Getting Around

Getting Around

Bus Travel: Buses are run primarily by Dan, and also by Egged. The fare is a fixed NIS 5.30 within the city center, and you buy your tickets on the bus. There is a small discount for a 10-ride card. Combined train-and-bus tickets are also available. Two of the major lines, Bus 4 (Ben Yehuda and Allenby streets) and Bus 5 (Dizengoff Street and Rothschild Boulevard), are also serviced by privately run minibuses. You can flag these down and ask to get off at any point along their routes; the fare is the same as on regular buses. Minibuses also run on Saturday, when regular buses do not. Buses leave for Jerusalem every 15 minutes throughout most of the day.

Taxi Travel: Taxis here can be any car model or color and have lighted signs on top. They're plentiful, even in bad weather; drivers honk to catch your attention, even if you're not trying to catch theirs. If traveling within the metropolitan area, make sure the driver turns the meter on when you get in. Rates are NIS 10.40 for the first 18 seconds and 30 agorot in increments thereafter. Sherut taxis consist mainly of a fleet of vans at the Central Bus Station that run the same routes as the buses, at comparable one-way prices, and do run on Saturday at a higher charge.

Train Travel: The train is an excellent way to travel between Tel Aviv and cities and towns to the north, such as Netanya, Hadera, Haifa, and Nahariya. The northbound train leaves from the Central Railway Station and the Azrieli station. The information office is open Sunday to Thursday 6 AM-11 PM and Friday 6-3. Trains run roughly every hour on weekdays from 5-6 AM to 10-11 PM depending on destination; there are fewer trains on Friday and Jewish holiday eves and no service on Saturday or on holidays. There is also a line to and from Beersheva. The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem train runs to the new station in south Jerusalem near the Malkha Mall.

Contacts

Dan Bus Services (03/639-4444). Egged (03/694-8888). Central Railway Station (>Arlosoroff St. 03/611-7000 or *5700)