Jerusalem Expats 

Ben Gurion - arrivals information  03-975-55-55 ( * 6633 )

For online information go to: www.ben-gurion-airport.co.il

For flight times (arrivals and Departures), parking and transportation, pre-flight services and general information.

Hebrew: 03-972-33-31

English: 03-972-33-32

Arabic: 03-972-33-55

Russian: 03-972-33-66

When flying out of Israel, the check-in period is always at least two hours prior to departure.

To date, all passengers are normally subject to one-to-one interview by security personnel.

Car Rentals

There are a number of car rental companies at Ben Gurion airport, including Avis, Budget, Eldan, Hertz, National, Europcar and Thrifty.

Parking
Ben-Gurion Airport has short and long-term car parking. The short-term car park is located near the terminal entrance and the long-term parking is situated near the entrance of the airport grounds. Both car parks are clearly sign posted as you enter the airport complex.

The long term parking is safe and costs about 25NIS a day.

To avoid delays at the security checkpoint entering the airport, take the Petah Tikvah turn off before the Ben Gurion exit.

Turn left at the first set of traffic lights, which takes you to a (usually) less crowded side entrance.

AIRPORT TO JERUSALEM

It is worth noting that most airport services (including public transport) are reduced on Shabbat (approximately Friday 1700 to Saturday 1700).
 

By Bus (www.egged.co.il/eng)

Buses (Egged) leave every half hour to the Central Bus Station on Jaffa Road in West Jerusalem. Bus numbers for Jerusalem are 405,423, 945 and 947; tickets can be bought on the bus.

One hour trip and costs 20 NIS.

By 'Service' Taxi (Also called 'Sheruts')

Nesher Taxi Co. 02-623-12-31, takes travellers in a mini bus to West Jerusalem.

(Will not go farther than Damascus Gate)

Two hour trip and costs 45 NIS

By Taxi

Taxis at airport exit do not go to East Jerusalem.

Insist he uses his meter, if it is 'not working' agree on a price before you start the journey. Trip costs about 200 NIS.( More at night).

For East Jerusalem destinations, try to order one in advance to pick you up.

JERUSALEM TO AIRPORT

By Bus (www.egged.co.il/eng)

Buses (Egged) leave every half hour from the Central Bus Station, Jaffa road.

One hour trip and costs 20 NIS.

By 'Service' Taxi

Nesher Taxi Co. 02-623-12-31, will pick up travellers from home or hotel (Not East Jerusalem- Except American Colony Hotel and Jerusalem Hotel).

You need to reserve a day in advance. They are punctual.

(Will not go farther than Damascus Gate)

Two hour trip and costs 45 NIS

By Taxi

Trip costs between 120 and 200 NIS- depending on time of day.

Hapoalim Bank 16 King George Street. Jerusalem. Tel: 02-620-7635/6

www.bankhapoalim.co.il

Israel Discount Bank 11 Ben Yehuda Street. Jerusalem. Tel: 02-675-4444

www.telebank.co.il

Leumi Bank  21 Jaffa Road. Jerusalem. Tel: 02-620-7578, 02-620-7502

www.bankleumi.co.il

The George V branch has a special department for foreign residents.

Mercantile Discount Bank 64 Jaffa Road. Jerusalem Tel: 02-622-4241

www.mercantile.co.il

Standard Chartered Bank  1 Salah el Din Street. Jerusalem Tel: 02-626-3444

The First International Bank 10 Hillel Street. Jerusalem Tel: 02-623-7811

Union Bank  34 Jaffa road. Jerusalem Tel: 02-622-7471

Most banks are open Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to 12:30pm and from 4pm to 6pm.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the morning hours only.

Steimatsky's Chain

Various locations, including 39 Yafo (Jaffa Rovad) , Jerusalem Malkha Mall 02-625-3654
Ben Yehuda Street, King George Street and Emek Refaim

Opening Hours: 8.30am-5pm Sun-Thu; 8.30am-2pm Fri.

If you have a book or DVD that you would really like to have, the branch in Malha is always happy to make an order for you and will call you when your order is ready.

American Colony Bookshop

At the American Colony Hotel 02-627-9731  usbooks@palnet.com

Very good with getting new books in quickly.

Sefer and Sefel

2 Yavetz St, 02-624-8237

Tucked away on the second floor of a house in an alleyway off Jaffa Street, the store’s two levels are great for browsing and there is a plentiful supply of second-hand titles, in good condition, selling for about two-thirds of the cover price.
Opening Hours: 8am-8pm Sun-Thu; 8am-2.30pm Fri.

