Landing at Ben Gurion on the High Holidays 2026? Read this first

Updated September 2026 · 4 min read · לגרסה בעברית

The short answer

Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins Friday evening, September 11 and runs into Shabbat: trains and buses stop for about 3 days, until Sunday night September 13. Yom Kippur (September 20 to 21) and the start of Sukkot (Friday September 25) repeat the shutdown. That leaves a taxi at the holiday bands of the meter, roughly 14 percent above the weekday rate during the day and 28 percent from the evening, and the fare is per taxi, so people landing together share one.

The 3 September blackouts

Holiday	No trains or buses	Length	Worth knowing
Rosh Hashanah + Shabbat	Fri Sep 11 (afternoon) to Sun Sep 13 (night)	~3 days	The longest block: holiday runs straight into Shabbat
Yom Kippur	Sun Sep 20 (afternoon) to Mon Sep 21 (night)	~1.5 days	Airport keeps operating; the roads and transit do not
Sukkot (first days) + Shabbat	Fri Sep 25 (afternoon) to Sun Sep 27 (night)	~3 days	Chol hamoed runs reduced service after

Transit resumption times vary by line; check Moovit or the Israel Railways app close to your date.

What the taxi costs on a Chag

The meter prices a holiday exactly like Shabbat: band B through the day, band C from the evening. A Jerusalem ride that reads 280 to 330 shekels on a weekday afternoon reads about 315 to 380 on Rosh Hashanah itself, and 355 to 430 on the eve. The higher band applies to the taxi, not to each person, which is exactly why splitting matters most in September: 4 people sharing that Jerusalem ride pay roughly a quarter each, surcharge included.

Full disclosure, we built PairMee for exactly this, and this is our site. You write your trip in 1 sentence, see the people already landing around the same time going the same way, and approve who joins you. There are women-only rides for anyone who prefers them. Holiday landings are when the math works hardest in your favor.

Holiday arrival tips

Use only the official taxi stand outside Terminal 3. Holiday crowds attract unofficial offers inside the terminal; skip them.
On Yom Kippur itself, even taxis are scarce for parts of the day. If you can move your flight off September 20 to 21, do.
Book nothing that promises a "holiday discount" on a private transfer without a written price; the regulated surcharge is the honest baseline.
Post your ride before you fly, not after you land: the people on your flight window are deciding how they get home this week too.

Frequently asked questions

Is there public transport from Ben Gurion on Rosh Hashanah 2026?

Mostly no, and for longer than people expect. Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Friday, September 11 and runs into Shabbat, so trains and regular buses stop from Friday afternoon until Sunday night, September 13. Plan for a taxi if you land in that window.

How much does a taxi from the airport cost on a holiday?

The meter prices a holiday exactly like Shabbat: band B during the day and band C from the evening. A Jerusalem ride that reads 280 to 330 shekels on a weekday afternoon reads about 315 to 380 on the holiday itself and 355 to 430 on the eve. The fare is per taxi, so people landing in the same window split one cab and divide it.

When exactly are the September 2026 transit blackouts?

3 blocks: Rosh Hashanah plus Shabbat from Friday afternoon September 11 to Sunday night September 13; Yom Kippur from Sunday afternoon September 20 to Monday night September 21 (when even the roads empty out); and Sukkot beginning Friday afternoon September 25, running into Shabbat again. Check Moovit close to your date for exact resumption times.

What is the cheapest way to get home if I land on a chag?

Splitting a taxi. Trains and buses are parked, transfers charge holiday rates, and the official stand applies the surcharge to the whole taxi, not per person. 4 people sharing a Jerusalem ride pay roughly a quarter each. You can coordinate on PairMee before you fly: write your trip in 1 sentence, see who is already landing around the same time going the same way, and if nobody is yet, that same sentence becomes your ride post and you approve who joins.