By Bus in Jerusalem

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By Bus

Egged, the nationwide bus cooperative, serves Jerusalem's Central Bus Station with comfortable, air-conditioned buses from all major cities in Israel. Egged buses in and out of Jerusalem stop running about a half hour before sunset on Friday and Jewish religious holiday eves and resume after dark on Saturday or religious holidays. The East Jerusalem Bus Station is the terminus for private Arab-run lines serving West Bank towns such as Bethlehem and Jericho.

Egged enjoys a monopoly on the extensive bus service within Jerusalem. Service begins at 5:30 AM and ends around midnight, depending on the route. Service stops half an hour before sunset on Friday (or on the eve of a religious holiday) and resumes after dark on Saturday. The fare on all routes is NIS 5.50; you need local currency, but not exact change. There are no transfers. Buses do not automatically stop at every bus stop; you need to signal the driver. Bus schedules are available at the Central Bus Station, on Jaffa Road in West Jerusalem, and some commercial maps show the bus routes. Inquire at your hotel or ask the locals for advice.

The two small, Arab-run bus stations in East Jerusalem primarily serve routes to towns in the West Bank.

Egged operates Route 99, a 2-hour circle tour of Jerusalem for visitors. Its distinctive red double-decker buses are equipped with audio explanations in several languages. The route begins at the Central Bus Station at the city's western entrance, and its 25 stops include Machaneh Yehuda, the edge of the downtown, Mea She'arim, the Jerusalem Regency Hotel, Mt. Scopus, Novotel Hotel, Jaffa Gate, City Hall, the King David Hotel, the Haas Promenade, the Jerusalem (Malcha) Mall, the railway station at the Biblical Zoo, Mt. Herzl, Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, the Knesset, and the Supreme Court. Departures are Sun.-Thurs. at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM. On Friday and the eves of Jewish holidays, the last bus leaves at 1 PM. There is no service on Saturday or Jewish religious holidays. The cost is NIS 45 for a one-day ticket, with unlimited transfers on this route.

Contacts

Central Bus Station (224 Jaffa Rd., Romema. 03/694-8888 or *2800). East Jerusalem Bus Station (Sultan Suleiman St., opposite Damascus Gate, East Jerusalem. 054/449-3088). Egged (03/694-8888 for local information; *2800).