Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
TLV is 20 km from Tel Aviv and 50 km from Jerusalem. The airport has one main terminal (T3). Security is thorough — allow 3+ hours for departure. The train station is at the airport, connected by a moving walkway.
Israel Railways to Tel Aviv HaShalom/HaHagana: ₪13.50 (~$3.70), 15 min — runs Sun-Thu and Saturday night. Does NOT run during Shabbat (Fri evening to Sat evening).
Egged bus to Jerusalem: ₪16, 50 min. Dan bus 5 to central Tel Aviv: ₪5.50. Very limited Shabbat service.
Israeli taxis are metered and regulated. Ben Gurion to Tel Aviv costs ₪120-170 ($33-47). Night surcharge of 25% applies. Generally honest.
Welcome Pickups — Professional service with meet-and-greet. Fixed pricing avoids the 25% night surcharge surprise.
Read full Welcome Pickups review →
GetTransfer — Bids from $28 to Tel Aviv. Competitive with metered taxis, especially at night.
Read full GetTransfer review →
Gett (Israeli Uber equivalent) works at Ben Gurion. Well-established and reliable.
Train (18 min to Tel Aviv HaShalom, ₪13.50/$3.70) is fast and cheap but doesn't run on Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday evening).
Shabbat is critical: From Friday evening to Saturday evening, trains and most buses don't run. If you arrive during Shabbat, your options are a pre-booked transfer, taxi (with 25% surcharge), or sherut (shared taxi). Plan accordingly.
Security on departure: Ben Gurion Airport is famous for its thorough security screening. This doesn't affect your arrival transfer but allow 3+ hours for departure. Your return transfer should factor in this extra time.
The 15-minute train: Outside Shabbat, the train from TLV to Tel Aviv stations takes just 15 minutes for ₪13.50 (~$3.70) — one of the world's best airport rail connections. It also goes to Jerusalem (30 min, ₪25).
Gett app: Gett (formerly GetTaxi) is the main ride-hailing app in Israel. It works like Uber and is reliable from the airport. Prices are similar to metered taxis.
| Service | Price range | Standout feature | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups | $45–65 | In-terminal meet-and-greet, free child seats | Check price → |
| Kiwitaxi | ₪130–180 | Wide vehicle selection, transparent pricing | Check price → |
| GetTransfer | $30–48 | Bidding system — often cheapest | Check price → |
| intui.travel | $32–50 | Shared transfers, budget groups | Check price → |
Prices for a sedan (up to 3 passengers). GetTransfer prices are typical winning bids. See our full comparison for Tel Aviv for detailed pricing by route.
Currency: ILS (₪). Have some local currency for small purchases — many taxi meters display in local currency.
Language: Hebrew and Arabic (excellent English widely spoken) Having your hotel address saved on your phone (screenshot or Google Maps pin) is always helpful for drivers.
Tipping: ₪10-20 for drivers is appreciated. Not required.
Safety: Ben Gurion Airport has strict security — expect thorough checks on departure. Taxis are metered and honest. Gett is the main ride-hailing app.
SIM / connectivity: Israeli SIM cards from Cellcom, Partner, or Pelephone at TLV. Tourist SIMs from ₪30 (~$8) for 30 days data.
Tip 1: The train is excellent — $3.70, 18 min. But it doesn't run during Shabbat. Plan accordingly.
Tip 2: Shabbat transport: From Friday evening to Saturday evening, trains stop. Pre-booking a transfer is essential for Shabbat arrivals.
Tip 3: For Jerusalem transfers (52 km, 45-60 min), pre-booking is recommended. The train exists but takes longer with connections.
Tip 4: Ben Gurion security is thorough. Allow extra time for departure and share your flight number for accurate pickup timing.
See how Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi, GetTransfer, and intui.travel compare for Tel Aviv airport routes.
Compare all 4 services for this city →Related guides: Airport Transfer Safety Tips · Cancellation Policies Compared
Traveling through the region? Check our airport transfer guides for these nearby cities:
Travel tip
Don't forget mobile data abroad — compare eSIM providers for your destination and stay connected from the moment you land.
