Almaxpress does not drive during Shabbat or on the Jewish holidays listed below; a pre-booked Motzei Shabbat (Saturday-night) ride leaves as soon as Shabbat ends, and that night a taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport costs from ₪330 under Tariff B for a departure up to 19:00, or from ₪370 under Tariff C from 19:01, according to the official 2026 meter tariff. Trains and most intercity buses stop from Friday afternoon until Saturday night, so a pre-booked taxi is the answer for anything in that window. Here is how the meter works afterwards, what the routes cost, and what to settle before Friday.
What stops on Shabbat — and what does not
Shabbat runs from sundown on Friday to nightfall on Saturday. Israel Railways stops roughly from Friday afternoon until Saturday night — including the fast line between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon and its stop at Ben Gurion Airport station for Terminal 3. Most of the country has no bus service either; check the operator's site for the last departures.
Almaxpress runs 24 hours a day, Sunday to Friday — 24/6, not around the clock all week — from Jerusalem, since 2015, intercity only. During Shabbat and the holidays below there are no departures and no phone line taking bookings. What we run instead is a Motzei Shabbat schedule of rides reserved in advance.
When does Shabbat end? The Havdalah time sets your departure
There is no fixed clock time — the commonest misunderstanding among visitors. Shabbat ends at nightfall, roughly an hour after sunset, so the time moves every week and by season: early on a winter evening, much later in midsummer. Holidays end the same way.
Look up the Havdalah time for your city and date before booking — Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh do not share an identical minute. Tell us the date and we agree a departure window, then plan backwards: an early winter Havdalah leaves a long Saturday evening, a late summer one can rule out a Saturday-night flight.
The meter after Shabbat: Tariff B until 19:00, Tariff C from 19:01
Israeli fares are set by a government price-supervision order: Tariff A by day, B at night, C on Shabbat and holiday nights. A tariff "day" runs from 06:00 to 05:59 the next morning, so the Shabbat and holiday day does not end at nightfall on Saturday — it runs to 05:59 on Sunday.
| Day | Tariff A (day) | Tariff B (night) | Tariff C (Shabbat/holiday night) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday–Wednesday | 06:00–21:00 | 21:01–05:59 | — |
| Thursday | 06:00–21:00 | 21:01–23:00 | 23:01–05:59 |
| Friday and holiday eves | 06:00–16:00 | 16:01–21:00 | 21:01–05:59 |
| Shabbat and holidays | — | 06:00–19:00 | 19:01–05:59 (Sunday) |
A ride starting after Shabbat ends is therefore Tariff B if it departs by 19:00, Tariff C from 19:01. In winter, when Shabbat is out before 19:00, a car leaving at 18:30 is Tariff B; in summer, when Shabbat ends after 19:00, the same trip is Tariff C — and so is a 02:00 Sunday departure for a dawn flight.
Against daytime Tariff A, an intercity ride costs roughly 14% more at Tariff B and roughly 28% more at Tariff C. The flag drop is ₪12.46 in every tariff, the pre-booking fee ₪5.78, and leaving Ben Gurion adds the official ₪5 airport surcharge. Full breakdown: our 2026 taxi meter tariff guide.
Saturday-night taxi prices 2026: the main routes
Regular taxi (up to 4 passengers, up to 3 large suitcases), according to the official 2026 meter tariff, pre-booking fee included and rounded down. Column B is a departure up to 19:00, column C from 19:01.
| Route | Distance | Drive time | Tariff B (until 19:00) | Tariff C (from 19:01) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem → Ben Gurion Airport | 54 km | ~48 min | from ₪330 | from ₪370 |
| Ben Gurion Airport → Jerusalem | 54 km | ~50 min | from ₪340 | from ₪380 |
| Jerusalem → Tel Aviv | 67 km | ~64 min | from ₪420 | from ₪470 |
| Tel Aviv → Ben Gurion Airport | 26 km | ~29 min | from ₪170 | from ₪190 |
| Beit Shemesh → Ben Gurion Airport | 41 km | ~33 min | from ₪240 | from ₪270 |
Routes not listed are priced by the same official meter tariff; get an instant price in the calculator, or see the full 2026 price list. The price is confirmed in writing at booking and does not move for traffic or a detour. Route pages: Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport, Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, taxis in Beit Shemesh.
Travelling this Saturday night? Reserve it before Shabbat
Send the date, the pickup address and the destination — we confirm car and price in writing.
Friday and holiday eves: finish the ride before Shabbat begins
Two things change on Friday. The meter: Tariff A until 16:00, Tariff B 16:01–21:00, Tariff C from 21:01. More important, we stop driving at candle-lighting, which makes those late windows largely theoretical for us. Plan a Friday ride to be finished, not merely started, before Shabbat comes in.
Count backwards from the drive times in the table above — plus 15 to 20 minutes in rush hour, and passport control and bags if you are landing. If it looks borderline, send us the flight number and we will check it; more in our Ben Gurion pickup guide. Holiday eves work like Friday, holiday days like Shabbat.
Jewish holiday calendar 2026–2027
Dates on which we do not drive, and on which the Shabbat tariff applies to rides departing once the holiday ends:
- Rosh Hashanah — 12–13 September 2026
- Yom Kippur — 21 September 2026 (no service at all)
- Sukkot — 26 September 2026
- Simchat Torah — 3 October 2026
- Pesach — 22 April and 28 April 2027
- Shavuot — 11 June 2027
If your itinerary touches Yom Kippur, 21 September 2026, move the transfer to the day before or the day after and book it early.
