How is Public Transportation in Israel?
Public transportation in Israel is actually very good, but you do have to be a little careful and know a little bit about how it works, so you don’t end up in the wrong place. You also want to make sure you are staying somewhere with public transport close by, or you will end up spending a lot in Taxi services or walking more than you hoped.
Where will I be staying?
Your location can really impact your ability to utilize public transportation. Not every neighborhood has easy close access to buses or the new amazing light rail in Jerusalem. When looking for a place to stay, if you plan on using public transportation, be sure to reserve a place that has great access to get you around.
Where will I be going?
This doesn’t matter as much as where you will be staying. Almost any bus can get you to the central bus station. From the central bus station, you can take a train or bus to almost anywhere in Israel.
Now, in order to find out how to get to the places you need, you can use a great app called Moovit. This app will allow you to pay for and get public transportation directions to your destination.
How much does public transportation cost?
Depending on how much you will be riding the local public transport system, you can pay per ride or get a pass to allow you to ride unlimited for a month. Transportation in Israel doesn’t allow you to pay with cash and American cards currently don’t work at the train and bus stations.
What tools do I need to be able to take public transportation?
The most common way to pay for your ride is with the use of a Rav Kav card. You will need to find a local market or shop that supplies them and then have the store fill it with as much money/credit as you think you will use. For those who have a smart phone, there is also a Rav-Kav app you can download to instantly fill it with credit from wherever you are. You can get more information here: https://ravkavonline.co.il/en/
The other amazing way to navigate the public transportation system is with a smart app called Moovit which will allow you to purchase ride fair for buses and trains easily and without the need to find yourself a Rav-Kav card. Even better, the Moovit app will allow you to search for a destination and it will advise you, live, which bus or train to take and provide walking instructions to get to your destination.