Getting from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem is easy and need not be expensive: options run from a roughly 18–21 shekel train ride of about 35 minutes up to a private taxi at a few hundred shekels. The high-speed train is the fastest and cheapest way into the city and drops you right in the center; shared sherut taxis take you door to door; public buses are a budget alternative; and taxis or ride apps suit groups, heavy luggage, and late arrivals. The one big planning factor is Shabbat, when the train and buses stop and your only choices are a shared or private taxi. This guide compares every option with current 2026 prices, times, and step-by-step tips.
Prices in this Jerusalem airport transfer guide are approximate shekel (ILS) figures for 2026 and shift periodically, and the operators of shared-taxi services have changed recently, so confirm details when you arrive. Pair this with our Tel Aviv–Jerusalem route guide, our Jerusalem transportation guide, and our first time visiting Jerusalem guide if this is your first trip.
The Options at a Glance
| Option | Time | Approx. cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-speed train | ~35 min | About 18–21 shekels | Most travelers: fastest and cheapest |
| Shared taxi (sherut) | 60–75 min | Around 70–90 shekels per person | Door-to-door, solo or light luggage |
| Public bus | ~60 min | Roughly 16 shekels | Budget travelers |
| Private taxi | 45–60 min | About 250–350 shekels | Groups, heavy luggage, late arrivals |
| Ride app (Gett, Yango) | 45–60 min | Roughly 200–300 shekels | App convenience, fixed price |
| Rental car | ~60 min drive | ~150–250 shekels/day + fuel | Onward day trips |
The High-Speed Train (Best for Most)
The train is the standout choice for getting into Jerusalem, and for most visitors it is the obvious default. The fast electrified line runs from the airport’s own underground station directly to Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon in about 35 minutes, dropping you in the heart of the city beside the Central Bus Station rather than on the edge of town. It is inexpensive, frequent, and immune to road traffic.
- Travel time: about 35 minutes, airport to Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon.
- Cost: roughly 18–21 shekels one way; pay with a Rav-Kav card or a contactless bank card.
- Frequency: generally around every 30 minutes during the day, thinner late at night.
- First and last: first trains from early morning; the last leaves late evening, so very late arrivals may miss it.
- Shabbat: no service from Friday afternoon to Saturday night, or on Jewish holidays.
- Tickets: buy at the station machines or the Israel Railways app; no reservation needed.
Finding the airport train
After you clear passport control — a step our Israel entry requirements guide prepares you for — and collect your bags, follow the “Train” signs down to the railway station beneath the terminal. Buy a ticket from a machine or counter (a reusable Rav-Kav card is handy if you will use transit in the city), then board a train heading toward Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon. At the Jerusalem end, note that Yitzhak Navon is one of the deepest stations in the world, so allow a few minutes for the long escalators up to street level, where the light rail and city buses connect you onward and Mahane Yehuda Market is just a stop or two away. How far you then have to go depends on your hotel; our where to stay in Jerusalem guide shows which neighborhoods sit closest to the station and the tram line.
Shared Taxi (Sherut)
A sherut is a shared minibus-taxi, typically a ten-seat van, that takes passengers from the airport directly to their Jerusalem accommodation. It is a long-standing, convenient door-to-door option, especially if you are arriving with luggage and do not want to change between train and tram. It costs more than the train but far less than a private cab, generally somewhere around 70–90 shekels per person, with the higher end applying on Shabbat. The trade-off is time: the van waits to fill and then drops passengers one by one, so the journey can take 60 to 75 minutes.
- Where to find it: at the shared-taxi stands outside the arrivals terminal; follow the signage.
- How it works: walk up, pay the driver, and the van departs when full; tell the driver your hotel address.
- Shabbat advantage: shared taxis keep running through Shabbat, when the train and buses do not.
One important note for 2026: the operators and branding of the airport–Jerusalem shared-taxi service have changed in recent times (the long-familiar Nesher name may no longer be the operator), so do not assume a specific company will be waiting. Check the current signage in the arrivals hall, or pre-arrange a shared or private transfer if you want certainty, particularly for a late-night or Shabbat arrival.
Public Bus
The cheapest option of all is the public bus from the airport’s ground-level bus terminal to Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station, for around 16 shekels with a Rav-Kav or contactless card, which is just a few shekels less than the far quicker train. The ride takes roughly an hour, and from the Central Bus Station the light rail Red Line carries you onward into the city. Like the train, the bus does not run from Friday afternoon to Saturday night. It is a fine choice for budget travelers without much luggage; with heavy bags, the train or a taxi is more comfortable. Confirm the current route number in a transit app such as Moovit, as airport bus numbers occasionally change.
Private Taxi and Ride Apps
A private taxi from the official rank outside arrivals is the most comfortable, hassle-free option with a group, lots of luggage, or a late arrival, taking 45 to 60 minutes door to door. Expect a fixed long-distance fare in the region of 250 to 350 shekels, with surcharges late at night (typically from around 9pm) and on Shabbat. Use the official taxi rank and the meter or posted fixed rate rather than accepting an unofficial offer inside the terminal.
