Fast Facts

Airport Transportation -- Call Nesher Taxi-Sherut (tel. 02/625-7227). The office is closed for reservations on Shabbat; however, Nesher's taxi and sherut service to Ben-Gurion does run during the Sabbath and can be reserved ahead of time. Call before Friday morning if you need a seat on an airport sherut from Friday afternoon to Sunday.

American Express -- The office at 18 Shlomzion HaMalka St. (tel. 02/624-0830) is open Sunday to Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to 1pm. Exchange rates, especially for American Express traveler's checks, are relatively good and there is no commission charge. Lost or stolen American Express traveler's checks can be reported 24 hours daily by calling toll-free (tel. 800/940-3211 or 03/636-4416).

Area Code -- The area code is 02.

Babysitters -- Ask at the front desk of your hotel.

Bus Information -- Call tel. 02/530-4704 for municipal bus information, including bus no. 99, the red, double-decker All City Circle tourist bus that makes a circuit of 29 sites throughout Jerusalem. For schedules and routes, go to www.egged.co.il.

Car Rental -- Most offices are on King David Street between Agron Street and the King David Hotel. Options include Avis, 22 King David St. (tel. 02/624-901); Budget, 23 King David St. (tel. 02/624-8991); Eldan, 24 King David St. (tel. 02/625-2151); Hertz, 19 King David St. (tel. 02/623-1351); and Perry, 36 Keren Hayesod St. (tel. 02/561-9690).

Currency Exchange -- Banking hours are 8:30am to noon or 12:30pm; on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday also from 4 to 5pm. There are many banks on Ben-Yehuda Street, Jaffa Road, and King George V Avenue. Money-changers, which are legal and offer slightly better rates than banks, will change money in less time with no commission. In East Jerusalem, a number of money-changer offices are on Saladin Street; in the Old City, these offices can be found inside Damascus and Jaffa gates; they are generally open daily from 9am to 5 or 6pm. In West Jerusalem, Change Point, a convenient money-changing office, has branches on the Ben-Yehuda Mall near Zion Square, open Sunday through Thursday from 9am to 8pm and on Friday from 9am to 1pm.

ATMs connected to the major international networks can be found at Zion Square and on the Ben-Yehuda Mall. You must use ATMs with the Cirrus, Sum, PLUS, or other international connection indicated, or that specifically say that foreign ATM cards can be used. Tip: Even if you have a bank that doesn't charge for foreign withdrawals (many savings banks offer this service) if it's a Visa debit card, Visa will charge you 3%.

Dentists & Doctors -- Ask your hotel or consulate for a list of English-speaking doctors and dentists. For a centrally located, American-trained and -certified dentist, try Dr. Mat Weiner, 1 bar Kinora St. (tel. 02/567-1167), 2 blocks north of Jaffa Road. For dental first aid and to reach an on-duty dentist, call tel. 02/625-4740.

Drugstores -- The Jerusalem Post lists under "General Assistance" the names and addresses of duty pharmacies that stay open nights and on Shabbat.

Emergencies -- To call the police, dial tel. 100. Dial tel. 101 for Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David), Israel's emergency first-aid ambulance service. Magen David Adom has a clinic in Romema, near the Central Bus Station, and also a mobile intensive-care unit (tel. 02/652-3133) on call 24 hours a day. For medical emergencies requiring hospitalization, dial tel. 102.

Events Information -- For details on special performances and events in Jerusalem, call the city hot line (tel. 02/531-4600), or go online to www.jerusalem.muni.il.

Hospitals -- Hospital emergency rooms are open daily, 24 hours. Bring your passport and have a means to pay the fees. In central Jerusalem: Bikur Holim Hospital, Strauss Street near Jaffa Road (tel. 02/646-1111). At the western edge of the city: Sha'arei Tzedek Hospital, Sderot Herzl, Bayit VeGan (tel. 02/655-5111; emergency room tel. 02/655-5508). Hadassah Hospital, Ein Kerem (tel. 02/677-7111). For information on possible Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage at Hadassah Hospital, Ein Kerem, call tel. 02/677-6029.

Hot Lines -- Helpline (Milev Center for Crisis Counseling; tel. 800/654-1111) offers English-speaking counselors for all problems and age groups. You can call the Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center at tel. 02/625-5558 daily, 24 hours. The Mental Health Hot Line (Eran) can be reached at tel. 02/561-0303 from 8am to 11pm; if this office is closed, call tel. 03/523-4819 in Tel Aviv. English is spoken, and visitors are welcome to call.

