Getting from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

Most of the tourists of Israel are immediately drawn to the two biggest cities, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Fortunately for these tourists, these cities are quite close together, meaning that travelling to and from each one is inexpensive as well as simple. Therefore, doing a day trip takes little effort and can even be spontaneous – in fact, some Israelis travel between these two cities five times a week! So, read on to kind out about the multiple different ways that you can commute between the two cities in a 33-mile journey.

Travel by bus

The bus service from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a good option. It’s cheap and efficient, and buses come every 15 minutes from morning to late into the evening. You could find yourself reaching your destination in as little as 45 minutes if there’s no traffic! A popular service in Israel is the Egged Company, and this way of travelling is also very safe. Drivers are trained to good standards and the people you’ll be surrounded by will be very hospitable. Israelis are renowned for doing what they can to help! The Central Bus Station in southern Tel Aviv operates bus line 405, whilst the Terminal 2000 in Tel Aviv’s northern region operates line 480. The options for paying are to either pay the driver when you get on the bus, purchase a ticket from a machine beforehand, or by using a Rav Kav card. Tickets can be discounted if you buy a return ticket, although a single costs 19 NIS. Rav Kav cards can be bought are different points within the city and you can load them up with credit to be used on city buses, not to mention other journeys around the country too. All of these buses go to the Central Bus Station located in Jerusalem. This is good since it’s easy for tourists to find their way around the city from this central location. Furthermore, the bus station in Jerusalem continues to please its tourists with a range of different shops, with electronic items, food and beverages, and clothes all on offer. Tourists must note, however, that the bus service isn’t available on Shabbat (Friday afternoon to Saturday evening).

Travel by train

The speedy rail link was opened in 2019, interlinking the two famous cities. This is a great way to travel between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem since it’s direct and fast, sometimes taking as little as 36 minutes, and the train runs efficiently every 15 to 20 minutes. There are three Tel Aviv stations that you can depart from: Savidor Centre, Shalom train station, and HaHagana Railway station. It will cost you 23.50 NIS for a single ticket. You may use your Rav Kav card like with the buses or buy tickets in the station. The Yitzhak Navon station, Jerusalem, is very modern and impressive to all tourists, and is conveniently placed on Jaffa Street near buses and taxis.

Travel by taxi

Israel has yellow vans called ‘sheruts’ standing at many of their bus stations. These are shared taxis, taking up to 10 passengers in each ride. They conveniently run even on Shabbat since they aren’t overseen by the government. It’s really simple to just hop in and pay your driver – it usually costs 22 NIS. You might need to wait for the sheruts to fill up before they set off. These shared taxis leave from the ground floor of the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, and they can drop you off close to the bus station in Jerusalem or even downtown. Private taxis are also available at a higher price – usually around 350 NIS. You can access them from the apps or arrange this service through your concierge.

Travel by private transfer

This is a very luxurious and efficient way of travelling, with you being driven around in a comfortable vehicle. It can easily be arranged through a tour operator. This usually costs around 700 NIS, and you can request detours if you desire.

Travel by organised trips

It might be worth considering going on a Jerusalem tour if you want to visit this fascinating city. Opting for a guided trip makes things easier for you – you will be driven around and have an educated guide. You might get to see more than you would have done otherwise, and the great thing is that there are loads of tours available with something to suit everyone. Jerusalem has a lot to offer both its locals and tourists, with history, scenery, and culture jumping out at all angles. Therefore, an organised trip in this incredible city could be worth it for all the memories.

Travel by rented car

Renting a car is very easy in Israel with many different companies offering them for decent prices. You can book via the companies’ websites which is simple to do – you need your driver’s license, credit card, passport, and to fill out a little paperwork, and then you’re sorted! With a rented car, there are two major routes which most tourists take. This is Road 1 or Road 443. This is via Modiin. Traffic can be quite bad at peak times, so it might be worth planning your journey accordingly. It’s worth noting that parking can be quite expensive and limited in the city of Jerusalem, so you might want to use public transport or organised tour from Tel Aviv if you’re going to visit only the Old City.