How to Get from Ben-Gurion Airport
Here are your options for getting to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv from Ben-Gurion Airport on public transportation, by rental car, or by taxi (and back again).
If you want to have a stress-free start to your visit to Israel, you'll want to make your arrival to go as easy as possible.
Fortunately, we have some great news. Most of the time, getting from and to Ben-Gurion Airport is very easy, so you can stop worrying about it right now.
Ben-Gurion is the largest and busiest of all Israel airports. In fact, this is the main international airport that will most likely be your first destination in the country.
Located roughly halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, it handles most international flights into Israel.
As mentioned above, Ben-Gurion Airport is well-connected not only with the two of the most popular cities in Israel but also with many destinations across the country.
This blog post will help you figure out what is the best choice of transport from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other destinations in Israel.
Tel Aviv or Jerusalem from Ben Gurion-Airport
The most important thing you need to do before departing Ben-Gurion Airport is to figure out whether you want to visit Tel Aviv or Jerusalem first thing after your arrival.
The choice of your first destination depends on your Israel itinerary, so make sure your travel plans make sense.
Known for its incredible architecture, history, religious holy sites, and places like the Dome of the Rock or Western Wall, Jerusalem is often the first place many travelers go after landing in Jerusalem.
It's not hard to imagine why Jerusalem is one of the most captivating cities in the world.
The difference between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv could not be greater, but both cities are worth exploring.
Known for its sandy beaches, Mediterranean vibes, cosmopolitan character, and great food, Tel Aviv is one of the most vibrant cities we've ever visited.
In fact, we decided to visit Tel Aviv first and then travel to Jerusalem from there, but it didn't have much impact on our trip.
Both options have their pros and cons, and only you can know the answer to this question.
Fortunately, both cities are connected by train, and it takes only 40 minutes to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In the worst-case scenario, you can always fairly easily adjust your plans and travel between the cities quickly.
Honestly, this is one of the most significant advantages of every trip to Israel, as there is not a really wrong answer in this case.
So how do you plan on getting from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
Train
One of the easiest, safest, and inexpensive ways to get from Ben-Gurion Airport is by train.
The fast, modern, and air-conditioned train operated by Israel Railways connects Jerusalem with Tel Aviv while making a stop at the airport.
In fact, trains are one of the best ways to get around Israel, though the network covers only some parts of the country.
We took the train from Tel Aviv's HaHagana Station to Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon Station that goes via Ben-Gurion Airport, and it was a clean, fast, and inexpensive way to get there.
The journey was very smooth, and we believe that this is the best option for traveling from the airport to this city.
Currently, you can still buy regular tickets for the train, so you don't need a Rav Kav smartcard.
However, if you also want to take a bus at some point, you will need it.
Rav Kav costs 5 NIS, and don't forget that you need to add some money to your card first.
The train stops directly at the airport, so you just need to follow the signs to reach the station.
While we believe that the trains are your best bet for getting from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, there is one thing that you should consider before using this service.
As in our case in Tel Aviv, your accommodation might be far from the train station to be reached on foot.
Of course, you can usually take a bus or taxi from the station, but that is often a more complicated and expensive option that negates the advantage of this mode of transport.
Finally, don't forget that public transport in Israel is not working on Shabbat, and trains do not run between 12:15 AM and 5 AM.
Bus
Against our good judgment, we took a 445 bus from Ben-Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv as it was suggested by our hostel's instructions.
We wanted to take the train as we knew it would be a more straightforward option, but the advice from the hostel convinced us to take the bus instead.
As our trip to Israel was a spontaneous decision, we didn't have much time for preparation.
Therefore, we were quite surprised that we needed a Rav Kav smartcard to use the bus and that buying a paper ticket was a mistake.
Luckily, you can buy Rav Kav directly at the arrival hall at Ben-Gurion airport.
Apart from that, the bus ride from the airport to Tel Aviv was very smooth and fast until we left the highway and got stuck in a traffic jam.
As hinted above, the best argument for taking a bus from the airport is that it will drop you off near your hotel (if you choose the right bus line).
Moreover, buses in Israel offer a clean, affordable, and efficient service.
Also, public transport in Israel is very safe. Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Israel.
The biggest disadvantage of this option is that you need to figure out which bus to take to get to a stop near your hotel.
Fortunately, you can always use the Moovit app to find out what's your best approach.
Not only does this app work for buses, but also trains and Jerusalem's LightRail, among other.
Once again, don't forget that buses don't run on Shabbat in Israel.
Bus 485
One of the best ways to get to or from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem is by bus 485, especially if you're visiting Israel on a budget.
The Ben-Gurion Airport Bus to Jerusalem has six designated stops and runs every hour, 24 hours a day, six days a week.
