How To Get From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

If you’ve just landed in Tel Aviv and want to head straight to Jerusalem, or if you’ve spent a few days exploring Tel Aviv and are ready to move on to Jerusalem, here’s your guide on how to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The easiest and fastest way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is by renting a car at the airport and driving. Rental cars are cheap in Israel. Check prices on Discovercars.com. They have the lowest rates and free cancellation. Rates for this month are only $20 a day. This way, you can explore all the best places in Israel on your own schedule.

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How To Get From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is approximately 67 km/42 miles and can be easily be reached, typically in under an hour.

Taxi

One of the easiest and quickest ways from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is by taxi, but it’s also the most expensive. You can easily grab a taxi anywhere in Tel Aviv. Agree on a price in advance unless you prefer the meter. Watch out for extra fees for additional passengers, luggage, Shabbat, etc. The fees in Tel Aviv taxis add up fast.

• Cost: Varies 300 ILS+ ($75 USD)
• Time: 1 hour

Inter-City Shared Taxi

These shared taxis are known as “sheruts” in Israel. You can easily spot these yellow minivans. They will display their destination on the dashboard. Just look for a Jerusalem sign. If the sign is only in Hebrew, just ask the driver.

The best place to catch one is on Tzemach David Street, right by Tel Aviv’s Central bus station. The sheruts can drop you off where along the driver’s route. Just tell the driver where you want to go, and he’ll let you know when to get off.

• Cost: 23 NIS ($6 USD) and 33 NIS ($8USD) on the Sabbath prices increase Friday night-Saturday night
• Time: 1 hour depending on traffic
• They leave when all ten seats are filled up, typically 2-20 minutes.

Private Transfer Best Option

We would suggest booking this private transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem. Prices vary depending on how many people in your party, but they can be as cheap as $45. There is no better option coming from Tel Aviv airport.

This private transfer brings you right to your Jerusalem hotel. If you take the bus or train, you’ll have to pay for a taxi from the station to your hotel. Click here to book online. If you are a solo traveler or a couple, it might be cheaper to just book a taxi instead.

Bus

The cheapest option is to take the Israel public bus Egged. Buses are air-conditioned and run frequently. There are 2 locations in Tel Aviv where you can get a bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The 405 bus leaves Tel Aviv’s new central bus station, and the 480 bus leaves from Tel Aviv-Yafo Arlozorov Terminal. You can book your tickets online here.

• Cost: 16 NIS ($4USD), children under 5 free
• Time: 1 hour
• 480 leaves approximately every 10 minutes  5:50am-12:10am , Friday 6am-1:10pm approximately every 12-30 minutes, Saturday 6:10pm-12:10am approximately every 10-25 minutes
• 405 leaves approximately every 20 minutes 5:50am-midnight Sunday-Thursday, Friday every 12-30 minutes 6 am-2:48 pm, Saturday every 15-25 minutes 6:45pm-Midnight

Drive

You can easily rent a car while in Israel and drive yourself from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. There are two main routes between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: Road 443 via Modiin or Road 1.

Rental cars are often less than $20 a day, click here to check rates.

Be prepared for morning and late afternoon traffic in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Try to avoid driving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

• Cost: Gas and car rental cost
• Time: 50 minutes without traffic, up to 2 hours with traffic

Train

Taking the train is not the best option, as the railway system is limited between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. However, it is a gorgeous journey if you don’t mind the trip taking longer and costing more than other options from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A new express train for the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv route is scheduled to open in 2017.

• Cost: 20 NIS ($5)
• Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

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Make sure to spend at least two nights in Tel Aviv. There are tons of things to do in Tel Aviv. It’s worth getting a Tel Aviv hotel for a night or two or checking out the new Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv for a fun social scene.