The Carmelit – Haifa’s underground funicular transport system.

Hebrew: הרכבת התחתית – כרמלית חיפה

Who’d have thought you can travel and explore Haifa from Downtown to the Carmel Center in just 8 minutes.  The  Carmelit is the underground funicular railway in Haifa. The Carmelit is one of the smallest subways in the world, having only six stations and a single tunnel 1800 meters long. Two, two-car coaches run on a single track with a short double-track section halfway to allow the train coaches to pass each other. The altitude difference between the first and last stations is 274 meters.

Carmelit route & stations

Forget about traffic jams, parking problems and pollution.  The Carmelit travels along a straight line, up and down Mt. Carmel.  There are 6 stations along the way each with access to tourist attractions.

1. Gan Ha’em (“Mother’s Garden”): The main station in the Carmel Center neighborhood is adjacent to the Haifa zoo, the Louis Promenade, the Haifa Auditorium, and many high-end shops, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and most of Haifa’s largest hotels.
2. Bnei Zion (“The Sons of Zion”) – named after the nearby Bnei Zion Hospital. The station was previously called “Golomb”. The station is conveniently located near the Bnei Zion (Rothschild) hospital and the offices of The Bahá’í World Center.
3. Massada, Upper Hadar: on Massada street with quaint art galleries, antique shops, cafes and restaurants. Close to the “Madatech” or the Haifa Science and Technology Museum located in the old Technion building opposite Nordau street.
4. Hanevi’im (“The Prophets”) in the Hadar Hacarmel neighborhood: Near Hanevi’im, Herzl and Hechalutz streets – a main shopping district. Close to the Haifa Museum.
5. Solel Boneh: near Hanevi’im tower, Ha’atzmaut Park, The Haifa City Hall and the municipal offices
6. Kikar Pariz (Paris Square), Downtown: near the new Haifa University Campus (Campus HaNamal), the government buildings (on Pal Yam street in the ‘missile building’) and the courthouse on Ha’atzmaut Street.  Kikar Pariz is also in walking distance to one of Haifa’s train stations – Haifa Central or HaShmona. The tax offices (meches) and the entrance to the port are close by.  The revamped and now trendy, Turkish Market buzzes on Thursday nights.  In summer local pubs and restaurants are packed with students and young people.  Craft markets, artists’ workshops and young Israeli designers are also selling their wares.
   

Carmelit train travel time

The Carmelit runs every 10-12 minutes and is the quickest way of getting from the Central Carmel to the Downtown area. It takes approximately 8 minutes to travel the entire line.

• How do you say public transport in Hebrew?
• Use these public transport resources to ensure you get from A-B

Wheelchair access

Unfortunately the Carmelit is not wheelchair or disabled friendly.  There are no ramps or elevators, only lots of stairs and one escalator going up at selected stations.

Tickets & fares

Children under the age of 5 travel for free as do IDF soldiers (in uniform) and the blind.

As at January 2017 the Carmelit was incorporated into the Haifa Metropolin public transport network. The Metropolin public transport network includes bus transport, Metronit transport and now the Carmelit.

Fares are as follows:-

Paying for your Carmelit ticket

It is very important to remember that the Carmelit was built to double as a public bomb shelter in the event of missile or rocket fire – a very safe place to seek shelter should it become necessary.

Our Petition

In August 2015, Anglo-List joined the campaign to fight for the rights of passengers of the Haifa underground – The Carmelit.  We petitioned the Haifa Municipality and the Ministry of Transport. We wanted the Rav Kav multi-transport ticketing system to include the Carmelit…

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Israel Public Transportation – Sheruts & Taxi Services

Hebrew: תחבורה ציבורית בישראל

The Sherut Service – Shared Taxi

Numerous taxi companies operate sheruts – a shared taxi with 10 passengers. They are a convenient and fast way to get around. In most cities they travel along the most popular routes. The sherut will leave its initial point of origin only when it has filled up with passengers – usually 10. Unlike buses, sheruts stop and let you off wherever you wish along a specific route. You can hail a sherut at a bus stop, or close to one, on the various designated routes.

