Getting around · Tel Aviv · Israel
Getting around Tel Aviv
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Giladtop, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Central Tel Aviv is flat and compact, so walking and cycling cover most visits. The Red Line light rail runs underground through the centre and on to Jaffa, buses fill the gaps, and trains link the city with the airport, Jerusalem and the coast. Plan around Shabbat, when trains and most buses stop. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- TLV
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Rav-Kav
Ways to get around
Walking
Jaffa to the Port is about 6 km along the seafront promenade, and Rothschild Boulevard, Carmel Market and Neve Tzedek are all within 15 minutes of each other on foot.
Tram
The Red Line light rail runs from Petah Tikva through central Tel Aviv, with underground stations such as Carlebach and Allenby, and above ground through Jaffa to Bat Yam.
Like trains, the light rail does not run on Shabbat.
Bus
City buses reach every neighbourhood; pay with a Rav-Kav card or a supported payment app rather than cash.
The Moovit app shows live routes and is widely used locally.
Train
Israel Railways' four city stations — University, Savidor Center, HaShalom and HaHagana — connect with Ben Gurion Airport, Jerusalem, Haifa and the coast.
Cycling
Dedicated lanes on Rothschild Boulevard, the promenade and Yarkon Park make cycling easy; the city bike-share and app-based e-scooters are everywhere.
Watch for fast e-bikes and scooters on pavements, and wear a helmet.
Taxi
Metered taxis can be hailed or booked by app; shared sherut minibuses run along fixed routes such as Allenby and Dizengoff, including on Shabbat.
Tickets and passes
Rav-Kav
The national rechargeable smartcard for buses, light rail and trains, available as a physical card or loaded through approved apps.
From the airport
Ben Gurion Airport is about 20 km southeast of the centre. Trains run to the city's four stations in about 15–25 minutes, except on Shabbat. Metered taxis wait at the official rank outside arrivals and take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic and parking in Tel Aviv are difficult, and trains reach Jerusalem, Haifa and Akko. A car is useful only for the Dead Sea, Masada or exploring Galilee at your own pace.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem | About 35 minutes by fast train | Train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon |
| Caesarea | About 45–60 minutes by car | Car, or train to Binyamina and a taxi |
| Haifa and the Bahá'í Gardens | About 1 hour by train | Train from Tel Aviv to Haifa |
| Akko | About 1 hour 30 minutes by train | Train from Tel Aviv to Akko |
| Masada and the Dead Sea | About 2 hours each way by car | Car or organised tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Tel Aviv?
No. Traffic and parking in Tel Aviv are difficult, and trains reach Jerusalem, Haifa and Akko. A car is useful only for the Dead Sea, Masada or exploring Galilee at your own pace.
+How do you get from the airport to Tel Aviv?
Ben Gurion Airport is about 20 km southeast of the centre. Trains run to the city's four stations in about 15–25 minutes, except on Shabbat. Metered taxis wait at the official rank outside arrivals and take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Tel Aviv?
Walking: Jaffa to the Port is about 6 km along the seafront promenade, and Rothschild Boulevard, Carmel Market and Neve Tzedek are all within 15 minutes of each other on foot.