Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv

The train — fastest when it runs

The airport has its own railway station, and the train into Tel Aviv takes roughly 20 minutes, running to the city's stations through the day and into the evening. It is the fastest and cheapest way in, and the only option that reliably beats traffic.

It does not run on Shabbat — from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening the station is closed, and it is also closed overnight. If your flight lands in that window, the train does not exist for you.

The shared taxi and the bus

A sherut — a ten-seat shared taxi — runs on fixed routes and leaves when it fills. It is cheaper than a private car and, on some routes, has historically run when buses have not. It is a cash, cashier-free, no-frills way to travel, and it will not take you to an exact address.

There are also bus services from the airport to Tel Aviv, cheaper again but slower and heavily affected by traffic and by Shabbat.

A car, booked before you land

A private car is the only option that is door to door, fixed in price, and available at any hour including Shabbat. You give your flight number when you order, the driver follows the flight, and someone is waiting in the arrivals hall when you come through — which matters most on a first visit, at night, or with children and luggage.

See Ben Gurion Airport taxi for how the pickup works, or the published fares for the fixed prices.

Practical details

• Train: fastest, roughly 20 minutes, no Shabbat service
• Sherut: shared, cheaper, cash, fixed routes only
• Bus: cheapest, slowest, worst in traffic
• Private car: door to door, fixed price, any hour
• Give your flight number and the driver follows the flight

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