Taking a Taxi in Israel as a Tourist: 2026 Prices, Shabbat & Tips

Taxis in Israel are white with a yellow sign on the roof, and the meter is mandatory on any ride you flag down in the street: under the official 2026 tariff it opens at ₪12.46, then adds ₪1.95 per kilometre for the first 10 km, ₪3.79 beyond that, plus ₪1.95 for every minute. Pre-booked intercity rides use exactly the same tariff, so a taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport starts from ₪290, Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion from ₪150 and Jerusalem to Tel Aviv from ₪370 — regular taxi, up to four passengers, daytime rate.

One national tariff, no tourist price

Rates come from a national price order, so they are the same in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Eilat, and everything is priced in shekels (₪, ILS). On a street-hailed ride the driver must run the meter — check it is going before the car moves.

A pre-booked ride replaces the climbing meter with a number agreed in advance, built from that same official tariff for your date and time: there is no separate tourist price, and traffic or a detour does not change a confirmed price. Almaxpress has run intercity rides out of Jerusalem since 2015; short hops inside a city are the ones to hail.

How the 2026 meter tariff is built

Fares come from the Price Supervision Order (taxi fares), 5786-2026, in force since 1 April 2026 — about 2.8% below 2025, with the next update due on 1 April 2027. All figures include VAT.

• Flag drop: ₪12.46 the moment the meter starts.
• Distance: ₪1.95 per km for the first 10 km, then ₪3.79 per km (daytime Tariff A).
• Time: ₪1.95 per minute — charged alongside distance, not instead of it, so traffic genuinely costs money.
• Extras: ₪5.78 for booking ahead (already inside our "from" prices), ₪5 for leaving Ben Gurion, and Highway 6 (about ₪20) or Carmel Tunnels tolls at cost when used.
• Not charged: luggage or extra passengers — both surcharges were abolished in 2020.

Tariff A, B and C: the clock decides

The tariff depends on when the ride starts, and the tariff day runs 06:00–05:59, so a 01:00 departure belongs to the night before.

Tariff B adds 20% to the per-minute and first-10-km rates and about 10% beyond 10 km, which works out at roughly 14% more on a long intercity trip. Tariff C adds 40% and about 21% — roughly 28% more. Worked examples: our 2026 taxi meter tariff guide.

What the rides tourists actually take cost

Starting prices for a regular taxi (up to four passengers) under the official 2026 tariff, booking fee included and rounded down; the final price is confirmed at booking. Tariff C here covers Saturday-night and end-of-holiday departures from 19:01 — we do not drive during Shabbat itself.

A fare is charged per car, not per head: Jerusalem to Tel Aviv from ₪370 is about ₪93 each for four. The reverse of a listed route costs the same, except out of the airport, where the ₪5 departure surcharge applies. Anywhere without a row above — Safed, Nazareth, Caesarea — is priced by the official meter tariff; get an instant price in the calculator, or see the full 2026 price list.

Hail it, book it or use an app?

Hailing in the street

Best for short city trips: raise a hand, check the meter is running from the start and pay what it shows. No booking fee applies.

Booking ahead

Best for airports, intercity routes, early departures and anything involving luggage, children or a group: a named price and a car that is definitely there. Almaxpress operates 24/6 — around the clock, Sunday to Friday — with the ₪5.78 booking fee inside the quote. Step by step: how to easily order a taxi in Israel.

Ride-hailing apps

App-based services operate in Israel and suit ordinary hours inside the cities. For a 03:00 airport run, a Saturday-night departure or eight people with suitcases, a pre-booked car with a confirmed price and vehicle size is safer.

Shabbat: the one thing to plan around

Shabbat runs from sundown on Friday to nightfall on Saturday, and most of the country has no public transport during those hours: trains stop from roughly Friday afternoon until Saturday night, and buses largely follow. Almaxpress does not drive on Shabbat or Jewish holidays either, from candle-lighting on the eve until the day ends.

What we do run is the ride afterwards: Motzei Shabbat (Saturday-night) journeys are pre-booked and depart once Shabbat has ended. Book before Shabbat begins, and check the weekly Havdalah time, which shifts through the year.

