How to get from Ben Gurion to Tel Aviv at night or on Shabbat
Updated September 2026 · 6 min read · לגרסה בעברית
The short answer
On weekdays, take the train: since early summer 2026 hourly overnight trains run through Ben Gurion toward Tel Aviv, ₪11.50 on a Rav-Kav card. From Friday afternoon to Saturday night there are no trains and no sherut vans, so it is an official taxi from Terminal 3, roughly ₪130 to ₪160 by day and up to about ₪205 on a Friday night, or one taxi shared between people landing in the same window.
What changed in 2026
2 changes, in opposite directions. The bad one: the shared sherut vans from Ben Gurion no longer run, so the cheap door to door option is gone. The good one: from early summer 2026 Israel Railways runs hourly night trains through Ben Gurion toward Tel Aviv and the north on weekdays, timed for the summer flight peak. Guides written before 2026 miss both.
The train (now also at night on weekdays)
The train from the airport station (Terminal 3, level S) reaches Tel Aviv HaHagana, HaShalom, and Savidor Center in about 11 to 20 minutes for ₪11.50 with a Rav-Kav card, the flat price for any trip under 15 km. During the day it runs every few minutes to every quarter hour, and on weekday nights the new overnight service runs about once an hour.
- No trains from Friday afternoon until Saturday night, and reduced service on holiday eves.
- Overnight frequency is hourly, so check Moovit or the Israel Railways app against your actual landing time before deciding to wait.
- From the Tel Aviv stations you still need a short taxi, bus, or walk to your final address.
An official taxi from Terminal 3
Taxis wait at the official stand outside Terminal 3 around the clock, including Shabbat. The price is the regulated meter: a daytime ride to Tel Aviv runs roughly 130 to 160 shekels including the departure levy. Band A is the daytime meter: Sunday to Thursday 06:00 to 21:00, Friday and holiday eves until 16:00. Band B runs about 14 percent higher and covers weeknights from 21:01, Friday afternoon, and Saturday and holiday daytime. Band C runs about 28 percent higher: Thursday from 23:01, Friday and holiday eves from 21:01, and Saturday and holidays from 19:01 until 05:59. In practice that puts a night arrival around 150 to 180 shekels and a Friday night or Saturday evening arrival around 170 to 205.
Use only the official stand. Ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride.
A pre-booked private transfer
Transfer companies drive to Tel Aviv at fixed pre-agreed prices, including on Shabbat. Convenient if you want a name sign at arrivals, and usually priced at or above the official taxi rate. Book before you fly and confirm the price covers night or Shabbat timing.
Split the taxi
Tel Aviv is the busiest corridor out of Ben Gurion, which means at almost any hour people are landing and heading the same way. Sharing one taxi from the official stand cuts the fare in half with a single match, and a 150 shekel night ride drops to roughly 38 each with a full taxi, door to door, no waiting for an hourly train with luggage.
The hard part was always finding those people. Full disclosure, we built PairMee for exactly this, and this is our site. You write your trip in 1 sentence and see the people already landing around the same time going the same way. If nobody is yet, the same sentence becomes your ride post, and whoever posts the ride approves who joins. There are women-only rides for anyone who prefers them. Posting a ride costs nothing, and the Tel Aviv corridor has the most people landing with the exact same problem.
Prices at a glance (2026)
| Option | Price per person | Runs at night? | Runs on Shabbat? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train into Tel Aviv | 11.50 ₪ | Yes on weekdays, hourly overnight | No |
| Official taxi, alone | ~130 to 205 ₪ | Yes, band B meter | Yes, band B or C meter |
| Pre-booked transfer | ~160 ₪ and up | Yes | Yes |
| Shared taxi, 2 to 4 people | ~33 to 103 ₪ | Yes | Yes |
| Sherut van | No longer operates |
Meter estimates under the Ministry of Transport order in force from 1 April 2026, over the measured road distance. Actual fares vary with traffic, address and tolls.
Frequently asked questions
Does the train from Ben Gurion to Tel Aviv run at night in 2026?
On weekdays, yes. Israel Railways added hourly overnight trains through Ben Gurion toward Tel Aviv in early summer 2026, on top of the frequent daytime service. There are still no trains from Friday afternoon until Saturday night. Check Moovit or the Israel Railways app for your landing time.
How much is a taxi from Ben Gurion to Tel Aviv?
A daytime ride runs roughly 130 to 160 shekels on the meter from the official Terminal 3 stand. From 21:01 the meter moves to band B, roughly 150 to 180, and late on Thursday, on Friday night and on Saturday evening to band C, roughly 170 to 205.
How do I get from Ben Gurion to Tel Aviv on Shabbat?
Trains and regular buses do not run from Friday afternoon until Saturday night. Since February 2026 there is one exception for Tel Aviv: the free municipal 711 bus (the "Noim BaSofash" initiative) stops at Terminal 1 roughly every 2 hours, with a free airport shuttle connecting Terminal 3. Beyond that it is a taxi from the official stand at the Shabbat band of the meter, a pre-booked transfer, or a taxi shared with other people landing in the same window.
Is there a sherut from Ben Gurion to Tel Aviv in 2026?
No. The shared sherut van services from Ben Gurion no longer operate and were not replaced.
Can I split a taxi to Tel Aviv with other passengers?
Yes. Tel Aviv is the busiest corridor from the airport, which makes it the easiest one to find a match on. You can coordinate on PairMee before you land: 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.
Founder, PairMee
I founded PairMee. The PairMee team writes these guides from the regulated tariff and the published timetables, last checked September 2026.
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