Ride-hailing apps also work from the airport’s designated pickup zones, usually at a similar or slightly lower price than a rank taxi. The apps used in Israel are Gett and Yango (Uber operates only in a limited form, so do not rely on it); download and set up an account before you land so you are ready in arrivals. For a group splitting the cost, a single taxi or app car can rival the per-person sherut price while being faster and direct.
Rental Cars
Major international and Israeli car-rental firms operate from the airport’s rental center, reached by a short shuttle from the terminal. A compact runs roughly 150 to 250 shekels a day plus fuel, and the drive to Jerusalem on Highway 1 takes about an hour. A car only makes sense, though, if you plan independent onward trips — to the Dead Sea, Masada, or the Galilee — because in Jerusalem itself parking is scarce and often charged (some hotels include it, others add a daily fee), and the historic center is largely closed to cars. For the city alone, skip the car and take the train. Note too that standard Israeli rentals are generally not insured to enter Palestinian Area A, so plan Bethlehem, Jericho, or Hebron by tour or local driver.
Late-Night and Shabbat Arrivals
Two situations call for a little forward planning. If you land very late at night, after the last train, your realistic options are a taxi, a ride app, or a shared taxi if one is running; some travelers pre-book a fixed-price transfer or arrange one through their hotel for peace of mind. If you arrive during Shabbat — from Friday afternoon to Saturday night — the train and buses are not running at all, so a shared taxi (which keeps operating) or a private taxi with a Shabbat surcharge are your only ways into the city. In both cases, knowing your plan before you fly beats improvising in the arrivals hall at midnight.
Heading Back to the Airport
The same options work in reverse. The train from Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon back to the airport runs at the same low fare and takes about 35 minutes, outside Shabbat. Shared taxis will collect you from your accommodation if you book a pickup the day before, and any taxi or app can take you door to door. Crucially, build in plenty of time: Israeli airport security is famously thorough, and the standard advice is to arrive about three hours before an international departure. Factor the journey plus that buffer into your plans, and never cut a Shabbat-day departure fine, since you cannot fall back on the train.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem?
The public bus is marginally the cheapest at around 16 shekels, but the train is only a little more (roughly 18–21 shekels) and much faster at about 35 minutes versus an hour, which is why most travelers choose it. Both are far cheaper than a taxi. Paying with a Rav-Kav or contactless card is the simplest way to get the lower fare.
How long does the airport transfer to Jerusalem take?
The train is quickest at about 35 minutes city center to airport. A private taxi or ride app takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, while the bus and shared sherut taxis take around 60 to 75 minutes, since they make stops. The train’s big advantage is that it bypasses road congestion entirely.
How do I get from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem on Shabbat?
From Friday afternoon to Saturday night the train and buses do not run. Your options are a shared taxi (sherut), which keeps operating at a slightly higher Shabbat fare, or a private taxi or ride app with a Shabbat surcharge. Because services and operators can change, confirm at the airport or pre-arrange a transfer if your arrival falls during Shabbat.
Where does the airport train arrive in Jerusalem?
At Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon, a deep underground station in the city center next to the Central Bus Station. From street level the light rail Red Line and city buses connect to all the main neighborhoods, and Mahane Yehuda Market is within easy reach. Allow a few minutes for the long escalators up from the platforms.
Should I book my airport transfer in advance?
Usually no — the train, shared taxis, and rank taxis are all walk-up and need no reservation. The exceptions are a very late-night arrival, after the train stops, or an arrival during Shabbat, when pre-booking a fixed-price taxi or transfer (often through your hotel) removes any uncertainty about what will be available.
How much should I budget for a taxi from the airport?
Plan on roughly 250 to 350 shekels for a private taxi or ride app to Jerusalem, with the higher end at night or on Shabbat. Always use the official taxi rank and the meter or posted fixed rate, and ignore unofficial drivers touting for fares inside the terminal, who typically charge more. To set the transfer in the context of your whole budget, see our how much a trip to Jerusalem costs guide.
Is Uber available at Ben Gurion Airport?
Only in a limited form, so do not rely on it. The ride-hailing apps that work in Israel are Gett and Yango, both with English interfaces and upfront pricing, picking up from the airport’s designated zones. Download and set one up before you land so it is ready when you reach arrivals.
The Bottom Line
For most arrivals, the train is the best Jerusalem airport transfer: about 35 minutes, roughly 18–21 shekels, frequent, and arriving right in the center. Choose a shared sherut taxi if you want door-to-door service with luggage, a private taxi or app for groups and late nights, and remember that only taxis run during Shabbat, when the train and buses stop. Plan your onward moves with our Jerusalem transportation guide, our guide to reaching Tel Aviv, and our Jerusalem travel tips.
