Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv. Israel - Ben Gurion - the safest and most terrible airport in the world Map of Ben Gurion Airport

The first thing you will see upon arrival in Israel is Ben Gurion Airport. But don’t think that you are almost in the country, it’s not that simple. Although visas are not required for Israel, when passing through border control you will find yourself in a real spy quest, which may not end in your favor. What is needed to successfully cross the border will be discussed in this post.

The cost of plane tickets from Moscow starts from 16,000 rubles in both directions; it is better to buy in advance. Flight time is about 4 hours. If you are from another city, then sometimes there are options to get there by direct route, but it will be significantly more expensive and worse in quality, although faster in time. I flew to Israel from Samara with a transfer in Moscow, and back on a direct route, so I appreciated both options. We were sent from Moscow on a wide-body Boeing 777 with a multimedia system.

If the airline has the opportunity to choose the type of food, you can begin immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Israel already on the plane by ordering a special meal in advance - a kosher lunch. You can read what is included in the concept of kosher food on the Internet or by looking in the Torah. Each set must be accompanied by a kosher certificate.

Those who ordered a special menu on board can count on being the first to be fed. This was also the case with us; we were the first to receive sealed boxes of kosher food. It felt like there was more food in quantity than my neighbors with a normal diet, in general, I didn’t regret it at all.

Today, Ben Gurion Airport is considered one of the safest airports in the world. Israel's air gates were subject to terrorist attacks several times, but the plans of the criminals never came true. And we'll soon find out why. The queue at the border crossing is huge, so I advise you to get off the plane as soon as possible after landing and be among the first to move towards the border guards, otherwise you may stand waiting for 2-3 hours, or even more.

To enter Israel you must have the following with you:

Return ticket.

Accommodation confirmation. This could be a hotel reservation from booking (only with the obligatory indication of your full name) and an apartment contract. If you are coming to visit friends or family, a written invitation from them, which must include their passport details, address and telephone number where they can be called from customs if any questions arise.

Livelihood. This can be cash at an approximate rate of $100 per day, or credit cards. Everything in Israel is very expensive, so your main task is to prove that you have the finances to live in the country.

Insurance is not required, but recommended. They may ask, and its presence may be an additional advantage for you. Well, this also reduces the risk of feeling the cosmic price of Israeli medicine if an accident occurs.
- If you are flying for treatment, it is advisable to have with you an invitation from a medical institution with contact details of the persons inviting you. They may also receive a call.

As I already wrote, you don’t need a visa for Israel, but at the border control you will face a real interrogation, which will decide whether you will cross the border or fly back on the next flight home without explanation. If you are suspicious, you may be asked to go to a separate room for inspection and questioning, where your backpacks will be searched, you may be asked to remove some items, and your phone may be searched. At the same time, the number of visas from other countries, showing that you travel regularly, does not matter at all, and some stamps may not work on your side, for example, Arab ones.

We were lucky, we took a relatively new line and stood for about an hour. The most interesting thing is that of all the possible racks, only half worked. I just can’t understand why, with such hours-long queues, more people can’t be put to work. There is a feeling that the queues are created on purpose. At first, we tried to approach the counter together with my companion, but the border guard asked if we were a married couple, to which he received a negative answer and asked us to approach one by one. The first to go was my friend Katya, who flew here for the 9th time for treatment at one of the medical centers (and according to legend, I accompanied her). The distance made it possible to hear the entire conversation: “Why did you come? Have you been to Israel before? Do you know anyone there? Where will you live and for how long? Did you pack your luggage yourself? Have you received any packages from anyone? What will you use to get there? from airport?" - everything is in English. Katya laid out a pile of papers with invitations, hotel reservations and excursions. The woman looked at the papers and continued to ask questions: “Where did you know him (pointing in my direction)? For how long? Where did you meet? In what relationship?” Then I realized that it would be better to remember Katya’s answers so that there would be no discrepancies and unnecessary problems. Sometimes the questions were repeated, apparently to confuse and unbalance.