The most convenient stop for tourists is the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.
From here, you can either take a LightRail or walk to the Old City (a 30-minute walk along Jaffa Street).
The bus leaves from Terminal 3 at Ben-Gurion Airport, and you don't need to make a reservation in advance.
The ticket costs 16 NIS ($5), and you can pay by Rav Kav.
Like the rest of the public transport, bus 485 doesn't run on Shabbat.
Taxi
The official airport taxis are for sure the most hassle-free option to get from Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
On the other hand, it's also the most expensive option of transport services.
Once you reach the arrival hall, simply follow the signs that will take you to the official taxi stand.
It's not advised to take an unofficial taxi from the airport (in case someone approaches you at the arrival hall), at least if you don't know what the adequate price for a ride should be.
At the end of your trip, you can simply arrange a taxi service at your hotel, though be prepared that it's going to be more expensive.
As we were leaving Tel Aviv in the middle of the night, this was the option we chose to get back to Ben-Gurion Airport.
Alternatively, you can use a Gett App, which is an Israeli alternative to Uber, or make an online reservation of a taxi service in advance.
While taxis are generally more expensive than the rest of the public transport options, you can split the cost of traveling in a group.
If you travel in a group of three or four, then taxis might be a good alternative to public transport.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Sherut
Shared taxis, known as sheruts, are a popular way to get from Ben-Gurion Airport to either Jerusalem or Haifa, mostly among locals.
Unlike the rest of the public transport options, sheruts run between these places, even on Shabbat.
Don't forget that sheruts don't run between Tel Aviv and Ben-Gurion Airport.
While sheruts might be a bit more adventurous way to get from the airport, we don't recommend them to first-time visitors.
Firstly, sheruts never leave until full, and the entire experience might be chaotic for people who don't know what they're doing.
Private Shuttle
If you are used to taking private shuttles from the airport over other public transport options, there are a few services to choose from.
The main advantage of a private shuttle is that the driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall, so it's one of the most stress-free ways to start your Israel trip.
On the other hand, private shuttles are among the most expensive options unless you travel in a larger group.
Here you can reserve a private shuttle - Ben-Gurion Airport to Jerusalem or Ben-Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv.
Rental Car
Even though you can rent a car directly at Ben-Gurion Airport, getting to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem by car is not something we would fully recommend.
While the idea is not entirely bad, the issue is that both cities have a huge parking problem, and driving around them during rush hours is a nightmare.
Even though it might sound a bit inconvenient initially, you will be far better off by renting a car in the city instead of the airport.
Not only will you save yourself a lot of trouble, but also a few hundred dollars.
The more persuasive argument is that you really don't need a car to get around either Jerusalem or Tel Aviv as both cities can be easily explored on foot or by public transport.
On the other hand, we would recommend renting a car directly at Ben-Gurion Airport if you want to go to the Negev Desert, Golan Heights, or Sea of Galilee first.
If you want to explore Israel's countryside first and return to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv later, having a car will be a huge plus for you.
Here you can find the best deals on rental cars in Israel.
Other Destinations
While the vast majority of visitors decide to stay either in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv at the beginning of their trip, some might have different plans.
While heading directly from Ben-Gurion Airport to places such as Safed, Ein Bokek, or Eilat might seem like an exciting alternative, we believe it mostly makes sense for returning visitors.
Trust us on this one, if you're visiting Israel for the first time and want to use public transport, then visiting Tel Aviv or Jerusalem are the sensible options.
So what is the biggest disadvantage of going from Ben-Gurion Airport directly to some popular destinations in Israel by bus?
For example, if you want to go snorkeling in the Red Sea first, you might consider flying to Eilat's Ramon Airport instead of Ben-Gurion-Airport.
Similarly, if you want to go swimming in the Dead Sea, you will still need to travel to Jerusalem first and take a bus from there.
And once you're already in Jerusalem, why not see some of its finest attractions, such as the Mount of Olives or Via Dolorosa first.
And Safed would be no exception from this story. The easiest way to get from the Ben-Gurion Airport is to take a train to Haifa via Tel Aviv and take a bus from there.
While it's true that you can always come back, make sure that your travel itinerary is coherent to avoid retracing your steps and wasting precious time.
As you can clearly see, the only case we would consider getting to some other place other than Jerusalem or Tel Aviv first is when you decide to rent a car right from the start.
We believe that Israel is a perfect place for a road trip, and renting a car on your vacation at some point is almost inevitable.
Be prepared that Highway 6, which connects the north with the south, has an electronic toll, so it's not free.
In our case, the rental company charged our card after we returned home, so we didn't have to take care of anything.
We believe that most rental companies use the same policy. The biggest disadvantage is that they also add a one-time processing fee of 50 NIS to your bill.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
