How to get from Ben Gurion Airport to Haifa in 2026 (after the Amal sherut ended)

Quick answer

The Amal sherut that ran this route for decades stopped operating in January 2026. Today the train is the default: direct from Terminal 3 to Haifa, including hourly overnight trains on weekday nights since early summer 2026. On Shabbat there are no trains, and a solo taxi runs 470 to 580 shekels plus surcharges, which is why sharing one taxi between people landing in the same window is the only cheap door-to-door option left.

What changed in 2026

The Amal sherut was the institution of this corridor: a shared van from the airport to your door in Haifa and the Krayot, at any hour, for a fraction of a taxi. In January 2026 it was discontinued along with the Nesher service to Jerusalem. The partial good news came in early summer 2026, when Israel Railways added hourly overnight trains through Ben Gurion toward Haifa on weekdays. Between the two changes, most older guides to this route are now wrong in both directions.

Option 1: the train (the default now)

Direct trains run from the airport station (Terminal 3, level S) to Haifa Hof HaCarmel and Haifa Center HaShmona in about an hour, for roughly 30 to 40 shekels with a Rav-Kav card. On weekday nights the new overnight service runs about once an hour toward the north.

• No trains from Friday afternoon until Saturday night, and reduced service on holiday eves.
• Check Moovit or the Israel Railways app against your actual landing time; overnight trains are hourly, so a just-missed train means a real wait.
• From the Haifa stations you still need the Metronit, a bus, or a taxi up the hill to your final address, which matters with luggage at night.

Option 2: an official taxi from Terminal 3

Taxis wait at the official stand outside Terminal 3 around the clock, including Shabbat, but this is one of the longest and most expensive solo rides in the country: roughly 470 to 580 shekels in the daytime. Between 23:31 and 04:59 the night tariff adds 25 percent, and on Shabbat and holidays the surcharge can reach 50 percent, which can push a single ride toward 700 shekels and beyond.

Use only the official stand. Ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride.

Option 3: a pre-booked private transfer

Transfer companies drive to Haifa at fixed pre-agreed prices, including on Shabbat. Worth comparing against the official tariff for your exact timing, and essential to book before you fly.

Option 4: split the taxi (what the Amal price used to feel like)

The Amal van worked because ten people shared one vehicle. The van is gone, but the arithmetic is not: one match cuts the fare in half, and a full taxi from the official stand drops it to roughly 118 to 145 shekels each instead of 470 to 580 alone, door to door, at any hour including Shabbat.

The hard part was always finding those people. Full disclosure, we built PairMee for exactly this, and this is our site. You post your flight window and destination for free, see people landing around the same time going the same way, and the person who posts the ride approves who joins. There are women-only rides for anyone who prefers them. We launched recently and we are honest about being small, but on a corridor where the solo alternative costs hundreds of shekels, even one match pays for the effort many times over.

Prices at a glance (2026)

Fare estimates are examples only, actual fares vary with time, address, and luggage.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still an Amal sherut from Ben Gurion to Haifa?

No. The Amal shared sherut service from Ben Gurion to Haifa was discontinued in January 2026, together with the Nesher service to Jerusalem. No company replaced them.

How much is a taxi from Ben Gurion to Haifa?

A solo taxi from the official Terminal 3 stand to Haifa runs roughly 470 to 580 shekels in the daytime, more with the night tariff (+25 percent from 23:31 to 04:59) or on Shabbat and holidays (up to +50 percent). It is one of the most expensive solo rides in the country.

Does the train from Ben Gurion run to Haifa at night?

On weekdays, yes. Since early summer 2026 hourly overnight trains run through Ben Gurion toward Haifa and the north, reaching Hof HaCarmel and Haifa Center HaShmona. There are no trains from Friday afternoon until Saturday night.

How do I get from Ben Gurion to Haifa on Shabbat?

Only by private vehicle: an official taxi (with the Shabbat surcharge, several hundred shekels), a pre-booked transfer, or one taxi shared between people landing in the same window, which cuts the cost to half or less.

Can I split a taxi from the airport to Haifa?

Yes, and on this corridor it changes everything: a 470 shekel solo ride drops to half with one match, and to roughly 118 per person with a full taxi. You can coordinate on PairMee before you land: post your flight window for free and approve the people who join you.