After 15 minutes, the interrogation and analysis of papers ended. It's my turn. "Why did you come? Have you been to Israel before? Do you know anyone there? Where will you live and for how long? Did you pack your luggage yourself? Have you accepted any packages from anyone? How will you get from the airport? Where is it from ( Katya) do you know? How long ago did you meet? I tried to repeat Katya’s words exactly: “We’ve known each other for 10 years, we studied together at university, we’re friends.” Then the border guard saw the Emirates stamp and a new series of questions began: “When were you in the Emirates? Why? Do you know anyone there?” Then I felt that I had committed some kind of crime, but I don’t know what yet: “3 years ago, tourist, I don’t know anyone there.” All questions are asked and answers are expected, as if I knew English perfectly. But I still couldn’t answer one question - What is the name of the clinic where my friend is going to go. I definitely didn’t expect this, so I called Katya to explain. At that moment, the border guard handed my passport to the border guard at the next counter, who was already speaking Russian and it all started all over again: “Why did you come? Have you been to Israel before? Do you know anyone there? Where will you live and for how long?... . What did they do in the Emirates?..." Well... I think... that's it... now they'll pick on something again and they'll send me home. Katya helped me and showed me all the documents. Another 10 minutes of interrogation and my passport was again handed over to the previous counter. The border guard muttered something and handed over a passport with some paper inside. Oh really? Passed? Well, thank God!

This piece of paper is something like an entry visa, which you always need to carry with you (on the streets of Israel, security officers can come up and ask you) and under no circumstances should you lose it, otherwise you may have a lot of problems upon departure. I’m glad that they didn’t put a stamp on the passport itself, because this could have a negative impact when trying to cross the border of an Arab state. And if the same Emirates can be allowed into Israel with a stamp, but the Emirates, seeing the Israeli stamp, will most likely refuse.

How to get from the airport to Tel Aviv and back? There are several ways:

You can get to Tel Aviv and other cities by train, bus or taxi. Keep in mind that on weekends and holidays, from midnight Friday until Saturday evening, public transport does not operate, you can only get around by taxi, so it is better not to fly here at this time.

By train. The train station is located on the lower floor of Terminal 3. Keep your train tickets until the end of your trip, there will be an electronic terminal at the exit.
- By bus. The most difficult. There is no direct bus from the airport to Tel Aviv. From the airport you need to get to the Airport City stop, bus number 5 (shuttle). There, change to city bus No. 268. If you take the bus back to the airport, get a free shuttle ticket from the city bus driver.

By taxi. All taxi cars here are high class - Mercedes and top Kia. Payment is by meter, so the locals can take you along the longest road, and also circle around the city a couple of times, which will cost you a pretty penny (shekel). I advise you to call the transfer in advance at the desired time, so that they are already waiting for you at the arrival terminal and with the agreed price. We ordered in advance for $60, if you want you can do that too through

Israel's main international airport is named after David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, an outstanding personality who played an important role in the formation and development of the Jewish state. It was he who proclaimed the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. The airport's third terminal building houses several sculptures of David Ben-Gurion.

According to the international encoding, the airport code is TLV (Tel Aviv). Yet, in fact, the airport is not located in Tel Aviv, but at a distance of about 20 km southeast of it, near the city of Lod, and Lod Airport was previously called that. The main operating terminals are currently terminals No. 1 and No. 3. Until recently, terminal No. 1 was the main one, as almost all international flights passed through it. However, in the 1990s, mass immigration of Jews from the former Soviet Union began. Direct flights with repatriates began to arrive at Tel Aviv airport, and the load on the airport increased significantly. Unable to cope with the increasing passenger and cargo traffic, the airport authorities began planning for the establishment of a new terminal capable of providing passengers with the best possible service. In 1994, the Israeli government decided to create a new terminal, and only five years later the first stone was laid in the construction of a modern terminal. And in 2004, the new international terminal No. 3 began operating, which became the main air gateway to Israel.

