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Welcome to our step-by-step guide on how to travel from Tel Aviv Airport to the Jerusalem Old City in 2025. If you’re planning to arrive in Jerusalem by air, it is likely that you will be flying to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv (TLV). It is also very likely that you will want to travel to Jerusalem. However, this journey is not necessarily straightforward, and there are some important things that you need to know before you set off. Please read this guide carefully to avoid making common mistakes and to make sure that you have a smooth and efficient journey.
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know, including specific locations, prices, booking information, and a step-by-step guide on the best way to travel from Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem Old City. The journey from Tel Aviv Airport to the Jerusalem Old City is around 60km and is likely to take around 45 minutes. Remember, you also need to consider the time to collect your baggage and get through customs and immigration at the airport.
We have tried to keep this guide concise, practical, and to the point. Hopefully, our own experience of traveling from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will help you plan your trip and have a more enjoyable journey.
Staying for a few days? Don’t miss our ULTIMATE in depth 3 day Jerusalem itinerary
ALSO, if you’re planning to travel to Jordan don’t miss our guide on travelling from Jerusalem to Amman overland and on a budget
What is the Best Way to Travel from Tel Aviv-Yafo Airport to Jerusalem Old City?
In our opinion, the best way to travel from Tel Aviv Airport to the Jerusalem Old City is to use the Jerusalem Railway. We prefer this option due to the regularity and speed of trains. Traveling by train is much cheaper than trying to take a taxi.
| Train | Taxi |
| Take a train (18NIS or £3 or $4), 24 hours a day every 15 minutes. Train directly from the airport terminal to Jerusalem Navon Station, then take local bus 1 (5.5NIS £1 or $1.20) to the old city. Efficient and affordable. | Take a taxi from the airport directly to the old city. You may need to barter for a good price or use the Gett taxi app. 250NIS – 370NIS (£50 – £80 or $60 – $100). Fast, easy and convenient. |
Can You Take a Bus from the Airport to Jerusalem?
No, or at least not easily. It requires three local buses (two changes) to travel from the airport to Jerusalem Old City. Bus number 9 takes you to the El Al Junction (very close to the airport), bus 950 then takes you to the Navon Bus Station in Jerusalem (around 5km from the Old City). Bus number 1 then takes you to the Jerusalem Old City. So, definitely not worth the hassle.
We read online that the buses run from the Airport to Jerusalem 24 hours a day. However, when we arrived, we found that no buses were available, and the only way to travel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was to use the train system.
At present, the train is the most reliable, efficient, and cost-effective way to travel from Ben Gurion Airport to the Jerusalem Old City. To learn how to do this journey step by step, keep reading.
TOP TIP: Moovit App has very accurate and reliable public transport information for Israel. You can use this through a browser or a phone app.
You can help the Community
Backpackers love to help each other. If you find that the airport bus service to Jerusalem is running, please let us know so that we can update this article and help give other travelers up-to-date and accurate info.
Things to Know Before You Arrive in Israel
Before we share a step-by-step guide on traveling from the airport to Jerusalem, we just wanted to point out a few things that you need to know before you arrive.
1 Check your visa requirements
Firstly, we highly recommend that you check out the visa requirements for your country so that you are well-prepared for your visit. We found the Immigration and Customs process at Ben Gurion Airport to be fast, efficient, and friendly. We had heard that the Customs officials can be very intense and ask a lot of questions; however, this was not our experience.
The process was quick, and queuing time was very minimal. We found the journey through immigration to be very intuitive, and there were plenty of staff around to help as well. There is even an automated system to get your visitor’s pass on arrival. All you need to do is scan your passport and follow the steps. There are plenty of staff members in the airport to help you through this.
If you are visiting Israel from the United Kingdom, you do not need to obtain a Visa. You will be granted a 3-month stay on entry, and there is no need to complete any paperwork prior to this. However, we always recommend that you keep your eye on the latest information and advice on the FCO website.
TOP TIP: Although there is no visa required from the UK, Israel does have a very expensive exit fee. It costs 180NIS (£40 or $50) when you exit the country! So “FREE entry, but we’ll get you when you leave!”
2 Consider your arrival time
We also recommend that you plan and consider your arrival time carefully. If possible, we recommend avoiding arriving between midday on Friday and Saturday evening. This is due to the Israeli Sabbath. In Israeli culture, they take the Sabbath very seriously, and many things are closed during this period. You may find that public transport operates on limited services, although there are still things running. It can just be a little bit more tricky. It is also a lot more difficult to find open shops, cafes, and restaurants during The Jewish Sabbath. So, if possible, we don’t recommend arriving during this time. However, if you do have a flight that arrives between Friday midday and Saturday evening, don’t panic. There are still places open, and some public transport and taxis will still be available during this time.
TOP TIP: Bring a handful of Israeli Shekles. There are ATM machines in the airport – BUT if you have trouble withdrawing you will always be grateful to have some cash in your hand.
Step-by-Step Guide: Tel Aviv-Yafo Airport to Jerusalem Old City
Your two options for this journey are train and taxi. If you want to be cost effective the train is pretty efficient and straight forward. If you want convenience and speed and you don’t mind the price, the taxi is the best option.
Option 1: Take a Train
In our opinion, the best way to travel from Ben Gurion Airport to the Jerusalem Old City is to use the train. We found this to be cost-effective, fast, efficient, and reliable. Train Services are scheduled to run 24 hours a day every 15 minutes however it is worth noting but trains are less frequent on The Jewish Sabbath from midday on Friday until Saturday evening.
1 Get through customs, immigration and baggage pick up
If you’re planning to do this journey by train, the first thing you will need to do is to navigate through the airport, including customs and immigration. Once you have exited the airport, look for signs to the train.
