Getting There & Getting About
International Airports
- Tel Aviv (TLV): 14 km from the city.
- Eilat Central Airport (ETH): 8 km from the city.
- Full list of airports in Israel with associated airport codes >
Internal Transport
Israel has a good domestic flight network, with links between Tel Aviv, Eilat and other cities served by a number of airlines. Flights operate daily except Shabbat (Friday evening and Saturday).
Ferries run across the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) from Ein Gev kibbutz on the east side to Tiberias on the western shore.
There are 6 railways line, the major one running down the coast from Nahariya to Ben Gurion Airport, stopping at Akko (Acre), Haifa, Binyamina, Tel Aviv, and other smaller locations en route. The second line runs from Binyamina and Caesaria to Ashkelon, via Netanya, Herzliya, Tel Aviv and Ashdod. Other lines run from Tel Aviv to Rishon le Zion; to Beersheva; to Kfar Saba; and between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. There is no railway service on Shabbat and public holidays.
Israel has some excellent roads linking all major towns; however, driving tends to be aggressive and there are frequent accidents. Speed limits are 110 kph (68 mph) on a designated 'high-speed road', 90 kph (56 mph) on divided highway, 80 kph (50 mph) in non-urban areas and 50 kph (31 mph) in urban areas (unless signs indicate a different limit). Speed cameras and radar traps operate and fines for speeding are high. Car hire, although expensive, is available at airports and all major towns.
There are frequent and comprehensive bus services linking much of the country, which are fast, efficient and inexpensive. The majority of services are suspended on religious holidays and Shabbat.
A unique form of transport to Israel is the sherut - a limousine that seats 7-10 passengers and follows the intercity and local bus routes. Expect to pay around 30% more than the bus ticket price.
Both private and shared taxis are available; these are required by law to operate a meter. Although a tip is not expected, some people will tip around 10%.