Airports in Israel: which one to fly into

Israel's air travel runs through one airport. Ben Gurion (TLV) sits between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and takes nearly all long-haul traffic from North America, Europe and Asia. If your trip covers Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, the Galilee, the Negev or the Dead Sea, book TLV and treat the rest as ground transport.

Ramon (ETM), near Eilat in the far south, exists to serve the Red Sea resort and to relieve TLV. It takes domestic flights from Tel Aviv and some seasonal European charters. If your only goal is Eilat and the beaches, ETM can save you a long drive; if you also want Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, fly into TLV and travel south by bus or train instead.

Haifa Airport (HFA) has a small terminal and a short runway, so international service is limited and changes often. Check before you build a plan around it.

On arrival at TLV, follow signs to the train station inside the terminal complex. Israel Railways runs to Tel Aviv and, on a separate line, to Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon station. Trains stop for Shabbat, roughly from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, so a Friday-night or Saturday arrival means a taxi, a sherut (shared taxi) or a pre-booked transfer. Taxis and rideshare apps work at other times; agree the fare or use the meter.

Departure is the part to plan for. Ben Gurion is known for pre-flight security interviews, which can be long at peak periods. Arrive about three hours before an international flight, keep documents and previous-stay details ready, and expect questions about your itinerary and luggage.

Book TLV unless Eilat is the whole trip. Long-haul fares to Israel are usually cheapest months ahead, and the busy periods are the Jewish holidays, especially around Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, plus Passover in spring. Fares and hotel rates rise then, and some services run reduced hours.

If you land on Shabbat or a Jewish holiday, arrange your transfer in advance. Trains and many buses stop, and airport taxis charge more. A sherut or a pre-booked private transfer is the usual fix.

Keep the arrival card or any entry document you are given; you may be asked for it at departure. Also allow time for the security interview on the way out, not just on the way in.

For onward travel, the train is the simplest link to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and buses cover the rest of the country. See the train and getting-there pages for routes and passes.