Israel operates a multi-modal transport system spanning 22,145 square kilometers, with infrastructure concentrated along the coastal corridor between Nahariya and Ashkelon where 70 percent of the population resides. The country maintains 19,555 kilometers of paved roads, a national rail network covering 1,384 kilometers, and three international airports. Movement within Israel requires understanding security protocols that add 15 to 45 minutes to most transit experiences, Jewish sabbath restrictions that halt public transport from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, and regional variations in infrastructure quality between developed coastal areas and peripheral regions like the Negev Desert and Arava Valley.
Ben Gurion Airport operates 18 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv, handling 24 million passengers in 2019. Ramon Airport opened near Eilat in January 2019, replacing Ovda Airport for civilian service to the Red Sea coast. Haifa Airport serves domestic routes and limited international connections. Ground transport from Ben Gurion to central Tel Aviv takes 20 minutes by train (13.50 shekels), 35 minutes by shared sherut taxi (price varies by destination, typically 40-60 shekels), or 25 to 40 minutes by private taxi depending on traffic. The airport rail station opened in 2004 with connections to Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, and Jerusalem via the high-speed line completed in 2018. Jerusalem connections require one transfer at Tel Aviv HaHagana station with total journey time of 56 minutes.
Israel Railways operates service on seven lines radiating from Tel Aviv, with coastal service extending from Nahariya south to Ashkelon and inland routes serving Beersheba, Jerusalem, and Beit Shean. Electric multiple unit trains run every 20 to 40 minutes on major routes during operating hours, with frequency increasing to 10-minute intervals during morning and evening peaks on the Tel Aviv-Herzliya-Netanya corridor. The network carried 69 million passengers in 2019. Rail service stops completely from Friday afternoon (exact time varies by season, typically 14:00-16:00) until Saturday evening approximately one hour after sunset, resuming around 20:30 in summer or 19:30 in winter. Single tickets cost between 6.90 shekels for short journeys and 37 shekels for cross-country trips. The Rav Kav smart card offers stored value and discounted fares but requires Israeli identification for personal registration; tourists can purchase anonymous Rav Kav cards at stations for 5 shekels plus fare credit.
The Jerusalem-Tel Aviv high-speed line opened September 2018 after two decades of construction, running 56 kilometers with most track in tunnels beneath the Judean Hills. Trains reach maximum speeds of 160 kilometers per hour, completing the journey in 32 minutes compared to 80 minutes on highways during peak traffic. The line terminates at Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station located 800 meters from the Old City, requiring connection by light rail or bus to reach the Western Wall, Temple Mount, or Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Service operates every 30 minutes during most of day, increasing to 20-minute intervals during peaks. The line closes for sabbath along with all rail services.
Jerusalem Light Rail operates a single 23.5-kilometer line with 53 stations running from Mount Herzl through the city center to Pisgat Ze'ev in the northeast. The line opened in 2011 and carries 145,000 passengers daily, crossing the 1967 Green Line to serve neighborhoods in East Jerusalem including Shuafat. Trains run every 6 to 24 minutes depending on time and day, operating through sabbath unlike all other rail services in Israel. Single tickets cost 5.90 shekels, valid for 90 minutes including transfers. The light rail provides the primary connection between Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station and the Old City, with the City Hall stop located 600 meters from Jaffa Gate. Construction of a second line from Gilo to Neve Yaakov began in 2019 with projected completion in 2025.
Egged operates the largest bus network in Israel with 3,100 vehicles serving 900 routes nationwide. The company holds monopoly or dominant positions in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, and most intercity corridors. Dan operates 1,200 buses serving Tel Aviv and central region routes. Kavim, Metropoline, and Afikim provide service in specific regional areas under tender contracts with the Ministry of Transport. Intercity buses connect all major cities with frequencies ranging from every 10 minutes between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (route 405) to once daily for remote destinations in the Negev. Tel Aviv to Haifa takes 90 minutes via coastal highway, Tel Aviv to Beersheba requires 90 minutes, Tel Aviv to Eilat takes 4.5 hours. All public bus service ceases for sabbath from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening, except in Haifa where limited Saturday service operates on select routes.
Sherut shared taxis operate on fixed routes using minivans seating 10 to 12 passengers, departing when full rather than on fixed schedules. These services run on major corridors including Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv to Haifa, and within cities. Sherut taxis continue operating during sabbath on most routes when buses stop, charging approximately 20 to 50 percent premium over weekday rates. The main sherut station for Tel Aviv-Jerusalem service operates near the central bus station, with vehicles departing continuously during business hours and less frequently evenings and sabbath. Payment is typically cash only, with fares slightly higher than equivalent bus tickets.
Private taxis operate under meter regulations in all cities, with base fare of 12.30 shekels and distance charges of 2.65 shekels per kilometer. Night rates apply 21:00 to 05:30 with 25 percent surcharge. Sabbath and holiday rates add 25 percent surcharge. Gett and Yango operate ride-hailing apps in major cities with pricing typically matching or slightly undercutting metered taxis. Uber ceased operations in Israel in 2018. Taxis ordered by phone or app typically arrive within 10 to 20 minutes in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, with longer waits in smaller cities and peripheral areas.
Car rental operates through international agencies (Hertz, Avis, Budget, Sixt) and local companies (Eldan, Shlomo Sixt, Cal Auto) with prices ranging from 150 to 400 shekels daily depending on vehicle class and season. Most agencies require drivers be minimum 21 years old with some categories requiring age 24 or 27. International driving licenses are accepted for tourists staying under 12 months. Traffic drives on the right side. Highway 6 operates as a toll road running north-south through central Israel, charging between 2.70 and 47.30 shekels per segment based on distance, collected automatically via electronic transponder or license plate photo billing sent to rental agency. Highway 1 connects Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as the primary free alternative, climbing 750 meters through the Judean Hills with heavy truck traffic and frequent congestion adding 30 to 60 minutes during peaks.
Parking in Jerusalem Old City area is extremely limited with most streets closed to vehicles. The Mamilla parking garage near Jaffa Gate charges 14 shekels first hour and 7 shekels subsequent hours. Tel Aviv operates color-coded curb zones with blue-white requiring payment 08:00 to 19:00 weekdays (approximately 6 shekels per hour via Pango or Cello apps), red-white prohibiting parking during business hours, and gray permitting free parking. Most Tel Aviv neighborhoods have severe parking scarcity during evenings and weekends. Haifa uses similar color coding with lower rates. Parking enforcement is active with fines starting at 100 shekels.
Road conditions vary significantly by region. The coastal plain and central areas maintain highways and arterial roads to European standards with good signage in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. The Negev and areas near the Dead Sea have fewer services, limited lighting, and increased wildlife crossing hazards including ibex near Ein Gedi and camels in the Arava Valley. Route 90 runs the length of the Jordan Rift Valley from Metula at the Lebanese border to Eilat on the Red Sea, passing the Sea of Galilee, Beit She'an, Jericho, and the Dead Sea over 480 kilometers. The road descends to 430 meters below sea level at the Dead Sea, the lowest road on Earth. Flash flood risk exists in desert areas particularly in wadis during winter months October through March.