Libraries -- The American Cultural Center Library (tel. 02/625-5755) is on Keren Hayesod Street, between Agron Street and the Dan Panorama Hotel. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 10am to 4pm.

Liquor Laws -- East Jerusalem is largely Muslim; Islamic law forbids the use of alcohol. Drinks are served in hotels that cater to Western visitors, but unless an East Jerusalem or Old City restaurant offers a wine list with its menu, assume that alcohol is not available. Do not attempt to drink outdoors or in public places in East Jerusalem or the Old City.

Lost Property -- Unattended objects stand a good chance of being zapped by the bomb squad. Check with the local police, and try to retrace your steps.

Luggage & Storage Lockers -- Bags are best stored at your hotel. Be prepared for a security check before storing.

Newspapers & Magazines -- In addition to the Jerusalem Post and the International Herald Tribune, which includes Ha'aretz in English, the twice-monthly Jerusalem Report magazine has become Israel's English-language answer to TIME and Newsweek. Eretz magazine, beautifully written and photographed, focuses on nature, history, and travel in Israel.

Photographic Needs -- The downtown King George Street/Ben-Yehuda area abounds with 1-hour photo-developing shops. Prices are comparable to nondiscounted developing in the United States. To avoid X-ray problems at the airport, it's a good idea to develop film before leaving Israel. Photo Prisma at 44 Jaffa Rd. (tel. 02/623-4796), just across from Zion Square, has an English-speaking staff and an excellent reputation for stocking fresh film as well as for fast, quality developing and digital services.

Police -- Dial tel. 100. Border police in military uniforms carrying highly visible weaponry and patrol Ben-Yehuda Mall and other central areas. (Note: They fine jaywalkers.)

Post Office -- Jerusalem's Central Post Office (tel. 1-700-500171) is at 23 Jaffa Rd., near the intersection with Shlomzion Ha-Malka Street. General hours for all services are Sunday to Thursday from 7am to 7pm; limited services (telephone and telegraph) are open nights and on Shabbat. East Jerusalem has its own main post office, which is now a branch, opposite Herod's Gate at the corner of Saladin Ibn Sina and Sultan Suleiman streets.

In the Old City, the post office is a few steps from Jaffa Gate, up past the Citadel of David and next to the gate of the Christ Church Anglican Hospice. A branch in West Jerusalem is on Keren Kayemet Street half a block from the corner with King George V and the Jewish Agency.

Radio -- News in English is on Voice of Israel Radio at 7am, 1:10pm, and 8pm on AM 576 and 1458 kHz.

Religious Services -- The Christian Information Centre (tel. 02/627-2692), inside Jaffa Gate on Omar Ibn El-Khattab Square near the Christ Church Hospice and opposite the entrance to the Tower of David, has a list of all Christian services. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 1pm; closed Sunday and holidays. This Week in Jerusalem, available free at major hotels, lists Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jewish synagogues. Because of security regulations, which vary according to the level of warnings from week to week, independent Muslim tourists who do not have Israeli IDs or advance security clearance may not be allowed into the Al Aqsa compound on Friday (when only Muslims are allowed onto the Temple Mount for Fri prayers) unless they are with an official group or have made prior arrangements with the Waqf (Islamic Trust controlling access to the Temple Mount/Haram es Sharif complex).

Safety -- Jerusalem is a low-crime city, but be aware of pickpockets in the crowd crushes of the Old City and avoid the deserted bazaars after dark. While political demonstrations in West Jerusalem are passionate but usually safe, it is advisable to avoid demonstrations in East Jerusalem or in the Old City. Keep alert at all times. Get away from and report any unattended or suspicious object immediately.

Telegrams, Telex & Fax -- There are telex and fax services at the Central Post Office, 23 Jaffa Rd. Inside the Old City, the Bookshelf, Jewish Quarter Road (tel. 02/626-0473; fax 02/627-3889), offers excellent fax service and will even notify you after-hours about any fax responses you may receive. For telegrams, dial tel. 171.

Telephones -- Information is tel. 144. Collect calls are tel. 142.

Toilets -- In the Old City, signs read WC or OO, and indicate public restrooms. In West Jerusalem, restaurants and cafes are your best option.