There are many ways to get to Jerusalem from, such as bus, train and taxi. Let’s explore all of them, analyzing the time and money spent in total. Let’s assume you are now in some place in Tel Aviv and you want to visit Jerusalem, that’s amazing! Let’s travel both in this article from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Train is coming from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem through Ben Gurion train station.
A train is coming from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem through the Ben Gurion train station.

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by train

There are two options, if you plan to visit the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo so it’s better take the train that is direct to the Biblical Zoo park and Malha Mall in Jerusalem. But if you need reach the central bus station of Jerusalem and the most convenient is to take the fast train.

There are four train stations in Tel Aviv and if you are already close to a train station and you need get to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, so you have the fast direct train from the Ben Gurion airport to Jerusalem – the duration of the trip with the fast train from Ben Gurion airport railway station to Jerusalem (Yitzhak Navon railway station) is only 22 minutes. 

When you come from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by bus or from Ben Gurion by fast train, you will arrive to this area which close to central bus station.
When you come from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by bus or from Ben Gurion by fast train, you will arrive to this area which is close to central bus station.

Fast train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

You need to take the train from any Tel Aviv railway station to the Ben Gurion airport train station.

Jerusalem train station 200m underground.
Jerusalem train station 200m underground.

Duration of the trip:

  • from Tel Aviv university to Ben Gurion is 25 minutes – 4 stops;
  • from Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz to Ben Gurion is 18 minutes – 3 stops;
  • from Tel Aviv HaShalom to Ben Gurion is 15 minutes – 2 stops;
  • from Haganah to Ben Gurion is 10 minutes – only 1 stop;

After it you should switch train in the Ben-Gurion train station (just change platform) and take the fast train to Jerusalem – duration only 22 minutes. The cost of the ticket from any station of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon is 22 NIS and the total duration of the trip from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is almost 40 minutes, depending on the Tel Aviv train station in where you took the train. For example if you take the train at the Tel Aviv University it will take 1 hour but if you take the train at Hagana so it will be almost 40 minutes.

Just as tourist information, in Jerusalem the railway station Yitzhak Navon and the center bus station are located close to each other.

Train station at the Biblical Zoo or Malha Mall

If you want to visit the Biblical Zoo park or just go to the Malha Mall in Jerusalem so this option is good for you, and it’s  necessary to take the train from any station in Tel Aviv to the Beit-Shemesh train station, then switch train to Jerusalem train (next station is the Biblical Zoo park and then the next one will be Malha mall). The duration of the trip is around 1 hour and 50 minutes and it costs 20 NIS, same cost of the ticket from any Tel Aviv train station. You are welcome to visit the official Israel railways website to get more information about the timelines.

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by bus

Let’s assume you just arrived by train to the Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz railway station so now you need to go up on the bridge which connect Ramat Gan area with the center of Tel Aviv, and turn right. In case you arrive from the old north or the sea area so you need take the bus to Tel Aviv Merkaz (ask the driver or just check in google maps how to get to Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz). At the “2000 Terminal or Masof 2000” bus station you need take the bus number 480 of the Egged company. The duration of the trip from Tel Aviv center to Jerusalem center bus station is 1 hour with this bus. The price of ticket will be 16 NIS. The bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem comes every 15 minutes, so no worries if you lost a bus or in case if you will have a long queue of people in front of you. To get to Jerusalem from the Tel Aviv central bus station, you need go to the third floor and to the third platform where you need take the bus number 405 of the Egged company, the ticket costs 16 NIS and the duration of the trip to Jerusalem is 1 hour (Schedule for the Egged bus company).

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by train and bus

Israel railways - an inside look at the train
Israel railways – an look inside of the train.

Let’s assume because this or other reason you want to go to Jerusalem only by bus and on way use the train so in Tel Aviv there are four train stations: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz, Tel Aviv HaShalom and HaHagana railway stations.

  • So if you come from the park Hayarkon side, at this point it will be better for you take the train from Tel Aviv University to Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz (one stop only).
  • In case you are in the area of Ramat Gan so just pass the bridge from Ramat Gan to Tel Aviv center (You need to ask a free train ticket).
  • On case if you are now close to the Azrieli towers, so you need take the train from Tel Aviv HaShalom to Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz (one stop).
  • If you are close to the Tel Aviv central bus station or just in Levinsky street, so you need take the train from Tel Aviv Haganah to Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz (two stops). Another alternative is to take the direct bus from Tel Aviv central bus station (Egged, 405), hence no sense to go to Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz for another direct bus to Jerusalem!

Whatever railway station you choose, the ticket for each train that connects every Tel Aviv train station to Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz costs only 6 NIS. In Tel Aviv Savidor Merkaz railway station (as well called 2000 Terminal or Masof 2000), it’s necessary to take the direct Egged bus number 480 to Jerusalem.

Private And Public Taxis From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

The prices for private and public taxis (sheruts) from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem are very different. For example the public taxis, on Hebrew sheruts, cost around 12 NIS and they are located in the area close to the ground floor of the Tel Aviv central bus station. They are usually 10-seat taxis and the duration of the trip is almost 50 minutes. Private taxis from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem can cost starting from 230 NIS up to 400 nis depending on the hour and location in Tel Aviv. It’s possible to call a private taxi by means of special services such as Gett and Yango or just stop it in the street.

Best Way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for IsraeliBlogger

IsraeliBlogger advice regarding the best cheap and short way to get to Jerusalem starting from Tel Aviv it is just to reach the Haganah station where you take the train to Ben Gurion and in Ben Gurion take the direct fast train to Jerusalem. On this way the total time of the trip from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will be almost 40 minutes (maximum 1 hour) and the cost will be ~ 28 NIS.

Jerusalem train station, soon this train will move to Ben Gurion airport.
Jerusalem train station, soon this train will move to Ben Gurion airport.