Public transportation in the city of Jerusalem is made up of Light Rail, Buses and Taxis.

Buses in the city are run by the Egged Company and provide a cheap and extensive service through the city and nearby destinations. A single journey costs around NIS5.90 and tickets can be purchased on board the bus or at the Central Bus Station on Yafo Street. Buses operate from early in the morning until around 11 or 12 pm and stop on Fridays an hour or two before Shabbat until Saturday evening. Most drivers speak English. For more information on routes, schedules and maps visit www.jet.gove.il.

The Jerusalem City Tour Bus #99 is the hop-on-hop-off Double Decker bus tour of the city. The bus travels in a loop and the city and the cost is approximately NIS45 for adults and NIS36 for children. The bus departs from Safra Square on Jaffa Road and operates Sunday to Thursday from 9 am with a total of 29 stops and audio commentary.

Jerusalem`s Light Rail Transit (JLRT) is the new rail system offered in the city providing passengers with a great way to get around and see the city. There is one line offered and 23 stops along the route with stops at the Central Bus Station, Mahane Yehuda Market, and Damascus Gate, the light rail also connects with the bus lines in the city. The trains operate Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 am until midnight and on Friday from 5:30 am until 4 pm, on Saturday the trains run between 7 am and midnight and depart every 10 minutes. A single fair ticket on the light rail line costs around NIS6.60, tickets can be purchased from machines inside the stations. You can also purchase a Rav Kav card (reloadable travel card). Tickets need to be validated when you get on board the train (at the validation machine) and you then have 90 minutes where you can use your ticket to transfer to a connecting bus line along the light rail`s route. For more information visit www.citypass.co.il

Please Note: Public transportation does not operate during the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) and holidays. Services stop at 30 minutes before sunset on Friday (or the day before the holiday) and do not operate again until Saturday evening.

The Rav-Kav card is a reloadable travel card used on the light rail and buses in the city. You can purchase a card from the Central Bus Station, from the bus driver for NIS5.90. Scan the card each time you board the train or bus and re-charge the card in the stations at the ticket machines. Children under 5 years old travel for free with a paying customer.

Renting a car while in Jerusalem is not recommended due to traffic congestion, impatient drivers and lack of parking. Jerusalem offers a good choice of public transportation, so if you are staying in the city there is no real need for a car. There is extensive construction on the roads in the city and the new light rail system shares the roads so cars must use single lanes which can be very congested, especially during rush hour.

If you do decide to rent a car in the city you will find many rental car agencies available at the airport and parking is available near Jaffa Gate at the Mamilla Parking area. Also, street parking for non-residents will be marked by a blue and white line on the sidewalk, where you can pay and display for around NIS5.70 an hour. You can also use the app Pango to find available parking spaces in the city and even pay through the app.

Walking around the gold city is a must with the downtown area and Old City being very compact and easy to walk around. Walking around the fascinating Old City on foot is the only way to get around based on the narrow nooks and alleyways which are not accessible by cars.

There are bike rentals available in the city along with guided bike tours and cycling around Jerusalem is one of the best ways to see the city. Riding through the historical neighborhoods and in the Old City is highly recommended and provides the opportunity to see many of the top sights and attractions the city has to offer. There is also a popular Jerusalem Night ride offered which is an unforgettable journey through the city at night. A list of the place to rent a bicycle and the cycle-tour companies can be picked up from the Tourist Information Office at Jaffa Gate.

The city of Jerusalem is a safe city for tourists to visit, despite recent headlines. There are very low crime rates in the city compared to most Western cities. The usual caution and street smarts should be practiced when visiting any major city. Keep your belongings secure at all times as pickpockets are not uncommon in crowded areas and in the Old City. Do not wander into unlit or unpopulated areas late at night and keep your wits about you.

The city of Jerusalem offers visitors some interesting variety of shopping destinations, including massive modern malls, famous `Souks`, bazaars, and streets lined with high-end boutiques. There are plenty of distinctive and unique gifts to look for while shopping in the gold city where a wide range of traditional jewelry and of course precious gold can be purchased, along with traditional arts and crafts and plenty of religious items.