Educational Bookshop

Salah Eddin St. Good range of books on the region, some novels.

Best place to look for Jerusalem or Tel Aviv maps in English.

Sefarim shel Dani (Danny's Books)

57 Jaffa Street Jerusalem 02-623-1203
Open Hours: 8.30am-7pm Sun-Thu; 8.30am-2.30pm Fri.

Vice Versa

French language bookshop on Agron St, down the road from the American Consulate in West Jerusalem, opposite Independence Park

Yarid Haseferim
Jerusalem Mall, Malha 02-679-0099
Open Hours: 9am-10pm Mon-Thu & Sun; 9am-2.30pm Fri; after Shabbat-11pm Sat.

Imported books and magazines are expensive; it is worth taking out subscriptions to your favourite ones.   

You may want to share, and/or buy on-line, sharing deliveries and thereby postal charges.

Be aware of import duty, which can amount to half of the price of the goods ordered.

People have reported difficulties receiving packages from Amazon – they are occasionally returned as ‘undeliverable’.

Make sure whatever you are having delivered is registered.                        

The ALLENBY BRIDGE between Israel and Jordan is just a couple of km past Jericho.

Tel: 02-994-3217  
Open Sunday to Thursday - 07:30 to 16:00 Friday, and Saturday - 08:00 to 14:00
Closed on YOM KIPPUR and Eid el Fitir

You cannot cross the Allenby Bridge without a valid multiple entry Jordanian Visa. It is the only border crossing to Jordan with this requirement. Visas can be obtained from the Jordanian Embassy in Tel Aviv, where you MUST appear in person, with two passport photos and NIS 180. Visas are normally processed that same day.

The ARAVA / RABIN border crossing between Israel and Jordan is 1 km North of Eilat.
Tel: 08-631-5696
Open Sunday to Thursday - 06:30 to 22:00 Friday, and Saturday - 08:00 to 20:00
Closed on YOM KIPPUR and Eid el Fitir.

Every traveller leaving Israel is subject to a border fee paid in NIS.

A visa to Jordan can be obtained at the border . There are usually taxis waiting on the Jordanian side. Don't try to pay with NIS, no one will accept them.

An Egged Bus (no.16) leaves every hour from the Central Bus Station in Eilat to the Arava checkpoint and returns from there.

The SHEIKH HUSSEIN crossing between Israel and Jordan is 1 km from the town of Bet Shean. Take Route 90 from Jericho.

Tel: 06-658-6422

Sunday to Thursday - 06:30 to 22:00 Friday, and Saturday - 08:00 to 20:00
Border is closed on YOM KIPPUR and Eid el Fitir


Every traveller leaving Israel is subject to a border fee of US$15, to be paid in NIS. All currencies and international Visa cards are accepted.

It takes around an hour and half to drive to Sheik Hussein from Jerusalem and then another hour to drive from the crossing to Amman - it can be worth the extra travelling time as crossing there is generally quicker than at Allenby, and there is no need to have a multiple entry Visa.

The TABA border crossing is approximately 10km south of Eilat. Drive to Eilat and follow the (very discreet) signs to Egypt.
Tel: 08-637-2108
Open every day, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, excluding YOM KIPPUR  and Eid el Fitir

Every traveller leaving Israel is subject to a border fee paid in NIS. Travelers going to the Hilton TABA, which is right beside the border, do not need to pay the fee. Try booking a taxi from the Hilton. Take dollars or Egyptian pounds with you to pay the taxi.

From the port of Haifa, you can take a ferry to Greece, Cyprus or Turkey.

The borders with Syria and Lebanon, in the north of the country, are closed.

To get to Beirut or Damascus, the easiest and cheapest way is to travel through Amman, but you must have a clean passport and Visas for both countries. 

At present, British nationals can only obtain visas for Lebanon from their country of residence (and that can't be Israel, of course).

Alternatively, fly to Egypt, use a clean passport when you get in and leave Egypt for Lebanon. Be ready for serious security checks if you fly El Al back to Tel Aviv.

West Side

Most stores are open daily except for early closings on Fridays (many shut by 2 pm, some supermarkets are open until 4 pm) and close all day Saturday (though some open up after the end of the Sabbath at sundown).Sunday is a normal business day. 

Malha Mall is open until 9 or 10pm during the week and opens after sundown on Saturday until 11pm.

Jewish holidays and sabbath ('shabbat') are celebrated from sundown to sundown. 

I.E., if your calendar notes that Yom Kippur is next Monday, that means stores will close early on Sunday and could reopen on Monday evening.

