Photo: Jorge Láscar from Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Dead Sea is about an hour from Jerusalem. Here is how to get there by bus or tour, which beach to pick, and how much you can fit into one day.
Short answer: the Dead Sea is about an hour's drive east of Jerusalem. Without a car, take bus 486 from the central bus station towards Ein Gedi and Ein Bokek (about ₪40 one way, no service on Shabbat), or join a day tour that picks up in the city. By bus you can comfortably do two things in a day, for example Ein Gedi and a float, or Masada and a float, but not all three. Start early, carry plenty of water, and be on a return bus well before the last one.
By bus
- Where from: the central bus station, next to the light rail and Yitzhak Navon station.
- Where to: the line runs down to the Dead Sea and south along the shore past Ein Gedi and Masada to the Ein Bokek hotels. Tell the driver your stop.
- Times: about an hour to the northern shore, an hour and a half to Ein Gedi, a little more to Masada and Ein Bokek.
- Timetable: several departures a day in each direction, fewer on Friday and none on Shabbat. Check Moovit the day before and note the last bus back.
By tour
Day tours from Jerusalem usually leave at 7:00–7:30 and combine Masada, Ein Gedi and a float, with entrance fees often extra. They are the easiest way to do all three, at a higher price. Book with a licensed operator and check what is included.
Which beach
- Ein Bokek: free public beaches with lifeguards, showers and shade, in front of the hotels; the easiest for a first float.
- Kalia: a private beach on the northern shore, closest to Jerusalem, with facilities; ₪45 / ₪35.
- Hotel day passes: many Ein Bokek hotels sell a day pass with pools and spa access.
Our water and beaches list has the details and hours.
Ein Gedi and Masada
- Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, ₪31 / ₪16: springs, waterfalls and ibex. Arrive early; entry closes well before sunset.
- Masada, ₪37 / ₪21: Herod's fortress on a mesa; the cable car costs extra, and the Snake Path climb is best at dawn, not midday.
Other day trips, from Soreq Cave to Caesarea, are in our day-trips list.
Floating safely
- Don't put your head under or splash; the water hurts eyes badly. Rinse with fresh water immediately if it happens.
- Don't shave the day before; cuts sting.
- Wear water shoes; the salt crystals are sharp.
- Float for 10–15 minutes at a time, and drink a lot. Summer temperatures pass 40°.
Security: check the Home Front Command's current guidance and your airline's updates before and during a trip. Our safety guide explains sirens, shelters and the app.
Common questions
How do I get from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea without a car?
By bus 486 from the central bus station, about an hour to the northern shore and an hour and a half to Ein Gedi, or on a day tour that picks up in Jerusalem.
Can I do Masada, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea in one day by bus?
Two of the three, comfortably. All three in one day really needs a tour or a car.
Is there a free beach at the Dead Sea?
Yes. The public beaches at Ein Bokek are free, with lifeguards, showers and shade.
Been recently and found the bus or a beach has changed? Tell us and we will fix it.
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