Middle East - TLV downtown to Ben Gurion early morning flight: 1:45h taxi ride?!?

I recently visited TLV and had a great time overall. There was just one incidence that I found somewhat odd:

I left the IC TLV at 1.30a.m. to catch a 5a.m. flight out of TLV. The front desk staff told me the ride would take some 25-30min, however the ride took 1:45h. Basically the entire city center was packed with cars, taxis, partying folks (night from Thursday to Friday), police had shut down a few roads etc.

I first thought the taxi driver took me for a long ride, but he only charged a 155NIS which didn´t seem unreasonable / wasn´t any more than I paid on arrival.

So for the TLV experts out there: Is this normal? Or was I just very unlucky? I still made my flight, but without using the J/C queues it would have been very hard...

You were lucky enough to be in Tel Aviv for the annual "White Night" event which celebrates Tel Aviv's being awarded a UNESCO award in 2003.

While “The White City” might sound like something out of Lord of the Rings, that is actually Tel Aviv’s nickname, having been named that by UNESCO in 2003 when it awarded Israel’s hottest city the status of an international site of cultural heritage. Unlike the “Big Apple,” Tel Aviv’s nickname makes a bit more sense considering the architecture, and its residents don’t cringe when they hear tourists refer to it as such.

Dubbed “White Night Tel Aviv” (Layla Lavan Tel Aviv) to honor the anniversary of the UNESCO award, tonight’s mega event is more than just club and bars, but recognizing the wide array of culture that Tel Aviv has to offer. Artists will be performing open-air concerts all night long until the sun rises, museums will be open past your bedtime, and even opera will be going well past midnight.

From “Indie City” featuring the White City’s hottest underground bands to a yoga workshop at dawn, tonight is all about celebrating every facet of Tel Aviv.

:td:to your hotel for not a) leaving a note on the desk of the guest rooms informing you of this event so you could participate in a fun-filled night

:td::td: to your hotel for not taking into account the likelihood of delays when informing you of the time needed to get to the airport and including that in a note in your room

You were lucky enough to be in Tel Aviv for the annual "White Night" event which celebrates Tel Aviv's being awarded a UNESCO award in 2003.

:td:to your hotel for not a) leaving a note on the desk of the guest rooms informing you of this event so you could participate in a fun-filled night

:td::td: to your hotel for not taking into account the likelihood of delays when informing you of the time needed to get to the airport and including that in a note in your room

Thanks for the info, indeed that was the night. No word from the front desk or anyone else about the festivities, guess I´ll have to come back another year.

I think it took about 15 minutes tonight... :D

(posting from the DAN lounge...)

I think it took about 15 minutes tonight... :D

(posting from the DAN lounge...)

Can't wait to go!

I think it took about 15 minutes tonight... :D

(posting from the DAN lounge...)

I maybe managed to move 3-4 blocks in 15min that night. Walking probably would have been faster if I had known my way around the city center.:p

Actually, 1:45 on "layla lavan" (White Night) is decent. I'm surprised there were that routes to get out.

But agree with yosithezet: shame on the hotel for not informing guests to leave earlier.

OP, even getting there at 3:15, while pushing it, is probably just enough time, even not on the J/C lines.