Arrival Guide · TAU International
Landing For TAU International? Here Is How You Get To Tel Aviv Without Paying 130+ Shekels Alone.
Most international students land at Ben Gurion in August, in the weeks before orientation. The shared vans every older guide recommends no longer operate, so a late or Shabbat arrival means a private taxi. The fare is per taxi, not per person.
Updated July 2026
The Short Version
The airport to Tel Aviv is the densest arrival corridor in Israel, which means the most people landing in your exact window. People landing in the same window share one taxi from the official stand and split the fare.
The Math, Per Person
130 to 160 ₪ alone on the day rate. 65 to 80 ₪ with one match. About 33 to 40 ₪ each when four share.
Before You Fly
Post your flight window on PairMee. People on your flight or the one after see it and ask to join. You approve who rides with you.
The Math, Per Person
| Option | Day rate to Tel Aviv | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi alone | 130 to 160 ₪ | Plus 25% at night, up to 50% on Shabbat |
| Taxi shared by 2 | 65 to 80 ₪ each | Same taxi, same stand, half the price |
| Taxi shared by 4 | 33 to 40 ₪ each | Cheaper than the old sherut in most cases |
| Train + local taxi | ~20 ₪ + taxi | Not on Shabbat, night gaps, luggage transfers |
Fare estimates are examples only, actual fares vary with time, address, and luggage.
How To Set It Up Before You Fly
- 1
Post Your Flight Window
On PairMee with your destination in Tel Aviv. It takes 2 minutes and costs nothing.
- 2
See Who Lands With You
People from your own program often land the same week, sometimes the same flight.
- 3
Approve Who Joins
Every rider has a profile, and the person who posts the ride decides who rides. There are women-only rides for anyone who prefers them.
- 4
Meet At The Stand
The official taxi stand outside Terminal 3, ride together, and split the fare between yourselves.
Full disclosure, this is our site: we built PairMee for exactly this coordination. The Tel Aviv arrival corridor is where taxi sharing works best, because every landing wave brings new people with the same problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv when I arrive?
The train is the cheapest option when it runs, but it stops on Shabbat and has night gaps, and you still need a taxi from the station with your luggage. A taxi from the official Terminal 3 stand runs roughly 130 to 160 shekels at the day rate, more at night and on Shabbat. The fare is per taxi, so people landing in the same window increasingly share one and split the fare.
Is there a sherut (shared van) from the airport in 2026?
No. The shared sherut vans no longer operate and nothing replaced them door-to-door. Intercity buses still leave Terminal 3 on weekdays, but they end at central bus stations, do not run on Shabbat, and are not built for a 2am landing with suitcases. Older advice about taking a sherut no longer applies.
How does splitting a taxi with other students work?
You post your flight window and destination on PairMee for free before you fly. People landing around the same time and heading the same way ask to join, and you approve who rides with you. You meet at the official taxi stand outside Terminal 3 and split the fare directly.
Is there a women-only option?
Yes. You can mark a ride as women-only, and only women see it and can ask to join.
What does PairMee cost?
Nothing. Posting and joining rides is free and there are no booking fees. You split the metered taxi fare between yourselves.
Program Coordinators
If you run arrivals for TAU International and Tel Aviv area programs and want a version of this page for your incoming group, or a short blurb for your pre-arrival email, we set it up for free. Details for partners.
Flying In For TAU International? See Who Lands With You.
Post your flight window for free and approve the people who join your taxi.