Terminal No. 3 of Ben Gurion Airport meets all modern requirements, both in the field of comfort and passenger service, and in terms of security. It is rightfully recognized as the safest airport, and the largest Israeli airline ElAl is one of the safest airlines in the world. In addition to the police and IDF military, the security of Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion Airport and the maintenance of a high level of security are also carried out by private security services. In addition, plainclothes security representatives are also on board Israeli ElAl Airlines. The airline's aircraft are additionally protected from possible terrorist attacks by double doors in the cockpit and a reinforced steel floor between the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment. They are also equipped with a special infrared countermeasures system in the event of a missile attack. In addition, the airline security service also checks passengers. Those who have flown ElAl know firsthand about this safety system.

The international terminal of Tel Aviv Airport has several levels. The arrival lounge is located on the lower level. After passing through passport control and receiving luggage, passengers enter this hall. Usually there are a lot of people here, the greeters gather around the enclosing railings in order to better see those leaving. Organized tours are also met here to take tourists to their destinations. From this hall, arriving guests can immediately go to the desired mode of transport. At the same level at the exit from the terminal there is a railway station, from where you can quickly and comfortably get to your destination.

Some buses and taxis stop near Terminal 3. Special shuttles also run from here, delivering passengers to the intercity bus stop. Bus No. 5 takes passengers to the ELAL Junction stop, from where you can get to the desired city; to do this, you must purchase an intercity ticket from the driver, which includes travel on the shuttle. There is also a special type of minibus that goes in two directions: Haifa and Jerusalem. These are yellow and white minibuses that deliver passengers to populated areas in these two directions. Delivery to your home address is available for an additional fee. On the ground floor of the airport there are also counters of several companies offering car rentals. The airport provides detailed information about all its services on its official website.

Departing guests and Israelis check in for their flights on the upper level of the terminal. All information about departing flights from Tel Aviv is displayed on the airport display, including Russian flights to and other destinations. Next to the name of the desired flight, the numbers of the corresponding check-in counters are indicated where you can check in your luggage and receive a boarding pass. However, before check-in, you must also go through a preliminary check, where airport security officers will question and “enlighten” your luggage. If necessary, your luggage will be sent for inspection. There are some items, such as Dead Sea products or date honey, that cannot be x-rayed. You should know that if such products are present in your luggage, it will be sent for inspection. As a rule, this entire verification procedure takes some time. And in the case of a large number of simultaneously departing flights, it drags on for a long time. Therefore, it is recommended that passengers arrive at the airport three hours before departure.

After registration, passengers then proceed to passport control, where they first inspect their hand luggage. By the way, until this moment, mourners can accompany passengers. Between the registration area and passport control there is a hall with cafes and shops where you can still spend time together. Through the windows of the hall you can see planes taking off and landing. After passport control, passengers find themselves in a huge round room, from which several waiting rooms radiate like rays. The structure of Tel Aviv Airport is clearly visible in the aerial photo. Most of the halls are equipped with telescopic bridges, through which passengers immediately board the aircraft, which is especially convenient in bad weather. This huge space houses numerous duty-free shops and cafes. Immediately at the entrance to the duty-free zone there is a value added tax refund point. You just need to first present purchases for which VAT refund has been issued before registration.

Terminal 1 currently serves local flights, including to Eilat, and some international charter flights. There are also plans to transfer all flights here after the closure of Tel Aviv Sde Dov Municipal Airport. Overall, Ben Gurion International Airport serves more than ten million passengers a year. At the same time, every year there is an increase in passengers, both on domestic and international routes.

Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, is Israel's main international airport. Ben Gurion is a modern, comfortable and spacious airport located 15 km from Tel Aviv. This is a medium-sized airport, so it won't have the same huge passenger volumes as many other modern mega-airports.

Ben Gurion Airport on the map

Ben Gurion Airport's main terminal is Terminal 3, from which many flights depart and arrive. For charter or low-cost airline flights, Terminal 1 is typically used. This terminal typically uses buses to get passengers on and off the plane, because low-cost airlines typically save money by using (or rather not using) bridges.