There is a standard sherut fare.  Currently, the fare is 6 shekels.  Bus fare within the city is 5.90NIS

A special sherut service is available to Ben Gurion International Airport . The sherut will collect you, and your luggage, from your home, at a specified time.

The sherut rank at Ben Gurion Airport will take you to  almost any destination in Israel. The sherut will only depart from Ben Gurion when it is full. This may take a long time.  You have to be patient.

Sherut fares are standard and laid out by the Ministry of Transport.  On occasion, the taxi driver may ask the passengers if they are willing to share in the cost difference of the missing passengers, so that the sherut can leave straight away. This may add an additional 10 or 20 shekels to the regular fare but it is often worth it.

Just “Google” sherut from your location to Ben Gurion Airport for more information and a list of  taxi companies offering this service. They all speak English.

 Private Taxi Services to Ben Gurion Airport (Natbag)

There are many smaller, private individual, taxi and shuttle services who are  honest and offer reliable service, to and from Ben Gurion Ariport (Acronym NATBAG) and other destinations.  Do not confuse these  with a “special taxi” (explained below), operated by  the large taxi companies having fleets across the country.

• Haifa to/from Ben Gurion Airport
• Tel Aviv to/from Ben Gurion Airport

The Taxi Service – A “Special”

Taxi Fares in Israel

The metered rate starts at 11.50 ILS (this being the minimum rate as of March 2017).  The meter works on distance and on time.  If you have agreed upon a rate you can be sure that the taxi driver will drive fast, try to beat the traffic-lights and overtake wherever possible so that he can pick up another fare as soon as possible. Buckle up and pray you’ll make it to your destination!  If you have chosen the metered rate, the taxi driver will take his time, drive carefully, slow down wherever necessary and sit patiently behind the garbage truck so that that meter can continue to roll.

Whichever way you choose to pay, you have the right to ask the driver for a receipt, for the air conditioner to be turned on, to open or close the windows and change the radio station from some foreign language channel to the latest news broadcast.

• How to negotiate your taxi fare – use our guide with Hebrew, English and transliterations…

It is not our intention to put you off.  Israeli taxi drivers are generally very helpful.  They are often protective of teen-age children traveling without adult supervision.  The drivers may give the kids a discount if they are a little short of the full fare and will do there best to make sure that they get home safely late at night.

Cabs in Israel are always clean and in good working order.

The Gett Taxi App

Use the Gett taxi-app for taxi rides around the country.  Anglo-List does not promote one app over another or any public transport company, but we received this info from a kind reader – Alan – somewhere in Israel:

I just wanted to add something to the article:
If you hail a cab from the street, there should not be an additional 4.80 added to the final fare. Only the 11.50 starting price. 4.80 should only be added if your called to order a cab. Actually the way to work around that is by ordering through Gett during certain non-peak hours. (see Gett’s pricing schedule). I don’t work for Gett but I use it often and part of the reason is because it gives me recourse if they try to add charges that don’t belong. In a weeks time, I’ve had 3 different charges removed from my credit card. It really does work. The other thing about Gett is that if you enter the address, it will show up on the drivers phone and he has the option of using the GPS to take the route. Another thing I’ve done in the past to make sure that the driver stays on track in an area that I”m not familiar with is to enter the address on my phone and instruct the driver on the route that I’d like to take. All of these methods have saved me much money. Lastly, make sure to always as for the receipt. Even when using Gett. Gett will only refund a discrepancy when you email them a copy of the receipt. It’s also useful if you need to dispute the charge with the Taxi station or if you intend to take it to the Ministry of Transport. That’s it for now. I hope this information will help fellow cab riders. Thanks.

