Haifa Travel Forum

My wife and I stop in Haifa over night on a cruise (MSC Magnifica). We are scheduled to get there at 1400 on Feb 21 and leave at 2000 on Feb 22. Since the excursions offered by the cruise did not allow much time in Jerusalem (5 hours), we have decided to get there on our own, spend the night, and then return to the ship the next day. After having considered traveling to Jerusalem by several methods (car rental, train, bus), we have determined that the bus is likely our best option. We THINK we have found the bus route we need to take, but we are having a difficult time finding some more information about the journey:

1) What is the best bus stop to use from the Haifa port? The Egged website has a stop called "Ha-Ir ha-Takhtit, Port." Is this the bus stop nearest to where we will emerge from the port? How do we find the stop?

2) We have attempted to find information about the reliability of the Egged bus schedule, but have had no success. As you can imagine, we will need to be certain to plan sufficient time on our return journey to ensure that our cruise ship does not leave without us. The bus schedule allows us to leave Jerusalem at 1630 and arrive in Haifa at 1845. Since our return trip will be during the evening rush hour, this itinerary leaves us a cushion of 1 hour 45 minutes for the bus to get through any delays that might be encountered. Is this reasonable? Are the buses usually relatively true to the schedule?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can lend!

Hi - welcome to VT! I can't answer your specific questions but wanted to suggest you take a look at www.cruisecritic.com. Go to the site, then boards, then ports of call, then appropriate port. You'll likely find others that have done what you plan along with plenty of helpful information. One thing, be sure to let your cruiseline know that you intend to overnight. Have a great cruise!

Welcome to Israel

1.The "Ha-Ir ha-Takhtit, Port" station is located on "Ha-Atsma'ut" 66 st. (רחוב העצמאות 66 ,in Hebrew)

2.There is another station on this road called:"Center Train Station, Plumer Square".

4. Closest distance to the stations depends on where the ship's docking.I think it is no more than 0.5 km

3. Frequently stopping at these stations two buses: 103 and 108 direction to "Merkazit ha-Mifrats" central bus station (מרכזית המפרץ).There you have to take a bus to Jerusalem.

Hello
Sorry for the hebrew gibberish.
Yes you are right. Leaving Jerusalem at 16:30 is resonable.
Egged's schedule takes into account delays due to peak hours.
To be sure, I suggest to ask Egged information in Jerusalem central bus station at arriving, or the driver itself during the driving to Jerusalem.

You might consider the option of taking a train from Haifa to Tel-Aviv (Tel-Aviv central station) and then take bus number 480 from there to Jerusalem. The train is faster than the bus and is more dependable at rush hour.

Two hours for a ride from Jerusalem to Haifa is very optimistic. This is the time it will take for a car going 100 km/h all the way, withouy stopping and without traffic jams. As far as I remember the bus from Jerusaelm to Haifa goes through Tel-Aviv. It takes 45 minutes to go from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv and than 1:15 to go from Tel-Aviv to Haifa, again, when going 100 km/h (60 mph) all the way, not counting the time it takes in the cities.

Shalom, yes I agree with Gil. Local city bus from portside to train station, train to Tel-Aviv, bus from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem....
Also the Egged bus schedule and the trains are usually very accurate and you can check on their sites about costs and travel times.
http://www.egged.co.il/
http://www.rail.co.il/he/Pages/homepage.aspx
Martin

According to the Egged site driving distance between Jerusalem and Haifa is 146 km. And travel time is 1:53 H. That is an average speed of about 70 km/h.
So I think the journey is through the Toll Road No. 6.

No, the buses do not use the toll road #6.
Martin

I do not know about these specific buses BUT there are definitely buses using route 6. I know for a fact that there is one bus from Jerusalem to the Kiryat Sanz neighborhood of Netanya that uses route 6

Interesting what you said about the buses using route #6. I had spoken to a friend, an Egged manager, and she told me that none of the regular route buses use 6. Although privately chartered buses from them can use route 6 if the person who charters the bus authorizes the extra cost.
Martin

I have checked with Egged Jerusalem and they confirm that the bus 960 indeed driving on a highway No. 6

Shalom Humi, just spent the last 10 minutes trying to find the route (960 you said) that they told you about...understand that it runs from Jerusalem central bus station to Netanya, but could not find that route? Is it not a direct route, but rather one that goes first to another city? Sorry for taking up everyones time here, but when I find something that to me is a mystery I enjoy trying to find out the solution. ^O^
Martin

The bus # 960 is from Jerusalem to Haifa and via versa.
Please try here:
http://www.bus.gov.il/WebForms/wfrmMain.aspx?width=1024&company=1&language=he&state=#

Did you ever get a response to this that explained what to do? We are on an Oceania Cruise in April and will swpend three nights in Haifa and we're also considering a bus or train option.

Ok , I'm living in Haifa and working as a tour guide . So this is my advice :
You leave Haifa Port through the Passenger Terminal , go down the bridge .
From Azmaut street you have a bus going to the southern entrance of Haifa , this will take 10 minutes drive , to Tachanah Mercazit = Central Bus station .
For this you need to pay in Shekels ( there is a changer opposite to the exit of the port ) . At the central bus station take bus nr. 940 which is the direct bus to Jerusalem without stop and going through highway nr.6 , normaly 2 hours , sometimes more .Here is a bus at 13.30 and at 15.00 . You can buy the tickets at the information or directly cash from the bus driver , one way ticket 42 shekel p.P. , which is at about 12 USD. Round ticket is a little bit cheaper . You arrive at Jerusalem Central Bus station . Don't be late for the bus back at the other day , you need time for security check at the entrance of the bus station and you need time to take the bus from Haifa Central station to the port . I'm organizing private tours from Haifa port to jerusalem and I'm always leaving Jerusalem at 16.00 when the ship is leaving at 20.00
Check the dates you are arriving and leaving . Busses stop working on Fridays at about 14.00 for Shabat and begin again only Saturday evenings according to the shabat , the same at jewish holidays .
I hope my info is helpfull

You can't get a more exact, or better, answer than evamanger's.
Martin

Bus #960 connects Merkazit-Ha-Mifratz (the Northen Bus Terminal) with Jerusalem Cnetral station. And it does run on toll road #6. It has just one stop in Yokneam and continues straight to Jerusalem. More convenient that changing from bus to train in TA. Imho, indeed