Online scoreboard of Ben Gurion airport

Once you leave the plane and arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, your first stop will be Immigration and Passport Control. During the summer months and holiday season, queues usually form in this area. As at most other airports in the world, there are separate lines for Israeli citizens and foreigners, so pay attention to the signs to avoid joining the “Israeli” line and wasting time.

Ben Gurion Airport is probably the safest airport in the world, but this can sometimes cause delays. You may be asked questions about where you are coming from and the purpose of your visit. If you have nothing to hide, then there is nothing to worry about. Just answer all questions calmly.

Once you clear passport control, you can grab a free luggage cart and pick up your suitcases from the baggage carousel. Not far from the baggage carousels there are banks, ATMs and exchangers that operate 24 hours a day, so you can exchange or withdraw money at any time. There are also ATMs in the departure area where you can withdraw foreign currency, and 24-hour exchangers.

Ben Gurion Airport has good transport links to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. How to get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv? You can rent a car directly at the airport or get to Tel Aviv by public transport, taxi or shuttle.

Renting a car at Ben Gurion Airport

If you are planning to rent a car at Ben Gurion Airport, then you need to go to the airport area where the offices of famous car rental companies are located. Companies operating in Ben-Gurion include Avis, Budget, Eldan, Hertz and Sixt. The offices of these companies are open 24 hours a day.

Train from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv

By train you can travel not only to Tel Aviv, but also to Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba. Trains run 24 hours a day: between 05:30 and 00:00 they run every 20-30 minutes, and between 00:00 and 05:30 they run every hour. The cost of a ticket to Tel Aviv is 16 shekels, and the cost of a train trip to other cities in Israel varies from 10 to 50 shekels. The train station entrance will be on your left as you exit the arrivals hall.

Please remember that public transport in Israel, including trains, is closed on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

Bus from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv

If you cannot read or speak Hebrew, then taking the bus from the airport to Tel Aviv may be a difficult task for you. It seems to us that the train is a more convenient transport in this sense. But if you still want to travel from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv by bus, then be prepared for the fact that your trip will take at least 2 buses. You need to first take the Egged bus to either El Al Junction station or Airport city station. Both of these stations are approximately 10-15 minutes away by bus. At one of these stations you will need to change to another bus and get to Tel Aviv or any other major city in Israel.

Taxi from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv

Many tourists use taxis to get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv. Even if the cost of a taxi trip is noticeably higher than the cost of a trip by other means of transport, tourists will not forget about the comfort and speed of the trip. Many tourists simply do not want to waste extra time waiting for a bus or train and travel in public transport with local residents. We advise you to use only official taxis at the airport, because in this case you will not become a victim of scammers. If when traveling by taxi around the city of Tel Aviv it is more profitable to turn on the meter, then when traveling by taxi from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv it will be more profitable to agree on a fixed price in order to avoid crooked routes and overpayments for idle time in traffic jams. As a rule, taxi drivers do not inflate prices, because they know that people have several alternative ways to get from the airport to the right place. So you can easily negotiate a trip from the airport to Tel Aviv for 150 shekels, but usually the cost of the trip depends on the season of the year and time of day.

Even if your flight leaves in the middle of the night, most Duty Free stores at Ben Gurion Airport are open 24 hours a day. Duty free shops at Ben Gurion Airport offer a variety of products at competitive prices. If you know that you will be flying back to Israel, you can leave what you bought at the airport and pick up the item on the day you arrive again. So you can buy a lot of goods at once, but pick them up later.

Which Duty Free stores are worth visiting at Ben Gurion Airport? We can recommend the James Richardson Duty Free store, which offers a large selection of alcoholic drinks and perfumes. There is also a sports store offering fashionable sneakers, sportswear and branded sunglasses. For children there is a good store that sells toys and computer games. There are also fashion stores, book stores, and watch stores that sell luxury watches from famous brands.

If you're hungry or just want to enjoy a drink, you can head to one of the cafes, such as ArCaffe, where you can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino before leaving Israel.

Tips for tourists on how to comfortably, quickly and cheaply get from Ben Gurion Airport to the center of Tel Aviv or directly to the hotel. Train schedule, ticket prices.

