Tel Aviv’s Public Transportation

When it comes to public transportation, our little start-up nation unfortunately is not as sophisticated as one would expect.

As a rule, public transportation in Israel runs on weekdays and shuts down on weekends (an hour before Shabbat commences and an hour after Shabbat ends) and on holidays.

Although operating almost 24 hours a day, the city that never sleeps lacks in public transportation convenience, where most public transportation shuts down after mid-night a part from the “Sheirut” (yellow minivans) running a long Tel Aviv’s main streets and many taxi’s.

The #4 Sheirut runs along Ben Yehuda and Allenby from Tel Aviv’s Redding Power Station to the Central Bus Station and back. They operate 7 days a week and depending on the day of the week and season, you will find them running almost 24 hours a day. They come frequently and yet there will be times (weekends, especially Friday nights and during summer) where trying to get on one seems almost impossible.

The #4A (4 Alef) does the same route as #4, only it continues to Tel Aviv’s northern neighborhoods passed the HaYarkon River (Ramat Aviv, etc.)

The #5 runs along Allenby, Rothschild, Dizengoff, Nordau, Pinkas, through Weizman and Yehuda HaMaccabi from The Central Bus Station ending at the Dekel Country Club by the Bavli neighborhood and back. #5 operates 7 days a week, from 6:00 AM to 3:00 AM and runs less frequently than the #4.

Taxi’s are abundant, and are great to use within the city. Here are some basic, important info you should know before you go ahead and hail for a cab:

The basic tariff starts at 12.3 NIS, where the final cost depends on whether the ride is within rate 1 or 2.

Rate 1 (Tariff 1) are between 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Rate 2 (Tariff 2) are between 9:01 PM – 5:29 AM

A ride from Ben Gurion Airport is an additional charge of 5 NIS

Luggage – The taxi driver may charge an additional 4.5 NIS for every suitcase

Passengers – If there are more than two passengers, the driver may charge an additional 4.9 NIS, unless they are children under the age of 5.

Taxi’s and Sheiruts are available on weekends and holidays at Tariff 2.

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