Bus
Buses are the most common form of public transportation for both locals and tourists. Don’t be surprised to see young soldiers with machine guns using the bus service. The extensive national bus system (in fact the second largest in the world) is run by a public corporation called Egged. The Tel Aviv metropolitan area is served by buses from the Dan bus company.
Trains
The Israeli train system has recently been modernised and Tel Aviv has four train stations situated along the Ayalon Highway. The stops are from north to south: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv Merkaz, Tel Aviv Hashalom (near Azrieli Center shopping mall) and Tel Aviv Hahaganah (near the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station). It is estimated that more than a million people travel to Tel Aviv from outlying areas monthly. Train lines run along Israel's Mediterranean coast so the train is particularly useful for connections between Haifa, Tel Aviv and the airport.
Taxis
Taxis are a very common means of transport in Israel. Ask them to use the meter and only use registered taxis, never get into an unmarked private car that’s posing as a taxi. Monit Sherut is a shared taxi services and offers an interesting alternative to the bus or a regular taxi. In fact they’re minivans that follow the bus routes but can be hailed from anywhere. If there are several of you in the taxi it can even be cheaper than the bus although fares increase during Sabbath when the normal buses do not operate.
Car
Tel Aviv is a major transport hub in Israel and many national roads pass through or end in Tel Aviv. The main road access to Tel Aviv is the Ayalon Highway (Highway 20), which runs along the eastern side of the city from north to south along the Ayalon River riverbed, dividing Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Driving south on the Ayalon gives access to Highway 1, leading to Ben Gurion International Airport and Jerusalem. Within Tel Aviv itself the main streets routes are King George Street, Allenby Street, Ibn Gabirol Street, Dizengoff Street, Rothschild Boulevard, and in Jaffa (an old town adjacent to Tel Aviv) the main route is Jerusalem Boulevard. Namir Road connects the city to Highway 2, Israel's main north–south highway. The 500,000 or so commuter cars in the region of Tel Aviv each day give rise to increasing mounts of congestion. There are plans to introduce a congestion charge similar to London. The municipality of Tel Aviv is trying to encourage the use of bicycles in the city, aiming to open 100 bicycle-rental stations in the next two years.
In early 2008 municipality of Tel Aviv launched announced a pilot scheme to build charging stations for electric cars. Initially, five charging points will be built, and eventually 150 points will be set up across the city as part of the Israeli electric car project, Project Better Place. Battery replacement points will be located at the city's entrances.
If you want to rent a car follow one of the following links:
As a tourist or temporary resident you can drive in Israel with a valid foreign driver's license for one year following your date of entry into Israel. After one year you will have to get an Israeli driver's license, which requires taking a driving test (or Mivchan Shlita in Hebrew). You are not normally required to take a written examination. Misrad HaRishui is the name for the Ministry of Vehicle Licensing and they deal with the paperwork involved in obtaining an Israeli drivers licence. For more information visit:
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