Saturday-night flights from Ben Gurion: when to leave
The rule is simple: be at Ben Gurion about three hours before an international departure, and leave Jerusalem about four hours before take-off. Night rides meet little traffic, but the meter bills time as well as distance, so book for the hour you actually need.
A late Saturday-night departure
A 23:50 flight means being at the terminal by 20:50 and leaving Jerusalem around 19:50 — Tariff C, from ₪370. With an early winter Havdalah that is comfortable; in midsummer, when Shabbat ends later, the margin narrows. Check the week's Havdalah time before booking the ticket.
An early Sunday-morning departure
A 06:00 flight means being at the airport by 03:00 and leaving Jerusalem around 02:00. Shabbat ended hours earlier, but the tariff day runs to 05:59, so this is still Tariff C, from ₪370. Leaving Tel Aviv around 02:15 is from ₪190; Beit Shemesh, from ₪270. Full timing tables: our early-morning and late-night departures guide.
Landing at Ben Gurion on Saturday
A Saturday landing means a pickup booked for after Shabbat ends; the pickup itself is standard. The driver waits in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name, we track the flight in real time, and a late or early landing does not change the agreed price. Book before Shabbat starts — see the taxi from Ben Gurion page.
How to pre-book a Motzei Shabbat or post-holiday ride
Book by Friday. During Shabbat and holidays nobody is answering the phone or dispatching cars, so a request sent on Saturday afternoon waits until the evening. Saturday night is a busy slot, so earlier is better.
What to send us
- Date and rough departure time, relative to the end of Shabbat if you are unsure of the minute.
- Pickup address and destination — street and number, or hotel name.
- Passengers and suitcases — a regular taxi takes up to 4 people and up to 3 large suitcases.
- Flight number, if the ride starts or ends at the airport.
- Extras — child seat or booster (free, in advance), a stop on the way, a folding wheelchair.
Confirmation with the price reaches you in writing before Shabbat. Pay cash to the driver, by credit card charged in advance by phone or payment link, or by bank transfer or payment app; a deposit may be requested, and a full tax invoice is emailed for every ride. Cancellation is free more than 24 hours ahead, up to 50% between 24 and 6 hours, 100% under 6 hours or for a no-show, always in writing — see our terms page. Call or WhatsApp +972-50-912-2133.
Families and groups travelling after Shabbat
Saturday night is a common slot for families travelling together, and a regular taxi's four seats and three large suitcases cover only a couple with children travelling light. A 6-seat large taxi usually takes six to eight suitcases, a 10-seat van about ten to twelve, a 19-seat minibus nineteen and more with a luggage hold or trailer — one vehicle for everyone, on a night with no train to fall back on.
Book a 6-seat large taxi, 10-seat van or 19-seat minibus on our large taxi page — we confirm the price within minutes. Child seats and boosters are free when requested in advance, and a vehicle with a wheelchair lift can be arranged in advance too. First trip to Israel? Our taxi guide for tourists covers the basics.
Bottom line
- No service during Shabbat or the listed holidays; Motzei Shabbat and post-holiday rides are pre-booked.
- Shabbat ends at nightfall, weekly and seasonally variable — check the Havdalah time for your city and date.
- The Shabbat tariff day runs to 05:59 Sunday: Tariff B up to 19:00, Tariff C from 19:01, a 02:00 Sunday airport run included.
- Saturday night, Jerusalem to Ben Gurion is from ₪330 (B) or from ₪370 (C) — official 2026 meter tariff, final price confirmed at booking.
- Yom Kippur, 21 September 2026: no service at all. Book Saturday-night and post-holiday rides by Friday.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an Almaxpress taxi during Shabbat?
No. There is no service from candle-lighting on Friday until Shabbat ends, and none on the listed holidays. Rides departing afterwards must be booked in advance.
What time can the car actually leave on Saturday night?
After Shabbat ends, roughly an hour after sunset — a time that changes weekly and seasonally. Check the Havdalah time for your city and date; we agree the window at booking.
How much is a taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport on Saturday night?
From ₪330 if it starts by 19:00 (Tariff B) and from ₪370 from 19:01 (Tariff C), for a regular taxi of up to 4 passengers on the official 2026 meter tariff. Final price confirmed at booking.
Why is a 02:00 Sunday ride still charged the Shabbat tariff?
Because the tariff day runs from 06:00 to 05:59, so the Shabbat day ends only at 05:59 on Sunday. A 02:00 departure falls inside it and is billed at Tariff C.
Do you drive on Jewish holidays?
Not during the holiday itself. Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Pesach and Shavuot follow the Shabbat rules, holiday eves the Friday rules; on Yom Kippur there is no service at all.
How late can I travel on a Friday?
The ride has to finish before Shabbat begins, not merely start. Work backwards from the week's candle-lighting time using the drive times above, plus 15 to 20 minutes in rush hour.
We are eight people with ten suitcases — can we travel on Saturday night?
Yes, in a 10-seat van, booked in advance like any Motzei Shabbat ride. Book a 6-seat large taxi, 10-seat van or 19-seat minibus and we confirm the price within minutes.
When the trains stop, your car is already booked
Motzei Shabbat, the end of a holiday or a Sunday-dawn flight — reserve it now.