2 Find the Train Station ticket machines
There are signs in English, and you can also ask friendly, helpful locals if you’re unable to find it. When you come out of the main exit of the airport terminal building, it is located to the right. At the station entrance you will find an automated ticket vending machine. You can purchase your tickets from the vending machine.
Tickets cost 18NIS per person (around £3.50 or $4.50). You will find that English instructions are available, and you can pay for your ticket using cash or bank card. We had no trouble doing a contactless payment at the automatic ticket machine. There were no additional charges for this – but always check your bank. You need to buy a ticket to the Jerusalem Navon Station (abbreviated to “JLM Navon”). This station is also known as Yerushalayim or Yits’hak Navon. Jerusalem Navon Station is around 5km from the Jerusalem Old city.
3 Find the Platform
Once you have purchased your ticket, you can use it to get through the automated ticket gate and head down to the platform. When you reach the platform, you will see information telling you which platform to wait on for the train. Trains are fairly regular, and you are unlikely to need to wait for more than around 15 – 30 minutes for your train to arrive.
TOP TIP: We arrived late at night and had to wait around 40 minutes. Our train was delayed by around 10 minutes and there was a platform change too. So keep a careful eye on the information boards on the platforms.
4 Jump on your train
The train journey from Ben Gurion Airport to the Jerusalem Navon Station only takes around 45 minutes. The train is comfortable and air-conditioned, and we found the locals to be very friendly. Once you arrive at Jerusalem Navon Station, it is very easy to find signs to the exit.
5 Take a bus or taxi to the Old City
From here, there are two ways to get to the Jerusalem Old City. You can either take a taxi or a local bus. In our opinion, it is slightly too far to walk, especially if you are arriving with baggage. Expect to pay around 25 – 30NIS for a taxi from the station to the Old City (roughly £5 – £6 or $6 – $8). If you are hoping to get a fair price, you will need to be willing and able to barter. Make sure it is clear exactly where you want to go, and check that they are happy with the price before you get in.
Alternatively, if you walk around 1 minute from the train station, you can take a local bus to the Jerusalem Old City. The local bus system is very efficient, and buses run late into the night, costing only 5.5NIS per person (roughly £1 or $1.20). You can take the Number 1 local bus from Jaffa Street (opposite the Jerusalem Central Bus Station), and this bus runs to the Damascus gate, taking around 20 minutes.
Option 2: Take a Taxi from the Airport
If you’re not keen to take public transport, another way to travel from Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem is to use a taxi. This is also one of the most expensive ways to do this journey. Although this is an expensive option, local taxis are convenient, and they will be able to take your luggage all the way to your hotel—no lugging your bags on and off buses or trains! One way to make a taxi more affordable is to share it among more people. Remember that you pay a cost for the taxi journey rather than a cost per person, so going in a larger group is relatively cost-effective. There are different ways to arrange a taxi from the airport in Jerusalem.
It is possible to book taxis in Israel using the Gett taxi app. This is one of the more popular and cost-effective ways to arrange a taxi in Israel. Gett taxi bookings allow you to get taxis on the meter. However, if you do not have internet access or mobile data when you arrive, this may be more tricky and awkward for you. Alternatively, you can arrange a taxi at the airport. You will need to be willing to barter in order to get a fair price. Make sure it is clear exactly where you want to go, who is traveling with you, and what luggage you are taking before you agree on a final price. Expect to pay around 250NIS – 370NIS (£50 – £80 or $60 – $100) for a taxi from Tel Aviv Airport to the Jerusalem Old City.
Is It Safe to Travel to Israel?
OCTOBER 2023 UPDATE: We are very sad to learn of the problems in Israel. The FCO currently advises against all but essential travel to Israel including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. They also advise against all travel in Gaza and the South and in the border regions with Lebanon and Syria in the North. Remember if you travel against FCO advice you will not be covered by your travel insurance policy. If you are currently in these regions follow consulate advice and take care. Keep your eye on the FCO website for updates.
Travel always has inherent risks, and we recommend that you do your research and evaluate the risks before you plan your trip. Israel has a long history of political instability, and there are some very challenging areas to travel. We recommend that you keep a careful eye on the latest information from a reliable source. The FCO website is very helpful when it comes to up-to-date safe travel advice for specific locations.
We did not have any problems traveling around Israel and did not feel unsafe. The Jerusalem Old City is a very popular tourist area. There is a military police service in the Old City, and we found them to be friendly, professional, and vigilant. One of the biggest safety concerns when you’re traveling around popular tourist spots in Israel is the security of your own belongings and possessions. There are pickpockets and thieves around, so it is important to look after your belongings carefully. We recommend keeping any valuables deep inside a day bag. We also use a dry sack to protect our belongings.
Safety Tips While Traveling Around Israel
Here are a few safety tips whilst traveling around Israel:
- Always keep an eye on the latest safe travel information and advice from a reliable website.
- Avoid areas that have “do not travel” restrictions, especially around the West Bank. We recommend that you stick to the main tourist sites in and around the Old City and Bethlehem.
- Always take care of your belongings. Do not leave valuables in pockets, especially in crowded tourist areas. We find it helpful to have a small handful of cash in our pockets and keep our main wallet or purse deep down inside our day bag, inside a waterproof bag.
- If locals are being intense and giving you hassle, we found it helpful to be friendly but keep moving. Don’t presume that you need to stop just because someone is trying to start a conversation with you, and don’t assume you need to buy something just because someone is being friendly and talking to you. We found that this culture respects a gentle and kind strength, and if you are firm and clear with people, they will stop hassling you.