Ben Gurion International Airport ( Ben Gurion Airport) is located 20 km from the center of Tel Aviv. You can get to it either by taxi or by public transport (train, bus). Tel Aviv Airport has a special feature: enhanced anti-terrorist security measures and customs and border control. What does this mean when translated into everyday language? First of all, the time it will take to go through border control in the arrival hall. And also the time, multiplied by three, for passing customs checks upon landing.

When you arrive, you will have to add 20 minutes to an hour for border control. is a visa-free country for Russians, but this does not mean that you will not be asked a single question at Ben Gurion Airport. They will also ask how - the purpose of arrival, the name and address of the hotel (it would seem a trifle, but in the turmoil few people are able to instantly remember), return tickets.

It’s worth allocating 3-4 hours for departure (checking in for the flight and going through security). If your suitcase, and subsequently your hand luggage, is subject to manual inspection, about visiting duty free You don’t even have to dream - you could catch the landing.

But delays will not unsettle you if you are prepared for them and take a philosophical approach - a foreign monastery, plus the tense situation in the country.

How to get from Tel Aviv airport to the center

1. Local taxi at the terminal

An easy, but not the cheapest, way is to take a local taxi (average price per trip is $55–75). To find a parking lot for free cars, just follow the sign Taxi in the arrival hall. If you don’t pay attention to the signs, you’ll probably notice a crowd of people to the right of the exit from the terminal: passengers with suitcases and hand luggage approach the taxi on a first-come, first-served basis.

Arrivals hall at the airport. Ben Gurion / Lori Photobank

Let us immediately warn you that taxi drivers are more willing to travel long distances. Having learned that you just need to get to the city center (and not to Netanya, Eilat or to), they can raise the price by 1.5 times.

The main disadvantages of this method: you need to look for a taxi rank yourself, handle your luggage and negotiate with the taxi driver. Israeli taxi drivers most often speak English (in 15% of cases - Russian), but if you are not delighted with the price, it suddenly turns out that he only speaks Hebrew.

Be that as it may, to explain to the taxi driver how to get from Tel Aviv airport to the hotel, show him the hotel address (you can print out the voucher in advance).

2. Order an airport transfer online

Transfer from Tel Aviv airport is a guarantee of more comfortable and favorable conditions. Clients do not have to look for a car on their own in the huge Ben-Gurion - the price includes a meeting with a driver holding a sign on which the passenger’s details are indicated. It is convenient to order a transfer from Tel Aviv airport to the hotel using the international Kiwitaxi service. On the website you can decide on the class and capacity of the car - from Micro (3 passengers + 2 pieces of luggage) to Minibus - for 16 people + 16 pieces of luggage. You can add a “child seat” option.

#2. NYX Tel Aviv Complex

NYX Tel Aviv (train station area in Tel Aviv)

A large hotel complex (one of the favorites in Tel Aviv), although not on the first line from the sea, the beach is quite close. The rooms are cool (stylish, modern, good beds and orthopedic mattresses), very tasty breakfasts and helpful staff. There is a fitness center, private bar, free parking and wi-fi.

#3. Gipsy Beach Apartment On Ben Gurion

The 90-meter apartment is located at Ben Gurion 23, Tel Aviv - about a kilometer from the Ben Gurion terminals. The apartment accommodates up to five guests, all beds are full, with high-quality mattresses and bed linen. There is an equipped kitchen, dining area, living room and a good view from the window.

Ben Gurion Airport on the map of Israel

International Airport Ben Gurion on the map of Israel.

All ways to get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Timetables, stops, fares, recommendations.

Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) is located approximately 19 km from Tel Aviv. It has two operating terminals - 1 and 3. The airport is considered the safest in the world and is heavily guarded by police and soldiers. Getting there is quite easy; below we will look at all the ways to get from the airport to Tel Aviv and back, as well as options for how to get from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem.

Attention: On holidays and Shabbat, only taxis and minibuses operate, as well as Nesher minibuses to Jerusalem.

Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and . Individual and group, without crowds of tourists and in Russian.