East Side

Except during major holidays and strikes, there is usually some shopping available, either in Muslim-owned or Christian-owned shops.  Muslim-owned stores may be closed early on Fridays; Christian-owned shops are closed on Sundays.  Christian-owned shops will be closed on different holidays than Western Christians celebrate, if owners are Orthodox Christian, as many are.

For Muslims, Sunday is a normal business day.

American Colony Hotel - for people watching - celebrities, journalists, diplomats- there will always be someone you know!

Anna Ticho House - 9 Harav Kook Street, near Jaffa Road - a quiet oasis on a hot day for a snack or lunch in the garden.

Augusta Victoria Café - Coffee shop in Augusta Victoria compound Mount Scopus run by expats.

Open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Thursday. Saturday 10 to 5pm

Cafe Neeman - 37 Emek Refaim. Tel: 02-566-0838
Open from 7am-midnight Sun-Thu; 7am-5pm Fri.

El Dorado's Café - Salah-eh-din Street, East Jerusalem.

Foccacio's - 4 Rabbi Akiva Street, off Hillel Street for coffee and lunch.

Tel: 02-625-6428

Nafoura – Latin Patriarch road, near Jaffa Gate, Old City.

Scots Coffee Shop and Bistro at the St. Andrew's Guest House

1 David Remez Street (next to Khan Theatre). Tel. 02-673-2401

Open Mon-Sat.10am to 9pm

With wonderful views across to the old city.

Patisserie Suisse -  Salah e-Din Street, East Jerusalem.

Pundak - in picturesque Ein Karem near the water fountain (Mary's Spring).

Terrace of the West Side YMCA - have an iced coffee and people-watch.

CAR HIRE

The majority of car hire companies are located in central west Jerusalem.

If a car is hired locally, rental fees are moderate, pre-booking through an agency abroad may result in a higher price.

Rates tend to go up at peak holiday times.

To rent a car, drivers must be over 24 years and in possession of a full national driving licence with at least two years’ driving experience, insurance and an international credit card.

Car hire companies will not allow hire cars to be driven into the West Bank at the moment.

AVIS

22 King David Street. Tel: 02-624-9001

www.avis.co.il

BUDGET

23 King David Street. Tel: 02-624-8991

www.budget.co.il

ELDAN

24 King David Street. Tel: 02-625-2151/9

http://www.eldan.co.il/index.asp

HERTZ

18 King David Street. Tel: 02-623-1351 or 625-6334

www.hertz.com

Jesuits PBI near the King David Hotel - every evening at 7.00 pm

Lazarist Monastery Saturday evenings at 5 PM, 20 Agron Road  -the chapel is next to the U.S. Consulate. There is a large green gate which will be opened about 15 minutes before the mass.

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer - Sunday service 9:00am in the St. John's Chapel (Sunday School offered). Located in the Old City on  Muristan Road). 02-627-6111

Monastery of the Resurrection, Abu Gosh - for a sublime aesthetic experience, if not a spiritual one, attend 10 am Sunday mass, the monks and brothers chant it all in Gregorian chants, memorable place to take visitors on a Sunday morning.

Notre Dame - every evening at 6:40pm and Sunday at 9:00am

Pontifical Bible Institute - off King David Street, English mass given by Jesuits daily at 7pm.

Ratisbonne Institute – 26 Shmuel Hanagid Street (off King George Street), Saturday mass at 5:00PM.

Roman Catholic Parochial Community - meets in various locations for a 5:00pm Saturday mass.

St. Andrew's Church of Scotland - Sunday service 10:00am (Sunday School offered)

St. George's Cathedral (Anglican) Sunday services at 9.30am (English/Arabic)  (children 5-12 yrs) and 11.00am (English) and offers a youth program (12-16 yrs) on Fridays 3.00pm-5.00pm which includes bible study and sports. Evensong is on Sunday at 6:30pm

St. Joseph Hospital - Sundays at 8:00am

The Baptist House - located at 4 Narkis St. in West Jerusalem, holds Sunday School at 9:30 and the worship service at 10:45, both in English.

If you attend a movie at one of the large malls, expect to have your handbag searched at least once. (It will most likely be a very cursory search, however.)

You can also expect, at most cinemas, that the film will come to a stop roughly half-way through and most likely roughly half-way through a scene or even sentence.
 
Be aware that 'foreign films', i.e., French, Italian, Chinese are usually shown in the language in which they were made, with Hebrew subtitles only.

Chances are the person sitting next to you will be carrying an AK47!

