There are 2 or three different ways to get from airport to Jerusalem.

1. Private taxi, most expensive
2. A sherute or van that will hold from 10 to 15 people (most often used),
they will deliver you to your hotel.
3. Public buses

Some unsolicited advice - Jerusalem is February is damp cold - the kind that gets into your bones. Underarmour or the like is hte way to go. Dress for mud, at least 2 pairs of shoes so one is drying while the other is being worn for touring.

Drivers are happy to take either dollars or shekels. Do not use cash changers in airport. After you collect your luggage and enter the greeting hall, there are going to be 1000000 screaming people waiting to greet their arrivals. In back of them against the back wall are ATMs that will deliver cash at the rate of the day. Make sure you have pre arranged with your credit/debit card for usage and an understanding of rates.

If you dont want the CP then the Ramada isnt far away, it was the Renaissance till they deflaged and pour Millions into it. Id say if you could walk it in 15 mins tops. Just turn left out the main door theres some stairs take them down and cotinue up that road staying to your Right , you will see some stairs going down and then under the hway and up once on top you should see the CP and CC across the way just head towards them you want to be to the Right of the CP

Or instead of going to your Right go left and theres a Tram stop take it 1 stop to the bus station and take the stairs down and keep walking till you cant any longer and then go up and you will be standing in front of the CC, just make sure youa rent heading to the bus station

Although the Ramada is a Wyndham Hotel you cant earn any pts there still, the whole place was redone 2 yrs ago

thanks for the feedback folks.

We're thinking that after such a long couple of flights we'll be anxious to go straight to Jerusalem in a taxi rather than wait for others to get luggage and a shuttle.

Not sure how much ONIS is, but perhaps somebody can let us know approx how many $US or shekels it will be for an taxi trip from the airport to Jerusalem.

Ive found the past couple of yrs that the ILS (Israeli Shekel) has been stable or stronger vs the US$ that its no longer as it once was where everyone over ther wanted only the US$, today alot of people wont take the US$ or if they do its not at a good rate

I havent taken a cab from TLV to Yeru in yrs but apx a yr ago did Yeru to TLV and they wanted anywhere from 250 - 320 (ended up geting it for the 200 I had left)

I believe from TLV its a fixed rate and costs more during the overnight. Depending what time you arrive the shuttle can fill up very fast, the problem maybe driving around and seeing the whole city if you are 1 of the last to be dropped off. During very peak times they try to keep each shuttle going to a small area = less time driving around till dropped off, off peak they just want to fill it up.

last I knew the shuttle was 54 ILS , what you can do since they are basically next to each other, is head over to the shuttle 1st and see if they are about full and ask how many will be dropped off before you are, if you like what you are told go with them, otherwise walk the few feet over to the private cabs

today 250ILS is apx $67 @ 3.74 to the $1, its been recently (Oct) @ 3.65, it doesnt sway drastically any longer

The sherut holds 10 people and leaves as soon as it fills up. Current fare is 58NIS. Taxis are rate fixed and available from a dispatcher. Don't get into a cab/vehicle with anyone who approaches you in the terminal--who knows what they will charge.

Despite the people claiming that taxis take $$ I wouldn't. When you pay in $$ ( assuming the driver will accept them, no requirement) the exchange rate is whatever the driver decides to make it. AND you can be sure, it will not be in your favor! While waiting for your luggage there is a bank run money changing booth ( center of hall) If you don't do that there are ATMs and additional money changers in the arrival hall.

The Ramada is a good hotel, Not walking distance, but not far away are the Dan Panorama, Inbal, David Citadel etc. --what is your budget?

Good advice to dress for bone-chilling cold. It may not be there, but if it is you need to be prepared. Layers work too.

To the person who suggested staying in Bethlehem. It is too far and not an easy place to get out of. Bethlehem is under the control of the Palestinian Authority. That means each time to go back to Israel you are, crossing what amounts to as a border. You would be taking either a taxi the whole way ( adds up) or an Arab bus to the Damascus gate area and then switching transportation.

To the person who asked why this thread is alive--the current questioner performed CPR on it.

Just because I feel the need to always get involved...
 

Getting to Jerusalem from TLV:
You have 3 options, though really 2 if you have luggage.

