Airports

Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport is situated nine miles (14km) southeast of Tel Aviv, 30 miles (50km) west of Jerusalem. There are several convenient and reliable options for travelling from the airport.

Bus services to Jerusalem and Haifa depart every half hour, as well as services to Tel Aviv city centre and the seafront. Bus #22 goes past most major hotels and central places within Tel Aviv. Bus stops are situated in the airport central plaza.

Taxis can be hired from authorised dispatchers at the taxi stand near the exit from gate 8, close to the airport reception hall. Sheruts, shared taxis, are about half the price of private taxis and therefore a good option. In Terminal 3 buses and taxis are located on level 2. A train service operates from Terminal 3 to Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Akko or Nahariya between 3am and midnight and takes less than 20 minutes to Tel Aviv's central train station. For an automated information line regarding transport and parking at the airport dial (0)3 972 3388 (English).

Getting Around

The city of Tel Aviv sprawls over such a large area that getting around without a car can be frustrating and time consuming. The complex network of freeways connecting the sprawl can be intimidating, especially for those not used to driving in big cities, but with a map or good directions, hiring a car is the best and most popular way to see Tel Aviv. The city was designed with the automobile in mind and is more driver-friendly than most big cities with wide streets and plenty of parking.

If possible, visitors should avoid rush hour traffic, which is heaviest from 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm, when freeways often come to a standstill. Many, however, are equipped with HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes for those cars carrying more than one person - an attempt to curb vehicle emissions, these lanes tend to move more quickly.

Tel Aviv is one of the cheapest places in the country to rent a car. It is also possible to get around by bus, but frequent transfers and long distances can make this slow and impractical, and it is not recommended for late-night travel. The Metro rail system has three lines, which cover only a small area of Tel Aviv, but it is frequent and efficient. Taxis are also available, but they can be expensive due to the long distances.