CINEMATHEQUE something of a repertory cinema, membership deals and monthly listings available. Cacao a restaurant with lovely terrace, is located at the same complex, overlooking the Old City. Serves fabulous breakfasts.

11 Hebron Road, Jerusalem, 91083.

Tel: 02-565-4333, 672-4131

CHEN at the mall  by the small roundabout in Talpiot - Popcorn and blockbusters
19 Haoman Street, Jerusalem.

Tel: 02-679-2799, 679-4477  Cinema Phone: *2202

GIL at the main Jerusalem (Malkha) mall Eight-screen multiplex, Jerusalem.

Tel: 02-678-8448, Globusphone: 1-700-505-050

ICC JERUSALEM 1 Shazar Boulevard. (Binyanei Ha'ooma)

Tel: 02-622-1229, 655-8558, 1-700-500-222

JERUSALEM THEATRE at major arts complex in Rehavia, West Side 20 Marcus Street, Jerusalem. 91040

Tel: 02-565-4333, 560-5755

MEVASSERET ZION at the shopping mall.

Tel: 02-565-4333

LEV SMADAR on Lloyd George St, just off Emek Refaim in the German Colony - nice, informal atmosphere; has a small wine/snack bar.
 

Tel: 02-565-4333, 561-8168

Malcolm Frame - 02 581 3851, mobile: 052 865207

Shlomo Goldreich - for technical assistance, upgrades, etc. 653 5327

BUG" on upper end of Hillel Street, West Side and at the Malkha Mall.

Office Depot in the Malha Mall and Talpiot Mega Mall

Armenia : 5 Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem

Tel: 02-581-7162

Argentina : 3A Jabotinsky St., Ramat-Gan 52520.
Tel: 03-575-9170/3, Fax: 03-575-9178

Australia : 37 Shaul Hamelech Boulevard, Europe House. Tel-Aviv 64928
Tel: 03-695-0451, Fax: 03-696-8404

www.australianembassy.org.il

Austria : 11 Hermann Cohen St. Tel Aviv 61110
Tel: 03-524-6186, Fax: 03-524-4039

Jerusalem: 02-649-0649

Belgium : 266 Hayarkon St. Tel-Aviv 63504
Tel: 03-605-4164, Fax: 03-546-5345

Jerusalem: 02-582-8263, 02-582-8644, Fax: 02-581-4063

Bolivia : 7A Hashalom Street, Mevasseret Zion, Jerusalem 90805
Tel: 02-533-5195, Fax: 02-533-5196

Brazil : 2 Kaplan St. Tel-Aviv 64734
Tel: 03-691-9292, Fax: 03-691-6060

Canada : 3 Nirim Street, Beit Hasapanut. Tel-Aviv 67060
Tel: 03-636-3300

China : 222 Ben Yehuda St. Tel-Aviv 63473
Tel: 03-546-7277/51, Fax: 03-546-7251

Congo : PO Box 21352, Tel-Aviv 61212
Tel: 03-691-2414, Fax: 03-695-2825

Costa Rica : 13 Diskin St. Apt 1, Kiryat Wolfson
Tel: 02-566-6197, Fax: 02-563-2591

Denmark : 23 Bnei Moshe Street, Tel Aviv 62308

Tel: 03-544-2144, Fax: 03-546-5502

www.dk-embassy.org.il

Dominican Republic  19 Soutine Street, Tel Aviv 64684

Tel: 03-527-7773, fax: 03-527-7074

Jerusalem  02-563-1354

Egypt : 54 Bazel St. Tel-Aviv 62744
Tel: 03-54-64-151/2, 03-546-2114 Fax: 03-5441615

Eilat: 68 Afraty St. Bna Betkha. Tel: 07-597-6115

El Salvador 4 Avigayil Street, Jerusalem 93551

Tel: 02-672-8411 Fax: 02-673-3641

www.el-salvador.org.il

Ethiopian Aviv Towers, 48 Petah Tikvah Road, Tel Aviv 66184

Tel: 03-639-7831 Fax: 03-639-7837

Jerusalem Tel: 02-625-1738

www.ethemb.co.il

Finland : 2 Ibn Gvirol Street, Tel-Aviv 64077
Tel: 03-695-0527/8, Fax: 03-696-6311

