Tel Aviv - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
They are all safe, but like everything in this city, they will be more expensive than in the US. Gett is the popular taxi app. Most people get around with scooters. - Jan 2022
yes - Apr 2021
Taxis are easily available though an app similar to Uber. They are equivalent to Washington, DC prices, maybe a little more. Intercity trains are modern and reliable, but it always seems to be faster to drive so I've never taken them. I don't have personal experience with buses but many people use them and they are modern and efficient. They do not run from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening. There is a shared taxi-van system that runs along bus routes and does function on Shabbat. It's a small country so you can get anywhere fairly quickly in a car; the farthest point is about 4 hours away. In Tel Aviv, there are many bike share/scooter options to get around. - Oct 2019
Bus use was prohibited due to security concerns. Taxis are safe; you can call them through an app service, but can be expensive if you rely on them regularly. Trains are excellent, clean, safe and will take you to most major cities around the country or to the airport for a very cheap price. They do not run on shabbat. We used the train frequently to travel to other cities. You can also use Sheruts, which are shared minibuses that run on regular routes. Tel Aviv is an excellent walking city, and you can reach almost any point in the city on foot in 45 minutes or less. We walked everywhere, year-round. - Nov 2018
Buses are still prohibited. There are vans called “sheruts†that follow similar routes to the buses and pick up passengers at the same stops for about $1.50 a ride, though the routes aren’t easily laid out (you can ask anyone waiting and they’ll help you with which number sherut to use). Taxis are usually safe, though the drivers seem to be the only people in Tel Aviv who have limited English capabilities. - Aug 2017
Buses not allowed for USG personnel, but GETT taxi app dominates here over Uber and is decently-priced. Shared taxis (sheruts) are permissible and are an excellent way to get around the city easily for the equivalent of less than $2 a ride. I use them all the time. - Oct 2016
Taxis are safe! if you use Uber or their local app Gett taxi, those are great options too, but they are not cheap. - Jul 2016
Embassy personnel are still not permitted to ride buses though we can use taxis and sheruts (shared taxis). Taxis and sheruts are fairly affordable. You can get most across Tel Aviv for about US$15 in a taxi. Sherut prices are comparable to local buses, but seats can be hard to find at rush hour. - Apr 2016
Reasonably affordable and safe. The national railways do have issues with the unions, so sudden strikes can be a plague. - Mar 2016
Buses aren't allowed for Embassy folks. Trains and taxis are safe and there are shared buses - sheruts. I drive everywhere. - Nov 2014
Trains are okay to use as are the Sheruts (small buses). No regular buses are allowed for US Embassy employees or their family members. - Apr 2013
Can't ride a bus, but trains, taxis, and small commuter buses are fine and cheap. - Aug 2010
We can't take local buses, but taxis are cheap unless the driver is trying to cheat you (which they will do unless you insist on the "monay" or meter). Sheruts (shared taxis) are plentiful, but they only run on certain routes. - Jul 2010
Taxis are plentiful and pretty cheap. AmCit embassy employees are not allowed to take buses or trains. - Feb 2009
We are not allowed to use public transportation but taxis are quite affordable. - Sep 2008
Taxis- Yes, trains & buses are not allowed for embassy staff and families. - Jul 2008
