Transportation in Israel

Egged Customer Service and Information: 00 972 3 694 8888 or *2800

Egged Website

Egged provides intercity public bus service throughout the country.  Passengers can obtain information about the various bus lines on the Egged website or by phoning the computerized customer service and information center.  Each central bus station has an information booth and electronic boards displaying the departure times and destinations. 

Dan 

Dan Customer Service and Information: 00 972 6 639 4444

Dan Website

The Dan Bus Company operates public bus service in the Gush Dan area (Tel Aviv and the surrounding suburbs) and in Yehuda and Shomron.  Passengers can obtain information about the various bus lines on the Website or from the computerized customer service and information center.

Metrodan 

Information: *5100

Metrodan Website 

The Metrodan company operates public bus service in the southern city of Be’er Sheba.  Passengers can obtain information about the various bus lines on the Website or from the computerized customer service and information center.

Nazareth Transport & Tourism

 NTT Website

 operates inter-city lines in the north, covering Nazareth, Haifa, Karmiel and villages in the Galilee, and international lines to Amman (Jordan) and Sinai (Egypt).

United Nazareth Buses

 UNBS Website

 Active in public transportation in the Nazareth metropolitan area.

Nateev Express

Nateev Express Website 

Provides urban and inter-city lines in the northern area between Zefat and Nahariya and the central area between Hadera and Netanya. On January 2007 the company won a tender for routes between the cities of Tel Aviv and Netanya.

Israel Railways

Israel Railways Customer Service and Information: 00 972 3 577-4000 or *5770

Israel Railways Website

Israel Railways has expanded and improved the train service in recent years.  Trains run more frequently to more destinations, there are more train stations in the major cities, and the trains are more comfortable. 

Students and senior citizens can receive discounts by showing a student card or ID.

Because of heavy traffic on many of the roads, travel by train is recommended whenever possible.  Trains run from Tel Aviv to most of the large cities from Nahariya in the north to Dimona in the south, including Jerusalem and Ben Gurion airport.

Train tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth or vending machine at the station.  Seats can also be reserved in advance. 

There is refreshment service that includes hot and cold drinks, snacks, and sandwiches on most trains.

Trains do not run on Shabbat or on Jewish holidays.

Haifa Carmelit Subway Service

Telephone: 00 972 4 837 6661

Carmelit Website 
 
The Haifa Carmelit is the only subway system in Israel.  It runs from Paris Square in the lower city, and stops at five other stations including the Hadar business center, and ends at Gan Ha-Em in Merkaz Ha-Carmel. 


 

Local and intercity taxi service is available to and from any point in the country.  Fares within the cities are charged according to the meter.  The fares for intercity taxi service are standard fares that are set by the Ministry of Transportation.  It is recommended to verify what the fare will be before boarding the taxi. 

Taxis can be ordered by telephone from a local taxi station, or stopped by waving your hand at one on the street. 

The starting fare within the city is NIS 9.10.  An average ride will cost around NIS 20.  There is an additional charge of NIS 3.50 for telephone orders and an additional charge of NIS 2.90 for each suitcase that is not hand luggage.

Night rates are 25% more than the normal fare, and begin at 9:01 pm and end at 5:29 am.  These rates also apply for Sabbath and holidays.

Drivers must operate the meter for trips within the city.  Do not let the driver convince you to agree on a price ahead of time if you are not familiar with the rates! 

Service Taxis

Service taxis (jitneys) travel on permanent local and intercity routes coinciding with the bus routes.  The fare for these taxis is set according to distance.  In most cases, it is equal to or slightly cheaper than the equivalent bus fare.

Service taxis stop at permanent stops, but will also make request stops along the way.  Some central taxis lines also operate on the Sabbath. 

Departure times are not prescheduled: the taxi leaves the station when it is full.  For this reason it is wise to take into account that you might have to wait some time before the taxi fills up and departs. 

Intercity Service Taxis

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Haifa, Netanya, Petakh Tikva, Rekhovot, Lod, Ramle, Hadera, Afula, Eilat, Nazareth, and all stops on the way - Taxis leave from the new central bus station.

From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, Rekhovot, Haifa, Eilat, and all the stops on the way - Taxis leave from the central bus station.

From Haifa to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem - Taxis leave from He-Khalutz Street near Ha-Nevi’im Street in the Hadar district.

From Eilat to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem-  Taxis leave from the central bus station.

From Tiberias to Tel Aviv - Taxis leave from the central bus station.

From Be’er Sheva to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and all stops on the way, leaving from the central bus station.

From Netanya to Tel Aviv - Leaving from the central bus station.

Local Service Taxis

In Tel Aviv - Service taxis operate on the main Dan bus routes.  The fare is slightly lower than that of the busses.  Passengers can get on or off anywhere along the route, and not only at designated bus stops.  These taxis also run on the Sabbath on routes 4, 5, and 16, and other routes.

Jerusalem - Service taxis run on the main Egged bus routes.

Eilat - There are no local service taxis in Eilat.

Haifa - Service taxis run on the main Egged bus routes in the city. Some lines also operate on the Sabbath.

Tiberias - There are no local service taxis in Tiberias.

Be’er Sheva - Service taxis run on the main Metrodan bus routes.