Urban and suburban buses in Gush Dan (the Tel Aviv metropolitan area) are run by several bus companies. Dan operates most urban buses inside Tel Aviv and the neighboring citites. Other major operators are Egged, Kavim and Metropoline. Some intercity lines of Nateev Express, Superbus and Veolia also allow travel inside Tel Aviv. All these companies also provide night buses. In addition, there are four rail stations in Tel Aviv, plus two stations on the boundary between Tel Aviv-Yafo and Holon. During most of the Shabbat, shared taxis are the only option for travelling inside Gush Dan.
How to get route and schedule information
By telephone
Call Kav provides information about lines of all companies. Each bus operator also provides its own call center.
Online resources
Sadly, no good journey planner exists for the Gush Dan bus network, especially not in English. Here are the online resources you can use:
- Call Kav is the official Hebrew-only journey planner that combines lines of all bus and rail operators. It provides schedules one week ahead and is generally very reliable.
- The Dan company website provides a listing of the company's routes. Do not trust the PDF maps on the website, they are extremely outdated.
- Egged is the only company that has a decent journey planner in English. It only provides information about Egged's bus routes.
- Official booklet of the public transport reform in Tel Aviv on July 1st, 2011. Includes route maps of most urban buses in central Tel Aviv, but is not up-to-date.
- Businfo is an unofficial map-based journey planner for the Gush Dan area. It is Hebrew-only and is not up-to-date. As of September 3rd, 2011, it hasn't been updated with the many route changes that took place on August 5th and September 1st.
Fares and tickets
Bus fares and tickets in Tel Aviv and Gush Dan
Bus operators in Tel Aviv
Companies providing urban and intercity service
Dan operates most urban buses in Tel Aviv and most buses between Tel Aviv and the cities of Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Giv'atayim, Bat Yam, Petah Tikva, as well as some buses to Holon and Rishon LeTziyon (Egged also provides connection to these cities).
Egged connects Tel Aviv to Bat Yam, Holon, Rishon LeTziyon (Dan also runs buses to these cities), Hertzliya, Ra'anana, Kfar Saba and many intercity destinations, such as Jerusalem, Eilat and the North of Israel. Inside Tel Aviv, Egged's buses travel mostly along the North-South axes of Namir - Begin - HaMasger and Ibn Gvirol - Carlebach - Har Tziyon/HaAliya. Dan and Nateev Express also serve these streets.
Kavim connect Tel Aviv to Kiryat Ono, Or Yehuda and Yehud. In Tel Aviv they provide some East-West urban service along Arlozorov and La Guardia streets, along with Dan's buses.
Metropoline connects Tel Aviv to HaSharon area (Hetrzliya, Ra'anana, Kfar Saba) and to Be'er Sheva. The HaSharon lines also provide urban service between central and northeastern Tel Aviv along King George and Ibn Gvirol streets, along with Dan buses.
Superbus connects Tel Aviv to Lod, Ramla, BetShemesh and Shoham. Some of these buses provide urban service between the central bus station and southern Tel Aviv.
Nateev Express connects Tel Aviv to Netanya. Along with Egged and Dan, it provides urban service along the North-South axis of Namir - Begin - HaMasger - central bus station.
Companies providing intercity service only
Veolia connects Tel Aviv to Lod, Modi'in, Yavne and Ashdod.
Egged Ta'avura connects Tel Aviv to Be'er Sheva (together with Metropoline) and El'ad.
Afikim connects Tel Aviv to settlements in Samaria, primarily Ariel.