Tel Aviv-Yafo Travel Forum

My flight will arrive at Ben Goutioun airport in Tel Aviv at about 2:30
Is there a bus or a train, or a "collectivo" at this time of the night to reach Tel Aviv or is taxi the only solution ?

When you consider how long security often takes at ben gurion then it will most likely be at least 4am before you are out of there anyway.
In that case you could just sit down and wait for the morning busses to start running.

HI! There is no bus that goes directly to Tel Aviv from the airport! I assume ( from my long ago Spanish classes) that a "collectivo" is some sort of shared taxi. In Israel it is called a sheriut and there is never a sheriut from Ben Gurian to Tel Aviv. That leaves a private taxi and the train. There are trains throughout the night. I put in a Wed. in March and got the following departures:

02:53, 03:53, 04:53, 05:16, 05:50 and 06:02 ( and it keeps on going)

Note: Sunday and Friday there is usually two scedules and Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs another. There are no trains Friday night in to Saturday ( the Jewish Sabbath) Schedules are subject to change without notice so below is a link

http://www.rail.co.il/EN/Pages/HomePage.aspx

Where do you plan on going in Tel Aviv.There are 3 stations in the city and depending upon where you are ending up!! Also, depending upon what time you get to Tel Aviv you will have to take a cab to your final destination as there may not be buses running that early

I also must disagree with the other person who replied. Unless there is something really suspicious about you--or places you have been, customs is quick and painless. When you get to the section where they check you--just go to a booth marked "foreign passport" The will ask you a few questions and send you on your way. You then get to wait for your lugggage--which of course depends on if you are near the beginning or near the end. You are also going to be surprised to find the airport is actually very active at that hour.

Processing through Ben Gurion on entry is usually very quick as mentioned above - 40 minutes being the longest time and 20 minutes the quickest for me. Departure will be a slightly longer process security-wise.

Sorry, I can't help with your transportation question as I usually take a taxi when going to Tel Aviv.

i lined up for more than an hour the last time i arrived to tel aviv and then had the usual 20 minute chat with emmigration.
i might have arrived at an unlucky time though, but i have flown in a few times over the years and always spend at least an hour and it's not that i have ever felt particulary hassled, but picking up luggage, waiting in lines and the usual 20 minute interview where we talk about my arab and malaysian stamps always takes at least an hour.
not that i mind it though.
it's usually pretty young girls doing the interview :O)

Having been three times in 5 years, I can assure you at that time of the morning you will only wait 10 mins or so at security. Take a cab to Tel Aviv

cachaseiro--If you have a passport full of Arab stamps it is logical that you would be subjected to a "security check" versus just customs. However, your experience is not the NORM and it is not fair to post here as if it was. People who respond on this board usually respond assuming the OP is an average tourist. Hey--it takes me 15 minutes to get from my home to my job,but if there is a traffic accident it can take 1 hour--but I would never write that it takes me 1 hour to commute.

BTW your comment that you don't mind the "young girls" is sexist and inappropriate. The women who work in customs have a tremendous responsibility. Maybe as you sit flirting--that also extends your security check--not that they enjoy it--but it may make them even more suspicious of you. ( and note to others---security is a VERY SERIOUS business in Israel. Joking around will not make it easier. It will only make security personnel wonder why you are acting inappropriately!

i didn't mean to provoke you with that comment.
sorry about that.
i just try to look at a situation like that from the funny side.

like i also mentioned it's more the lining up that takes time when i arrive there.
the questioning is generally done before i board the plane.
the last time i flew to israel i came with ARKIA and they had their own security staff in copenhagen doing all the questioning before we even boarded the plane.

it's a little hard to say but i would estimate that about half the foreign visitors to israel has arab stamps in their passports as most people visit more than just one country when they are in the middle east.
not that this is a problem at the israeli costums though as long as you can explain why you have been there.

Thank you for your comment.( and response) The fact that questioning is done BEFORE you board the plane makes sense. However, that means your initial post didn't really answer the OPs question. No matter--as long as the answer is now correctly on the board!!

I should have been more specific - the 20 and 40 minutes I mentioned was inclusive of stepping off the 'plane to getting out of the airport to the street, and not just lining up to show my passport.

I arrived in Ben Gurion at around 5 in the morning last September. I had no checked in luggage and can honestly say, I rarely got out of an airport so qickly. The security I'd been so nervous of took the form of a few basic questions and no hassle at all.

Outside the departue areas there were neshers ( shared taxis)and taxis lined up. It was all very user friendly.

Thank you everyone for your answers. I think it would be wise to take a taxi as I understand it costs about 20 Euros. My destination in Tel Aviv is HaYarkon 48 hostel.

that hostel has a perfect location.
i walked past it every day when i was in tel aviv last august on my way to and from the beach.