The meter follows the same calendar. The Shabbat tariff day runs until 05:59 on Sunday, so a Saturday-night ride is Tariff B up to 19:00 and Tariff C from 19:01. On Friday, Tariff A applies until 16:00 and Tariff B from 16:01 — plan a Friday ride to finish comfortably before Shabbat begins.

Holiday eves follow the Friday rules and holiday days the Shabbat rules: 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 and 28 April 2027) and Shavuot (11 June 2027). More in our Saturday-night and holidays guide.

Your first ride: arriving at Ben Gurion

Your driver waits in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall holding a sign with your name — no queue, nothing to negotiate. We track the flight in real time: land late or early, the driver is still there, and a delay does not change the agreed price. A SIM card and an ATM are available in the arrivals hall.

Airport departures carry the official ₪5 surcharge, stated in the quote; Jerusalem starts from ₪300 and Tel Aviv from ₪140 by day. See taxi from Ben Gurion and our airport pickup guide.

Flying home, be at Ben Gurion about three hours before an international departure — so leave Jerusalem roughly four hours before take-off, plus 15–20 minutes in rush hour. A 06:00 flight means the airport by 03:00 and a Jerusalem departure around 02:00, which is Tariff B, from ₪330; see our Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport page.

Paying, invoices and tipping

Cash in shekels goes to the driver; cards are charged in advance by phone or payment link; bank transfer and payment apps work by arrangement, and a deposit may be requested. A full tax invoice is emailed for every ride, and companies can be set up for a monthly consolidated invoice. Cancellation is free more than 24 hours ahead, up to 50% between 24 and 6 hours, and the full fare under 6 hours or for a no-show — always in writing. See our guide to paying for a taxi in Israel.

Tipping is not obligatory in Israel and no driver expects a fixed percentage. Rounding up is a common courtesy, especially after help with heavy suitcases; paying exactly what was agreed is entirely normal.

Children, luggage and groups

A regular taxi seats up to four passengers with three large suitcases plus carry-ons, and there is no luggage surcharge. Child seats and boosters are free when requested at booking — tell us how many children and their ages, and the seats are fitted before the car arrives. Our guide to travelling with kids covers seats, boosters and strollers.

Beyond four people the vehicle changes rather than the price list: a 6-seat large taxi takes about six to eight suitcases, a 10-seat van ten to twelve, a 19-seat minibus nineteen and more. Book a 6-seat large taxi, 10-seat van or 19-seat minibus through our large taxi page — we confirm the price within minutes. Mention strollers, folding wheelchairs or sports gear at booking; a vehicle with a wheelchair lift can be arranged in advance.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a taxi cost in Israel in 2026?

The meter starts at ₪12.46, then charges ₪1.95 per km for the first 10 km, ₪3.79 per km beyond and ₪1.95 per minute by day. Jerusalem to Ben Gurion is from ₪290, Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion from ₪150.

Is the meter mandatory in Israeli taxis?

Yes on any ride you hail in the street, and you may ask for it before setting off. Pre-booked intercity rides are quoted as a fixed price built from the same tariff.

Can I take a taxi on Shabbat?

Not with Almaxpress — we do not operate on Shabbat or Jewish holidays, and most public transport stops too. Pre-book a Saturday-night ride and it departs once Shabbat ends.

How much is a taxi from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem?

From ₪300 by day under the official 2026 tariff, for a regular taxi with up to four passengers. A night departure starts from ₪340, and a Saturday-night ride from 19:01, once Shabbat has ended, from ₪380.

Do I need to tip my taxi driver in Israel?

No, tipping is not obligatory. Rounding up is a common courtesy, but paying exactly what was agreed is completely normal.

Can I pay by credit card, or do I need cash?

Both work: cash in shekels to the driver, or a card charged in advance by phone or payment link. A tax invoice is emailed for every ride.

Are child seats available, and do they cost extra?

Child seats and boosters are free when requested at booking. The 2026 tariff also carries no luggage surcharge and no extra-passenger surcharge.