Airport Transportation-Call Area Code-The telephone area code is 02.

Currency Exchange-Banking hours are 8:30am to noon or 12:30pm Sunday through Friday and on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 4 to 5pm. Money-changers, which are legal, can be found in the Old City, 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 that are open Sunday through Thursday from 9am to 8pm and on Friday from 9am to 1pm.

          Conveniently, ATMs connected to the major international networks can be found almost everywhere, with a large concentration at Zion Square and on the Ben-Yehuda Mall. You must use ATMs with the Cirrus, Sum, PLUS, or other international connection networks indicated or ones specifically indicating that foreign ATM cards can be used.

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 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 visit www.jerusalem.muni.il.

Hospitals-Hospital emergency rooms are open daily, 24 hours. Bring your passport and 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.

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.

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

Post Office -Jerusalem’s Central Post Office (tel. 1-700-500-171) is at 23 Jaffa Rd., near the intersection with Shlomzion HaMalka Street. General hours for all services are Sunday to Thursday from 7am to 7pm; limited services (telephone and telegraph) are available nights and on Shabbat. East Jerusalem’s post office is opposite Herod’s Gate at the corner of Saladin Ibn Sina and Sultan Suleiman streets.

         The Old City’s post office is a few steps from Jaffa Gate, past the Citadel of David and next to the gate of the Christ Church Anglican Hospice.

Religious Services-The Christian Information Centre (tel. 02/627-2692), inside Jaffa Gate on Omar Ibn El-Khattab Square, 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.

Safety-Jerusalem is a low-crime city, but be aware of pickpockets in the crowd crushes of the Old City. Political demonstrations in West Jerusalem are passionate but usually safe. Avoid demonstrations in East Jerusalem or in the Old City. Keep alert at all times. Get away from and report any unattended or suspicious objects immediately.

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

Toilets-In the Old City, signs reading wc or oo indicate public restrooms. In West Jerusalem, restaurants and cafes are your best option.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.