Getting around Israel on Shabbat and holidays
From Friday afternoon to Saturday night Israel Railways does not run and most intercity buses stop. Taxis work, with the meter at the higher tariff B or C. Our drivers work on Shabbat with the same hours: +20% by day, +40% in the evening and at night. Nothing runs on Yom Kippur — even Ben Gurion airport closes. Prices checked .
When Shabbat starts and ends
Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday and ends after dark on Saturday; the exact times change through the year. Public transport winds down on Friday afternoon and restarts on Saturday evening. Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, the first and last days of Passover and Sukkot, and Shavuot work the same way.
Our surcharge hours (same as the official taxi tariff)
| When | Tariff | Our surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday–Wednesday 06:00–21:00, Thursday 06:00–21:00, Friday 06:00–16:00 | A | — |
| Weekday nights 21:01–05:59; Thursday 21:01–23:00; Friday and holiday eves 16:01–21:00; Saturday and holidays 06:00–19:00 | B | +20% |
| Thursday from 23:01; Friday and holiday eves from 21:00; Saturday and holidays from 19:01 — until 05:59 | C | +40% |
Source: Ministry of Transport taxi tariff schedule as published by protocol.co.il (checked 21 October 2026). The surcharge is calculated on the trip price and rounded up to $5.
Yom Kippur
On Yom Kippur roads are almost empty, public transport stops and Ben Gurion airport closes. We do not drive from 14:00 on the eve until the end of the fast. The next Yom Kippur is on 11 October 2027 (from the evening of 10 October).
Holidays in our calendar
Rest days counted as Shabbat in 2027: 22 and 28 April (Passover), 12 May (Independence Day), 11 June (Shavuot), 2–3 October (Rosh Hashanah), 16 October (Sukkot), 23 October (Simchat Torah). The calculator applies them automatically.
Tips
In Jerusalem some ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods close streets to cars on Shabbat; our drivers know the detours. Shops and restaurants in Tel Aviv stay largely open; in Jerusalem many close. Book Friday-evening and Saturday transfers a few days ahead.
Questions
Do trains run on Saturday in Israel?
No. Israel Railways stops on Friday afternoon and resumes on Saturday evening after Shabbat.
Can I get from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem on Shabbat?
Yes, by taxi or a pre-booked car. A RideIL sedan costs $195 plus 20% by day or 40% in the evening — the calculator shows the total for your date and time.
Is there any service on Yom Kippur?
No. We do not drive from 14:00 on the eve until the end of Yom Kippur.