Laura & David reflect on taxi services:

We took a cab in the Sinai some years ago.  It was hot!  Seven people were crammed into an 8 seater Mercedes taxi and their luggage piled high (stretch limmo style, model year – circa ’70s).  They used to use those models in Israel too before they started using vans.  The windows were closed because of the dust. We asked the driver to switch on the air-conditioner so we could get some relief from the mid-day, mid-summer, Egyptian desert sun.  The driver responded by reaching into the glove compartment and said “Here is the air-conditioner” and he handed us the crank to open the window!

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Israel’s Bus Service; Egged, Dan, Superbus, Kavim, Golanbus…

The Israel bus service is served by 8 different bus companies with Egged and Dan being the most popular. Egged operates from North to South and Dan focuses on Tel Aviv and surrounding Dan region. The Israel bus service is reliable, on-time, runs frequently and connects to almost everywhere in Israel.

Israel’s major bus companies, offering services, are:

• Easy Hebrew lesson – learn words for transport and 100 other free word sheets. With English and transliterations

The Tel-Aviv Bus Service

Tel Aviv is served by several public transport operators, primarily Dan Bus Company within the city and Egged for routes connecting Tel Aviv to other parts of Israel. In recent years, additional operators such as Kavim and Metropoline have also begun operating some routes in the metropolitan area.

The main transport hubs include the Central Bus Station (Tachana Merkazit), the Arlozorov Terminal (next to Tel Aviv Savidor Central railway station), and the Azrieli Terminal near the Azrieli Center. Note that many intercity buses now depart from terminals like Arlozorov rather than the Central Bus Station, which is used less than in the past.

Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station

Jerusalem is served primarily by Egged, which operates most urban and intercity routes, along with Dan Bus Company and its subsidiary Dan Badarom, which run select lines connecting Jerusalem with other regions.

The main transport hub is the Jerusalem Central Bus Station on Jaffa Road, where both city and intercity buses operate. It is located next to the Jerusalem Light Rail and within walking distance of the Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon railway station, providing easy connections to trains and light rail services.

Many intercity buses depart from platforms along Zalman Shazar Boulevard, directly outside and across from the Central Bus Station, making transfers between routes straightforward.

Haifa’s Central Bus Stations

Haifa is served by several public transportation operators, including Egged, Superbus, Kavim, and Nateev Express, which together operate urban and regional routes across the city and the north.

The two main transport hubs are the Carmel Beach Central Bus Station (Merkazit Hof HaCarmel) at the southern entrance to the city, and the Haifa Bay Central Bus Station (Merkazit HaMifratz) at the northern entrance, near the “Check Post” junction. Both terminals are adjacent to Israel Railways stations and connect directly to the Metronit, providing seamless transfers between bus and rail services.

Haifa serves as a major transportation hub for Northern Israel, with extensive connections reaching towns and cities across the region, including destinations as far north as Kiryat Shmona.

• Treat your visitors from abroad with a ride in the new cable car connecting Merkazit Hamifratz with the Technion and the University of Haifa. Enjoy the panoramic views from the university and visit the Hecht Museum on the campus.

Bus Tickets & Fares

Ticket purchases are generally not made on the bus. Instead, you must pay using a Rav-Kav, via a mobile payment app, or most recently (2026), with a credit card or an NFC enabled smart watch.

You can load your Rav-Kav at vending machines located in central bus stations, at select ATMs, online, or at authorized retail points. Vending machines and ticket offices also allow you to purchase and load fares using a credit card.

Alternatively, several mobile apps (such as Rav-Kav Online, Moovit, and HopOn) allow you to pay directly by scanning when boarding—no physical card required.

Avoid a 100 shekel fine – make sure you pay the fare.

Single Journey

A regular one-way ticket (כרטיס / kartis) in most cities costs around 8.00 ILS. Included in this fare is a 90-minute transfer (כרטיס מעבר / kartis ma’avar), which allows unlimited transfers between buses (and, in many areas, light rail or Metronit) within that time frame.