Here are a few of the popular locations to fulfill your shopping needs in the city.

Mamilla Mall – The outdoor mall stretches from the 5 star Mamilla Hotel to the Jaffa Gate in the Old City where shoppers will find high-end designer labels in a stunning architectural setting with cafes, restaurants, shops, and bars. Top labels here include Zara, Gap, Castro and more.

Machane-Yehuda Market – The famous shuk is a must see in the city boasts over 250 vendors selling fresh produce, fresh meat and fish, fresh baked goods and souvenirs. The market is open daily (closed for Shabbat) and Fridays are the busiest day with locals picking up their essentials for Shabbat dinner. There are restaurants and bars surrounding the market.

Yafo Road – The longest and oldest street in the city which starts at the Machane-Yehuda Market and runs east to the Old City. The street is filled with shops, restaurants, and bars.

The First Station – This outdoor mall sits on the site of the old train station in the city and is open 7 days a week. There are a number of shops, restaurants and children`s activities offered in the area.

Emek Refain Street – This chic upscale neighborhood is home to the city`s most exclusive boutiques, trendy cafes, stylish restaurants and breathtaking architecture.

Malha Mall – The largest mall in the city with world-renowned brand names, department stores, local and international fashion labels, toys, makeup, and jewelry.

The official currency in Jerusalem is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). US Dollars are not accepted. You will need to exchange your dollars for Shekel upon arrival; there are ATM machines inside the arrivals hall at the airport. You can also exchange your money at the local banks and some hotels. For information on tipping in the country, please see our comprehensive guide. Tipping in Israel

While in Jerusalem, the world`s holiest city it is advisable to dress modestly when visiting the holy sites, churches, mosques, synagogues and Temple Mount. Men should wear long pants and a head covering and woman should wear skirts that fall below the knee, shirts with elbow length sleeves and a head covering. No exposed cleavage or stomach.

The cuisine in Jerusalem is fresh and packed full of flavors with an abundance of places to eat on every corner. The city is becoming one of the great food destinations in the world with upscale restaurants offering delicious dishes. Israeli cuisine is known for its incredible flavor and Jerusalem is a multicultural city offer many other culinary flavors from different cultures, including Mediterranean, European, Ethiopian and Middle Eastern.

Some of the local favorites include hummus, falafel, halvah, shakshuka, tahini, fresh chopped vegetable salads, fresh fish, freshly baked bread and other goods along with honey bourekas. As for where to eat these items, there are plenty of choices, falafel stands, bustling markets, local and family run restaurants, hotel buffets, trendy cafes, and bakeries.

The nightlife scene in the city of Jerusalem is surprisingly lively and upbeat! A city of big contrasts offering many great bars, nightclubs, and a unique alternative nightlife scene. There are many cultural festivals held in the city throughout the year including the Light Festival in the spring and the Knights Festival in autumn. The majority of nightlife can be found around the city center off Jaffa Street, explore the narrow streets around Zion Square and the Machane Yehuda Market which all offer a unique nightlife setting with old stone buildings and stunning backdrops.

Jerusalem has a Mediterranean climate boasting very hot, dry summers with highs in the 80`s and cold, wet winters with the coldest month in January with lows in the 30`s. Snowfall is rare but can sometimes occur in the city, generally, the long hot summers run from May to September with no rainfall making things very dry in the desert. Temperatures can vary quite a bit in the desert so the summer days can be hot and dry and the nights can be cool and chilly, spring and fall are pleasant times of the year with mild temperatures and minimal rain.

The official language spoken in Jerusalem is Modern Hebrew and the formal languages consist of Hebrew and Arabic. English is spoken and understood by most individuals in the service industry. We suggest you get a good English-Hebrew/Arabic Guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you and numbers 1-10.

In case of an emergency dial 100 for police, 101 for an ambulance and 102 for fire and rescue.

Hospitals:

Herzog Medical Center tel. 972-2-531-6811

Augusta Victoria Hospital tel. 972-2-627-9911

ALYN Hospital tel. 972-2-649-4222