Getting around · Jerusalem · Israel
Getting around Jerusalem
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Golasso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The Old City is explored on foot only, and most central sights are within a 30-minute walk. The light rail Red Line runs along Jaffa Road past the Old City to Mount Herzl, buses cover the rest, and fast trains link the city with Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- TLV
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Rav-Kav
Ways to get around
Walking
Inside the walls everything is on foot, over steps and polished limestone; from Jaffa Gate to the Western Wall takes about 10 minutes.
Tram
The light rail Red Line runs along Jaffa Road through the city centre, past City Hall near Jaffa Gate and Damascus Gate, out to Mount Herzl near Yad Vashem.
The light rail does not run on Shabbat.
Bus
City buses reach the Israel Museum, the German Colony and Ein Karem; separate Arab bus lines serve East Jerusalem from stations near Damascus Gate.
Pay with a Rav-Kav card or a supported app; drivers do not take cash.
Train
Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon station, deep underground beside the Central Bus Station, has fast trains to Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv.
Taxi
Metered taxis are useful for the Mount of Olives and for luggage; insist on the meter or agree a price first.
Tickets and passes
Rav-Kav
Rechargeable smartcard for buses, light rail and trains, also available as a phone-based option through approved apps.
From the airport
Ben Gurion Airport is about 50 km west. Fast trains reach Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon station in about 20–25 minutes, except on Shabbat; shared sherut minibuses and taxis run from the arrivals hall and take about 45–60 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
No. A car is a burden in the Old City and centre. Hire one only for Masada, the Dead Sea or the Galilee, and check your rental terms before driving into the West Bank.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | About 30–45 minutes by bus or taxi | Organised tour or Arab bus from near Damascus Gate |
| Masada | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car, bus or organised tour |
| Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, bus or organised tour |
| Tel Aviv and Jaffa | About 35 minutes by fast train | Train from Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon |
| Abu Ghosh | About 20 minutes by car | Car, taxi or bus |
| Sorek Cave | About 30 minutes by car | Car or taxi |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Jerusalem?
No. A car is a burden in the Old City and centre. Hire one only for Masada, the Dead Sea or the Galilee, and check your rental terms before driving into the West Bank.
+How do you get from the airport to Jerusalem?
Ben Gurion Airport is about 50 km west. Fast trains reach Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon station in about 20–25 minutes, except on Shabbat; shared sherut minibuses and taxis run from the arrivals hall and take about 45–60 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Jerusalem?
Walking: Inside the walls everything is on foot, over steps and polished limestone; from Jaffa Gate to the Western Wall takes about 10 minutes.