This transfer is applied automatically when you pay using a Rav-Kav or a mobile transport app, so there’s no need to purchase a separate ticket for each leg of your journey.

Inter-city fares are determined by distance.

Multiple Bus Journeys

• A pre-paid season ticket (כרטיסיה / kartisiya or free pass) allows unlimited travel within a defined zone or “ring,” where standard fares apply. It’s a cost-effective option if you use public transport frequently—typically more than two rides per day.

• Students are eligible for significant discounts (often around 50%) when using a Rav-Kav with a valid student profile. Pensioners are also entitled to reduced fares, which can be loaded onto the Rav-Kav or used via mobile apps.

• Children under the age of 5 travel free, provided they do not occupy a separate seat.

• A day pass (חופשי יומי / hofshi yomi) offers unlimited travel across multiple modes of transport—including buses, trains, the Carmelit, the Metronit, and light rail systems (where applicable). The pass is valid until 03:00 the following morning, making it a convenient option for a full day of travel.

The Rav Kav (Multiple Journey Ticket)

Introduced in 2010, the Rav-Kav is a prepaid smart card used for single rides, transfers, and season tickets across Israel’s public transportation system.

You can obtain a personalized Rav-Kav at central bus stations, train stations, and authorized service points. When issuing a personalized card, you’ll need to present identification, and a digital photo will be taken and printed on the card. It is issued on the spot and includes your personal details, allowing access to discounted fares (such as student and senior rates).

Once loaded with credit or a travel plan, simply tap the Rav-Kav on the card reader when boarding. The appropriate fare is automatically deducted.

In most cities, a single fare includes a 90-minute transfer window (כרטיס מעבר / kartis ma’avar), allowing unlimited travel on buses and other local transit (such as light rail or Metronit) within that time. This generally does not include travel on Israel Railways trains.

An anonymous version (Rav-Kav Anonimi) is also available for a small one-time fee (around 5 ILS). It does not include personal details and therefore does not provide eligibility for discounts, but it still supports the 90-minute transfer feature. This makes it a convenient option for tourists or short-term visitors. More…

School Bus Routes

Student-designated routes are clearly marked at bus stops. On one side of the sign, it will say “STUDENTS” in English, and on the other side, it will say “תלמידים” (talmidim) in Hebrew.

Panoramic Bus Tours in Jerusalem & Tel Aviv

The panoramic bus tour in Jerusalem (the Red Bus) is the best way to see the city.  The day-long excursion, on the open-top bus, allows you to hop-on and hop-off at various stops of public interest and tourist attractions.

Tel Aviv city tour invites you to a panoramic tour of Tel Aviv in a two story bus along the main sites of the city. There are 28 stops.

Transport tip:  Guided tours on the panoramic buses, are available in 8 different languages  Contact +972 3639 4444 (Tel Aviv) or +972 50 842 2473 (Jerusalem)

The Disabled & Wheelchair Bound

Inner-city buses in Israel are generally wheelchair accessible, and drivers are required to assist passengers with mobility needs when boarding and disembarking. Most buses are equipped with a ramp or kneeling system to facilitate easy access, which the driver will deploy as needed.

Once on board, there is a designated space for wheelchairs, typically fitted with safety restraints. The driver will ensure the wheelchair is properly secured before the journey continues. When it’s time to get off, the driver will assist again by releasing the restraints and deploying the ramp for a safe exit.

A cute, true story

Circa 1990, somewhere in Haifa: A man boards a bus and heads toward what appears to be an empty seat beside an elderly woman. As he gets closer, he notices her small dog sitting comfortably on the seat.

He politely asks her to move the dog. She ignores him. He asks again—this time she refuses, and a heated exchange begins. Other passengers quickly join in, each offering their opinion, but no one can agree on a solution.

Finally, they turn to the driver for a ruling. After a brief check, the driver confirms: the woman has purchased a ticket for the dog. The dog, therefore, is entitled to the seat.

Defeated, the man sighs—and goes off in search of another place to sit.