By Bus -- From the new Central Bus Station to the center of Tel Aviv, bus no. 4 goes to Allenby Road, and on to Ben-Yehuda Street; on Ben-Yehuda, you will be running parallel to and a block inland from Ha-Yarkon Street; take bus no. 5 to go to the Mann Auditorium, Dizengoff Square, Dizengoff Street, and the IYHA youth hostel B'nei Dan. Note: No. 4 and 5 sheruts run the 4 and 5 bus routes 7 days a week, and are slightly cheaper than the buses. From the Central Bus Station to Jaffa, take bus no. 46, and get off near the Clock Tower on Yefet Street.
Standard fare is NIS 5.10 ($1.15) with an additional half shekel to and from peripheral areas.
To get to Jaffa from Tel Aviv, take bus no. 10, 25, or 26 heading southward. Bus 10 runs along Ben Yehuda Street, a block inland from Ha-Yarkon Street, and takes you to Jaffa's Clock Tower on Yefet Street, close to Old Jaffa and the Flea Market. Bus 25, which you can pick up on King George Street near Dizengoff Street, runs through Jaffa on Jerusalem Street, a very long block parallel to and inland from Yefet Street. If you're walking, simply head south along the waterfront promenade, which eventually runs into Jaffa. Bus 25 running northward will get you to the Diaspora Museum and Tel Aviv University. For intercity Egged bus information, call tel. 03/694-8888. For information on Dan Bus service, which operates in the Tel Aviv/Sharon region, call tel. 03/639-4444.
By Taxi/Sherut -- Seven-passenger vans run along the bus 4 and 5 lines. They even run on a reduced schedule on Shabbat. If a van comes along, by all means take it rather than wait for the bus. Prices are a drop lower than bus fares on weekdays; on Shabbat there is a small surcharge.
When taxis are scarce, your best bet is to try at one of the major hotels. You have the right to demand that the meter (ha-sha-on) be used, but many drivers will negotiate a fixed nonmetered fare to your destination, which may or may not be to your advantage. There are legal surcharges above the metered fare on Shabbat and after 9pm. If you use the meter, ask for a receipt (ka-ba-lah).
By Train -- For train schedules call tel. 03/577-4000. The best train station for those staying in central Tel Aviv is the Arlosoroff Street Station, at the eastern end of Arlosoroff Street. There is train service up the coast to Nahariya; south to Beersheva; slow, infrequent service to the western edge of Jerusalem; and a rail link to Ben Gurion Airport. Israel Railways is undergoing a period of revival and expansion. For the most current information on schedules and fares, go to www.israrail.org.il.