www.finemb.org.il

France : 112 Herbert Samuel, Tel-Aviv 63572
Tel: 03-524-5371/4, Fax: 03-546-5937

Jerusalem 02-625-9481 / 626-2236

www.consulfrance-jerusalem.org

Guatemala 74 He Be'Iyar Street, Apt.6 Kikar He Medina. Tel Aviv 62198

Tel: 03-546-7372 Fax: 03-546-7317

Jerusalem 02-679-1170 or 02-625-1161

Germany : 3 Daniel Frisch St. Tel-Aviv 64731
Tel: 03-693-1313, Fax: 03-696-9217

www.germanemb.org.il

Greece : 47 Bodenheimer St. Tel-Aviv 62008
Tel: 03-605-5461, Fax: 03-605-4374

Jerusalem 02-5828316

Honduras 46 He Be'Iyar Street, Kikar HaMedina, Tel Aviv 62093

Tel: 03-546-9506 Fax: 03-546-9505

Jerusalem 02-625-1095

India : 4 Kaufman St. Tel-Aviv 68012
Tel: 03-510-1431, Fax: 03-510-1434

Italian : 4 Weitzman Street. Tel-Aviv 64239
Tel: 03-696-4223, Fax: 03-691-8428

Jerusalem 02-5618966

Japan : 4 Weitzman St. Tel-Aviv 64239
Tel: 03-695-7292, Fax: 03-691-0516

Jordan : 12 Abba Hillel Silver Street, Ramat-Gan 52506
Tel: 03-751-7722, Fax: 03-751-7712

Kenya : 50 Jabotinsky St. Tel-Aviv 61220
Tel: 03-524-9935, Fax: 03-524-1611

Mexico : 3 Bograshov St. Tel-Aviv 63808
Tel: 03-523-0367/8, Fax: 03-523-7399

Netherlands : Asia House 4 Weitzman Street, Tel Aviv 64239

Tel: 03-695-7377-9  Fax: 03-695-7370

www.neth-embassy-telaviv.co.il

Nigeria : 34 Gordon St. Tel-Aviv 63414
Tel: 03-522-2144, Fax: 03-524-8991

Paraguayan Consulate 1/4 Carmel Street, Mevasseret Zion 90805

Tel: 02-625-1095, 02-533-4830, fax: 02-533-3878

Poland : 16 Soutine St. Tel-Aviv 64684
Tel: 03-524-0188, Fax: 03-523-7806

Romania : 24 Adam Hacohen St. Tel-Aviv 64662
Tel: 03-523-0066, Fax: 03-524-7379

Russia : 120 Hayarkon St. Tel-Aviv
Tel: 03-5226733, Fax: 03-5226713

South Africa : 50 Dizengoff St. Tel-Aviv 64332
Tel: 03-525-2566, Fax: 03-525-3230

www.safis.co.il

Spain : 3 Daniel Frisch St. Tel-Aviv 64731
Tel: 03-6965210, Fax: 03-6952505

Jerusalem  02-563-3473

Sweden  Asia House, 4 Weitzman Street, Tel Aviv 64239

Tel: 03-695-8111, fax: 03-695-8116

Jerusalem: 02 582-8212/13

Switzerland 228 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63405

Tel: 03-546-4455, Fax: 03-546-4408

Thailand 144 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63451

Tel: 03-524-4277/8, Fax: 03-524-4270

Taiwan  270 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63504

Tel: 03- 544-0252, Fax: 03-544-0259

Turkey : 202 Hayarkon St. Tel-Aviv 63405
Tel: 972-3-5241101, Fax: 972-3-5240499

Ukraine  12 Rehov Striker, Tel Aviv 62006

Tel: 03-604-0311, Fax: 03-604-2512

www.ukraine-embassy.co.il

United Kingdom : 192 Hayarkon St. Tel-Aviv 63405
Tel: 03-524-9171/8, Fax: 03-524-3313

www.britemb.org.il

East Jerusalem Office

British Consulate General :  19 Nashashibi Street, Sheikh Jarrah Quarter.
East Jerusalem 97200

Tel: 02-6717724

02-541-4100 - 24 hour switchboard

Open: Mon - Thurs: 07:30 - 15:30; Fri: 07:30-13:30

www.britishconsulate.org

West Jerusalem Office

Tower House, 5 David Remez Street, Jerusalem 93541. near old Train Station and St. Andrews Church.

Tel: 02-671-7724

United States : 71 Hayarkon St. Tel-Aviv 63903
Tel: 03-519-7575, Fax: 03-510-2444

Consulates

EastJerusalem: 27 Nablus Road, 02-625-3288, 02-622-7200

West Jerusalem: 18 Agron Street, 02-625-3288, 02-622-7230

Uzbekistan: 4 Matte Aharon Street, Ramat Gan 52395

Tel: 03-579-6026, Fax: 03-579-6158

Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 09:00 - 13:00
www.uzbekistan.org.il