Getting Around Jerusalem by Bus
Getting around Jerusalem is a snap once you get the hang of Egged buses. The Egged company runs the public bus network in Jerusalem and this is how most Israelis get around town.
If you plan on using buses for getting around Jerusalem for a few days, go down to the Central Bus Station and get yourself the free map of the bus routes from the ticket counter. The Central Bus Station has always been a landmark in Jerusalem, by the way, but the new station, located on Jaffa St, opposite a plaza from the International Convention Center (Binyanei Ha’Uma) is also a mall. The map will show you which bus routes go where. Armed with this, you can get anywhere you need in town. Intercity bus lines (those going to Tel Aviv, Eilat, etc.) leave from within the station itself – there are gates just like at airports. For intercity trips, it's best to buy your ticket in the station before boarding the bus, where you can also get a round trip ticket if you need it. If you only get to the station in the nick of time, though, skip the ticket counter. Just make a mad dash to the gate and board the bus - you can pay the driver. City lines for getting around Jerusalem itself leave from the marked bus stops on Jaffa St. in front of the station. On these lines, you pay the driver when you get on. If the bus is very crowded, don’t be shy about getting on through the rear door, especially if you have little children or a stroller with you. The bus driver and passengers will trust you to go up to the driver and pay your fare. If you have a baby with you, other passengers may even offer to take your money up front for you while you sit down. (Believe it or not, you’ll get your exact change back, even if it gets handed from passenger to passenger down the whole length of the bus!) One time fares are paid to the bus driver as you get on the bus. One-trip tickets for adults cost 6.20 shekels as of January 1, 2010. If you are going to take two buses within 75 minutes, ask the driver for a ma'avar - a free transfer - when you buy your ticket. He'll hand you an additional ticket at no extra cost. (If you forget to ask for it as you board, you won't be able to get the free transfer later.) Show both tickets when you board the next bus. If you board the second bus after 75 minutes have elapsed since you bought the first ticket, you'll have to buy a new one. The regular fare also allows you to take along one child under age 5 for free. Additional children under 5 must buy a ticket. If so, you will want to get a cartisia. A cartisia is a 10-ride bus ticket. You can get this at the ticket counter of the bus station when you pick up a map, but you can also buy one by asking the bus driver when you hop onto any bus. Short of walking, this is the cheapest way of getting around Jerusalem. Seniors and children There is a discount cartisia for children and senior citizens. In this case, ask the driver for a caritisia le no’ar (a youth pass) or a cartisia le vatik (senior citizen pass). It’s the same card for both. This bus pass gives you 20 rides for the price of 10.
If you are a senior citizen and you don’t think you’ll be getting around Jerusalem enough to make it worth buying the 20 trips on a cartisia, you’ll save money by buying a one-ride ticket each time. Seniors will still get the 50% discount. This won’t work for kids over 5 years old, though. They pay full fare on a one-ride ticket if not accompanied by an adult, or if the adult has more than one child along. BUS SCHEDULES During the week, buses run from early in the morning to between 11 pm and 12 pm on most routes. Fridays, buses stop early, an hour or two before the onset of the Sabbath. Buses do NOT run between Friday evening and Saturday night. To call Egged – dial *2800 and then dial 3 for an English-speaking representative. You can use this number to check on schedules, bus lines, ticket fares, or find out the time of the last bus on a given line on Friday afternoons. Disabled passengers can also use this number to find out which buses on a line are wheelchair accessible.
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