Jerusalem - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
For 6 shekels (roughly $3 in 2024) you can use the buses and trains for an hour and half. My children and I traverse the city multiple times a week on public transportation. It is safe and efficient. The downside is that it doesn't run on Shabbat... and Shabbat starts on Friday afternoon. You can reach Tel Aviv and the port of Haifa by train which is accessible by bus and by light rail. - Sep 2024
There were recently two bombs that went off outside of buses in Jerusalem, but generally buses and trains are safe, and very affordable. Taxis are very safe, but not so affordable. A taxi from the Chancery to city center for example could cost about US $20.00. They are metered and the best taxi app is Gett. The Embassy shuttle is only available for the first 90 days or until your POV comes, whichever comes sooner. - Nov 2022
USG employees can't take the busses. The light rail is safe, affordable and often crowded but is a great way to get to the shuk and the old city if you're close to it. Everyone is pretty much reliant on taxis through the GETT app, which works just like Uber. It's pretty reliable and isn't too expensive. - Oct 2019
We can't ride buses but the tram is safe and $1.50 per trip. The train travels from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and the other parts of Israel and is reasonable. Taxis are US$10-$20 per trip in Jerusalem and $75 to the airport in Tel Aviv. There's an app called Gett that everyone uses to call a taxi and pay for it (like Uber). - Aug 2018
We aren't allowed to take the buses. We can take the tram, but there is only a single line. It's convenient for getting from housing in East Jerusalem to the center of town. Taxis are safe and cost about $10-20 to get to most places in the city. It's pretty necessary to have a car or two here though, and you'll want to get out of the city. - Apr 2018
Safe and affordable but public transport is off-limits to mission personnel. Taxis are fine. - Dec 2016
Public transportation (except for the light rail) is off limits. Taxis are average ($6 to go about 3 miles or so). - Aug 2015
Don't take buses or trains. The taxis are safe but not exactly cheap (similar to DC prices - maybe a little more). - Aug 2015
Taxis are fine but we never really used anything else. They are not too expensive either. - May 2015
Buses are off limits to USG personnel. Taxis and trains can be used. - Mar 2014
We are not allowed to ride on local buses, the light rail is pretty good and taxis are pretty reasonable and for the most part safe. Make sure they turn the meter on though before you go. - Aug 2013
They are safe, except when they blow up. U.S. diplomats are not permitted to take public busses for this reason, although they can ride the light rail, take shared taxi busses (sheruts), and normal taxis. - Jul 2013
We are not allowed to take buses, and taxis are really expensive. - Feb 2009