How to get from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv

By train

A convenient, fast and inexpensive way to get from the airport to Tel Aviv (and other cities in Israel). Travel to the city's central railway station - HaHagana - is only 13.5 shekels. Trains run approximately every 30 minutes during the day, every hour at night, travel time is 10-12 minutes. The station is located on the lower level (S) of Terminal 3.

You can also get to the center by going to Tel Aviv Merkaz (Savidor) station, and then taking bus No. 18 (a ticket costs about 7 shekels). See prices and train schedules.

The return route from the city to the airport is the same. Remember that if you arrive by train at Terminal 3 and depart from Terminal 1, you can get there by free shuttle (station on level G). The shuttle stop at Terminal 1 is located in front of it, opposite Gate 4.

Don't throw away your tickets, as there are turnstiles at the exit.

By minibus (sherut monit)

Along with the train, this is the most convenient and popular option for tourists to get from/to Tel Aviv airport. The advantage of this method is that minibus taxis will stop wherever you want, and not just at the official stop. Minibuses depart from the airport only when the cabin is filled with passengers. The journey to Tel Aviv will take about 20-30 minutes, the ticket price is 30-40 shekels.

(Photo © davduf / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

By taxi

A taxi at Tel Aviv Airport must be ordered through a dispatcher: in Terminal 3 on level G, at Gate 3, and in Terminal 1 - next to Gate 3. The cost of a trip to the city center will be approximately 130-150 shekels.

You can order a car for transfer in advance on the website - the driver will meet you with a sign.

By bus

This is the most inconvenient and time-consuming method, since there are no direct routes that would connect the airport with the city. If you still decide to take the bus, you need to find exits 21 and 23 of terminal 3 (second level) - there is a bus stop there. Wait for bus number 5 (carrier Egged Service Lines, free), which will take you to Airport City station, from where you can go to Tel Aviv and other cities.

By rented car

Another convenient option is renting a car at Tel Aviv airport. You don’t have to wait for transport or fuss with luggage, and you can return your car before departure. Renting a small car costs from $36 per day, medium - from $37, large car - from $52 per day. You can book a car on the Skyscanner Car Hire website.

Useful materials on the topic: and.

(Photo © David Ortmann / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

How to get from Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem

By train

You can get from Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem by train, but with a transfer at the capital's Central Station (HaHagana). There is no direct train between Ben-Gurion and Jerusalem yet; it is planned to launch in 2017 or 2018, when the new railway line is completed. Trains arrive in Jerusalem at Malha station, from which you still need to get to the center by bus or taxi.

Travel time to Jerusalem is about 1 hour 20 minutes. Trains run every 1-2 hours. Ticket price is 20 shekels.

Train + bus

Since there is neither a direct train nor a direct bus to Jerusalem from the airport, you can combine both types of transport: take the train to the Central Station (HaHagana), and from there walk to the bus station, where you can take buses to Jerusalem: 405, 480 , 481, 482 and 483. We recommend taking buses 480 and 405 - they arrive at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.

Travel on a bus costs 16 shekels, on a train - 20 shekels. The total travel time is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.

Minibuses

In our opinion, the most convenient way to get from Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem is by minibuses (sheruts) of the Nesher company - they take tourists to their addresses. However, the fare is high - 64 shekels. You can find parking when leaving the arrivals hall. The minibass is painted yellow and white. Dispatch when full.

If you need to travel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv airport, you should reserve a seat a day in advance. Minibus website.

In addition, from the airport you can get to Haifa and northern Israel by minibuses from the Amal company. The fare costs 100-115 shekels.

Taxi

You can take a taxi from Tel Aviv airport to Jerusalem; the cost for two (with luggage) is about 300 shekels. You can order from the dispatcher or online on the website.

Bus

By bus number 5 (stop at exits 21 and 23 of terminal 3, on the second level) we get to Airport City station, from where we take any bus going to Jerusalem, for example, bus number 480.

To get back to the airport, you need to get off at the above-mentioned station or the El-Al intersection, where you take bus number 5 to the airport.

(Photo © fabcom / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)

Tel Aviv Airport website: .