ride is quiet and smooth. The train departs from platform #1 from Ben Gurion Airport station and arrives at platform #2 of Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon station.

The rates are fixed. Discounts are only possible if the ticket is purchased at least one week before the combination of trips. The current ticket prices and discounts are available on the official website of the Israel Railways.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, they cannot be changed without a commission, and if the connection is missed, a refund is not possible. So make sure you are on the correct train.

Another nuance that the railway workers missed is the purchase of tickets through the official website of Israel railway. Yes, they only took care of the comfort of smartphone owners, that is, you can buy and get a ticket after downloading one of the applications (all in Hebrew): “Station” App, Moovit App, Rav Pass App, ANYWAY App

Egged Tram Is The Only Train Getting To Jerusalem Central Station

Since 2012, you can travel from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem by train for 25 shekels (or 6 shekels if you bought a pass). The only train leaves daily at 10:30 am and leaves from Central Station for Jerusalem (and back at 12:30). Egged trains have the advantage that they can stop at other stops on the way to Jerusalem (for example, Givat Shaul, Lod, Gedera, or Beit Safafa, etc.). This is something you cannot do with Jerusalem light rail, which runs non-stop from the airport to Jerusalem. If you’re heading further than Jerusalem, it might be faster to catch the bus.

If you have a Jerusalem pass, you can also take the T-10 train (for NIS 11) from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem via Beit Meir, Shaar Hagai, Mea Shearim, and Central Station. This will allow you to reach your final destination faster, but it will require a few more stops.

Jerusalem Light Rail – No Stops

Light Rail is an extension of the red line in the center of Jerusalem. It runs from Terminal 3, where you can buy a one-day pass (for 40 shekels) and to Jerusalem, bypassing the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem light rail travels from the western terminus in central Jerusalem to the east (at the Mount Herzl junction) in the Negev desert.

Afikim Bus #485 Will Not Take You To Jerusalem On Shabbat

If you are arriving at Ben Gurion Airport and want to arrive at Jerusalem Railway Station or vice versa (the journey to either of them takes a few minutes), you can take a regular bus from the airport to the Old City Jerusalem. Buses run at least once an hour from the airport to the Old Town or every 20 minutes. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs between 20 and 30 shekels. Buses run along the Ayalon highway, and the stop on the A1 highway is called “Ben Gurion”. You can buy a ticket on the bus.

Getting from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem Train Station, take the regular Egged bus from the airport to Ramat Eshkol or Ramat Gilad (not Givat Shmuel) and you will take the bus to Jerusalem and change to the train line at Jerusalem station. This also applies to the return route from Jerusalem Railway Station to Ben Gurion Airport. Buses run every 20 minutes or less and the stop is right in front of Ben Gurion Airport Terminal (at the entrance). Here you can also get to the Jerusalem tram.

Afikim Bus 485 is a popular bus route from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem. It runs 24 hours a day, every hour from Terminal 3 near Gate 1. You cannot take the 485 bus to Jerusalem if you arrive on Friday afternoon (14:00), Saturday or Sunday evening (until 19:00). This is due to Shabbat in Israel, when public transport stops.

Every 15 Minutes Monit Sherut Goes To Jerusalem

The best and cheapest option is “Shared Taxi” or “Monit Sherut”. This is a minibus service that connects all the way from the airport to Jerusalem via the Jerusalem-Mevaseret Hachnisim exit. Taxi-Sherut runs every 15 minutes (daily from 9:00 to 24:00). Check the timetable at the departure terminal.

3 Reasons Not To Hire A Taxi From Ben Gurion Airport To Jerusalem

Ordered Taxis can be requested by phone. You can take a taxi on the roadside near the terminal. Look for the yellow marked taxis for guidance. A trip to the center of Jerusalem will cost about 35 shekels, and to Ben Gurion – 25-30 shekels. The fare to the center of Jerusalem is about 45-50 shekels. Taxis are charged per kilometer, so make sure the meter is not working when boarding.

We want to upset you and not rejoice ahead of time, looking at the cost of the taxi. The first thing that can significantly increase the tariff is the time of day, for the evening travel time you can pay 25% more. The next nuance is the amount of luggage. There are no established norms for the amount of baggage for taxis in Israel, so you may be charged an additional fee for baggage transportation or refused altogether. Also, near the entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem (Road No. 1), traffic jams are often formed, standing in which you also pay.