Israel operates three international airports. Ben Gurion Airport sits 15 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv and 50 kilometers northwest of Jerusalem. Ramon Airport opened in January 2019 near Eilat, 18 kilometers north of the city center. Haifa Airport handles limited international traffic primarily from Cyprus and Turkey. Ben Gurion processes approximately 25 million passengers annually and serves as the primary entry point for nearly all visitors arriving by air.
Ben Gurion Airport contains three terminals. Terminal 3 handles all international flights and opened in 2004 at a cost of $800 million. Terminal 1 reopened in 2017 for low-cost carriers after closing in 2004. Terminal 2 closed permanently when Terminal 3 opened. The distance between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 requires a shuttle bus, which operates every 10-15 minutes. Most visitors will arrive and depart through Terminal 3.
Security procedures at Ben Gurion begin before check-in. Passengers departing Israel typically arrive three hours before international flights. Security personnel conduct interviews at check-in asking about travel history, contacts in Israel, and luggage packing. Questions can last between two minutes and twenty minutes depending on passport, travel patterns, and responses. Baggage undergoes CT scanning and may receive physical inspection. The process represents the most intensive civilian airport security globally and directly stems from multiple hijacking attempts and attacks between 1968 and 1976.
Arriving passengers in Terminal 3 walk approximately 400 meters from gate to passport control. Israel does not stamp passports of arriving visitors as of 2013. Border control issues a blue entry card containing passport details, entry date, and permitted stay duration. This card must be retained until departure. Citizens of most Western countries receive 90-day tourist visas on arrival at no charge. The border official may ask destination, accommodation, and return flight details. Processing takes between three and fifteen minutes per passenger depending on queues and nationality.
Currency exchange booths operate in the arrivals hall before customs exit. The shekel floats against major currencies with exchange rates updated continuously. As of 2024 typical rates hover near 3.6 shekels per US dollar, though this varies daily. Exchange booths at the airport typically charge 3-5% above mid-market rates. ATMs in the arrivals hall offer better rates with foreign transaction fees dependent on home bank policies. Major Israeli banks Hapoalim, Leumi, and Discount operate ATMs accepting Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro cards.
Mobile phone connectivity requires either international roaming or a local SIM card. Israel operates on GSM 900/1800 and UMTS 2100 frequencies. Three primary carriers exist: Pelephone, Cellcom, and Partner. Tourist SIM cards are available from vending machines and staffed booths in the arrivals hall starting at approximately 50 shekels for basic data packages. Coverage across Israel exceeds 95% of populated areas with 4G widely available and 5G expanding in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa since 2020.
Ground transportation from Ben Gurion to Tel Aviv operates via train, bus, shared taxi, and private taxi. The train station sits beneath Terminal 3 and connects directly to Tel Aviv's four stations: HaHagana, HaShalom, Savidor Center, and University. Trains depart every 20 minutes during daytime hours and every 30 minutes early morning and late evening. The journey to Tel Aviv Savidor Center takes 13 minutes and costs 13.50 shekels as of 2024. Trains do not operate from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening during Shabbat.
Bus line 5 operates by Egged from Terminal 3 to Tel Aviv Central Bus Station with stops along Arlozorov Street. The journey takes 40-60 minutes depending on traffic and costs 5.90 shekels when using a Rav-Kav card or approximately 8 shekels cash. Buses run every 20 minutes during daytime. Service pauses during Shabbat matching train schedules. Bus line 947 provides express service to Jerusalem departing from platforms outside Terminal 3. Journey time averages 50 minutes to Jerusalem Central Bus Station and costs 16 shekels with Rav-Kav or 20 shekels cash.
Shared taxis called sherut or nesher operate on fixed routes with departures when vehicles fill to capacity, typically 10 passengers. Nesher Taxi serves Jerusalem with door-to-door service costing approximately 65 shekels per person during daytime and 75 shekels after 21:00. The service operates 24 hours including Shabbat at increased rates. Vehicles depart from designated areas outside the arrivals hall. Private taxis to Tel Aviv cost 150-180 shekels metered or by negotiated flat rate. Jerusalem costs 250-300 shekels by private taxi. Taxis operate on meters required by law since 1992 with rates set by the Ministry of Transport.
Ramon Airport near Eilat opened specifically to replace the previous Eilat Airport which sat within city limits. Construction cost exceeded 1.7 billion shekels. The terminal can process 2 million passengers annually though current traffic remains under 1 million. Transportation from Ramon to Eilat city center operates primarily by bus line 282 which costs 12.90 shekels and takes 35 minutes. Taxis charge approximately 120-150 shekels metered for the 18-kilometer journey. The airport receives limited international flights primarily from Europe during winter tourist season and domestic flights from Ben Gurion and Haifa year-round.
First-time visitors landing at Ben Gurion typically choose between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for initial accommodation. The decision impacts ground transportation, Shabbat planning, and cultural immersion. Jerusalem sits in the Judean Hills at elevations between 600 and 800 meters. Summer temperatures average 24°C in August with low humidity. Winter brings occasional snowfall, most recently accumulating significantly in January 2013 and February 2021. Tel Aviv sits at sea level on the Mediterranean coast with summer temperatures reaching 30°C and high humidity. Winter remains mild with temperatures rarely below 10°C and rainfall concentrated between November and March.
The Rav-Kav card functions as the universal public transportation payment method across Israel. The card costs 5 shekels and can be loaded with credit or multi-ride passes. All buses, trains, and Jerusalem's light rail accept Rav-Kav. The card offers discounted fares compared to cash payment and allows transfers between operators within 90 minutes of first boarding. Rav-Kav cards are available from automated machines at train stations, some bus stations, post offices, and convenience stores. The card cannot be purchased on buses. Visitors planning extensive public transport use save approximately 30% using Rav-Kav versus cash fares.
Luggage storage at Ben Gurion operates through a private service called Baggage Storage near Terminal 3 departures level. Costs run approximately 30-40 shekels per bag per day with 24-hour access. Maximum storage duration extends to 30 days. Storage requires identification matching the stored luggage tags. Hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem generally hold luggage after checkout on departure day at no charge for guests with evening flights, a common practice given Ben Gurion's recommended three-hour pre-flight arrival for departures.
Banking infrastructure in Israel operates Sunday through Thursday with Friday shortened hours and Saturday closures matching Shabbat. ATMs function continuously. Credit cards see near-universal acceptance in hotels, restaurants, and shops in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Visa and Mastercard dominate with American Express accepted less widely. Small vendors in markets and some older establishments deal exclusively in cash. The shekel subdivides into 100 agorot with coins in denominations of 10 agorot and 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 shekels. Banknotes exist in 20, 50, 100, and 200 shekel denominations featuring Israeli historical figures and cultural symbols.
Travel to the West Bank from Ben Gurion requires routing through Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Direct transportation does not exist from the airport to West Bank cities. Visitors holding foreign passports can cross checkpoints into Area A cities including Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jericho. Israeli citizens cannot enter Area A by law. Checkpoint procedures vary daily with wait times from 10 minutes to over an hour. Palestinian taxi drivers cannot enter Israel proper and Israeli taxis typically refuse trips into Palestinian Authority areas, requiring taxi changes at checkpoints.