1. You can take public transportation, but not so conducive if you have luggage. To do so, you take the 5 bus (shuttle) from Terminal 3 to Airport City, where you transfer to the 947 which takes you to Jerusalem's Central Bus Station. Cost is NIS 23 (and no, you cannot pay this in USD; it MUST be paid in cash in NIS). It's not conducive because not only do you need to transfer there, but you will need to transfer again at the bus station to a Jerusalem intra-city bus. (egged.com)
2. You can take a sherut (shared taxi). They seat 10, and go as they fill up. Warning: The drivers are annoying, and sometimes you will need to wait a while depending on where in Jerusalem you're going. Be prepared for a slightly difficult time before getting on the way. Cost: NIS 58 (must be paid in cash, NIS; USD no good)
3. There is an official taxi dispatch. Cost will be around NIS 250, though here, they may be willing to accept USD. While the rate has been hovering at around 3.6 NIS/USD ($1 buys you NIS 3.6), they will likely give you a rate closer to 3.3) This is the most hassle-free, easiest, painless... way of getting to Jerusalem. The ONLY downside is the increased cost.

This is great advice.

We are actually travelling from Vanc. to Jerusalem so I'll get some shekels before leaving Canada.

We have decided to go with a taxi to and from the airport, think it will be easiest for us. We arrive in the afternoon.

Daughter is wanting to be close to the conference centre and thinks its best to go with the Crown Plaza. The feedback I have read on the net has not been particularly positive so I was concerned and why I asked on FT for others recent stay feedback at this hotel. We have no hotel program that we are loyal to, just looking for the best deal close to her conference.

Whatever you do, do NOT exchange money in the airport! After passport control, there is a Bank Hapoalim money changer by baggage claim. MASSIVE RIPOFF!! Another option is to withdraw shekel. In the Arrivals Hall, there are ATMs from a few major banks where you can withdraw shekels from your foreign bank account, assuming your bank allows it. (While most Bank Leumi ATMs don't charge a fee, there may be a NIS 5 fee, but not terrible. The rate given should be pretty accurate though.)

CP is a nice hotel. I personally haven't stayed there recently, but a bunch of friends have. However, I am a big fan of the Ramada, and it's right next to the light rail stop.

I've been to Jerusalem twice in February. The first time it was sunny the whole time and highs were high 50s-low 60s during the day, around 40 at night. Four years ago when I was there, I got hailed on, and it was blustery and cold. So it's pretty variable. I'm going tomorrow, and I'm packing layers.

This would probably be the worst thing you could do! Even the change places within the baggage claim area will put more Sheks into your hand.

Id wait till I got to TLV and as others have said use the ATM after you entered the Arrivals Hall (which is after going thru Customs) If you do it in teh baggage claim area do just enought to pay for the cab so $100 US tops

Actually, Bank of America gave me a better rate (at my branch in NJ) than the change place at baggage claim gave me. (Asked both for personal knowledge. Didn't change at either obviously)

I always used to give them US$, at least when it worked in my favor. @ 3.74 Im sure they will take $16

as for difficult time if there are alot of people the only thing will be that they are want to get those going into the same area in the same van.

If its off peak or your bags came out late then if there isnt 10 people its a crap shoot. The last time I used Nesher @ TLV my bags were the last off by the time I got outside there was only 1 other person. Our luck the driver didnt want to wait he did ask if wed be willing to pay 3x each , I said Id go grab Egged (the bus), he took us both@ the reg rate, he just didnt want to wait a few hrs till the next flight arrived

I stayed at the CP Jerusalem about a year ago or more.

Great views of the Old City. Not sure if you are Observant (Jews), but if you are there over the weekend and not, they are looking for people to occupy the upper floors as many will not ride elevator on Saturday.

dont know about BofA but both Chase and Citi yrs ago were alot worse, althopugh I'll admitt I thought the OP was talking about purchasing it at the airport from which they were departing rather than any Bank etc eg Travelex (?) also I found Amex to have really bad rates as well

Now things might have changed but after asking for a couple of yrs and getting the same bad rates , I simply stopped asking

fwiw this is only regarding Sheks but any currency other then the USD, and usually I find the worst rates are in the baggage claim areas while the same company will also have a place after Customs where they usually offer better rates. I tend to use an ATM

I think the best advice is what numerous people here have said, myself included: GET MONEY FROM THE ATMS IN THE ARRIVALS HALL, AFTER BAGGAGE CLAIM! AND DON'T GET MONEY FROM THE BANK HAPOALIM ATM THAT'S INSIDE THE BAGGAGE CLAIM HALL - THEY RIP YOU OFF AS WELL!!

Do they give better rates to stay higher up? (Do they have a Shabbat elevator for people who will stay higher up?)