The fast train takes about half an hour between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Here are all the options, including how to travel on Shabbat.
Short answer: take the train. It runs from Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon, next to the central bus station, to Tel Aviv's HaHagana, HaShalom, Savidor Center and University stations, stopping at Ben Gurion Airport on the way. It takes about half an hour to the first Tel Aviv stop and costs about ₪23.50 one way. Intercity buses are slower but cheaper and go to more places. On Shabbat, trains and buses stop; shared taxis and ordinary taxis run.
The train
- From: Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon, deep underground next to the central bus station. Allow ten minutes to get down to the platform.
- To: Tel Aviv HaHagana, HaShalom, Savidor Center (next to the Arlozorov bus terminal) and University. Some trains continue north.
- Time: about half an hour to HaHagana, a few minutes more to the northern stations.
- How often: several trains an hour at peak times, fewer late at night.
- Paying: Rav-Kav, the Israel Railways app, or a ticket from the station machines.
- Shabbat: no trains from Friday afternoon until after Shabbat on Saturday night.
Buses
Intercity buses leave from the central bus station for Tel Aviv's central bus station and the Arlozorov terminal. They take an hour or more depending on traffic, cost less than the train, and are useful if you are heading to a part of Tel Aviv or a nearby city the train does not reach. Check the line and the departure platform in Moovit.
Shared taxis (sherut)
Yellow minibuses run between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and leave when full, dropping passengers along the route. They are the main public option on Shabbat, when they charge more. Ask locally where they leave from in Jerusalem, since pick-up points shift.
Taxi and driving
- A taxi between the two city centres costs a few hundred shekels, more at night and on Shabbat. Ride apps show the price up front.
- Driving takes 50 minutes to well over an hour on Route 1, depending on traffic. Parking in Tel Aviv is harder and more expensive than in Jerusalem.
Commuting
Plenty of Jerusalem residents work in the Tel Aviv area. The train makes it realistic if both ends are near a station, and a monthly pass that covers both cities is usually cheaper than paying per ride. Working in Jerusalem and living in Jerusalem vs Tel Aviv cover the bigger decision.
Heading to the airport instead? Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem has the details.
Common questions
How long is the train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv?
About half an hour from Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon to Tel Aviv HaHagana, a few minutes more to Savidor Center and University.
How much is the train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv?
About ₪23.50 one way. Monthly passes that cover both cities are cheaper for commuters.
Can you get from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv on Shabbat?
Not by train or bus. Shared taxis (sherut) and ordinary taxis run, at higher Shabbat prices.
Found a timetable or price that has changed? Tell us and we will fix it.
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