How To Best Travel From Tel Aviv To Haifa?

Published On : 04 Sep 2024

Driving between Tel Aviv, a modern city with a non-stop nightlife, and Haifa, a picturesque seaport city, the sights are breathtaking and dense with history. The distance is roughly 100 km and you can engage a bus, train or drive on your own. All of them has its own pros and cons in respect to the parameters such as convenience, cost, flexibility or just having a ride. Here is a step by step guide on how to select the most appropriate means of transport from one of these beautiful cities to the other.

Train
The train from Tel Aviv to Haifa is one of the fastest, taking approximately 75 minutes. Tel Aviv has two railway stations where one can alight, they include Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station and Tel Aviv HaHagana Railway Station. Both companies operate daily trains to Haifa with connections at Hertzliya if you are starting your journey from the Tel Aviv HaHagana station. The train carriages are double-decked and they provide good views especially if you are moving up the coast towards the north. One can buy tickets at the counter or ticketing machines and they cost about 30 shekels for a one-way trip. For those who are intending to use the transport more than once on the same week, they may consider purchase of the weekly travel pass which entitles one to free rail travel.

The train stations are also in the central part of the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa and it is easy to get a local transportation to your place of residence. However, you have to stick to the train timetable and thus it is not flexible if you wish to alight at any point in between. In conclusion, I would recommend going by train as the best way if you want to save time and avoid any form of inconvenience while enjoying the beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Bus
Most of the big bus companies provide services and there are very frequent buses connecting Tel Aviv to Haifa. These are Egged, Metropoline and Nateev Express with buses available every half an hour during the rush hours. Buses originate from the new Tel Aviv Central Bus Station with all the facilities including eating places and shops.

The bus trip may last between 90 and 120 minutes depending on the route and the number of stops. Prices are comparable or even 10 shekels lower than that of the train. Some bus companies such as Metropoline offer free WiFi on more extended intercity routes, which is an additional service. The good thing with taking a bus is that it leaves you in the middle of downtown Haifa. This makes it possible to explore the hotel and related attractions and even the local transport network. The following is that, most buses are subjected to traffic hence making it difficult to accurately estimate the time taken to complete a certain journey.

Driving
On the positive side, it is interesting to drive a car on your own and be able to stop anywhere especially when going from Tel Aviv to Haifa. However, the fast roads and highways along the coast can also mean this trip takes longer especially during rush hour. There are a few route options when driving:There are a few route options when driving:

Coastal road (Route 2) is also a beautiful drive though it is a bit longer with top speeds of 90km/h on average. There are many towns you will have to cross such as Herzliya, Netanya and Hadera that offer wonderful beach, cafes and restaurants to stop at.

Out of all the routes that include motorways and a toll road, Highway 4 has the maximum recommended speeds of up to 110 km/h. It is not as beautiful but it is also less crowded than Route 2 during the weekdays.

Highway 6 passes through the interior of the country. It does not pass through traffic but is a little longer at 120km.

These are factors which should be considered while using a car; petrol and toll road expenses. The journey will take about 100 minutes if not interrupted. Enjoying one’s own car allows for detours and sightseeing but public transport is simply more appealing at times.

For first timers, I suggest that they use the train or bus to get a feel of the sea coast, especially when approaching Haifa. Yet, each time having our own transport implies more freedom to explore less touristy small towns and beaches between Tel Aviv and Haifa on the next visit.

Interim Destinations
One of the great things about travelling along Israel's coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa is the number of lovely beach towns, historic sites and nature reserves worth stopping at along the way:One of the great things about travelling along Israel's coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa is the number of lovely beach towns, historic sites and nature reserves worth stopping at along the way:

Herzliya – Located on the Mediterranean coast just 15km north of Tel Aviv, Herzliya boasts a beautiful marina with restaurants and cafes. It also has hundreds of kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches.

Netanya – This is a typical beach front resort town that has a completely pedestrianized commercial area, beautiful cliff top trails and a broad tree lined seafront.

Caesarea – In the middle of the two cities is Caesarea which is the home of the Caesarea National Park which holds several Roman structures such as an amphitheatre by the sea.

Dor Beach – a great location for swimming and resting. The ruins of Tel Dor national park next to it are also worth a visit.

Zichron Yaakov – This is a beautiful town that was established in the late of 1800s, and is perfect for lunch or for coffee and cake while sitting under the trees beside a boulevard.

Carmel Forest – Before Haifa, the biggest forest in Israel on Mt Carmel is ideal for those who would like to spend some time on a wooden deck among oaks and pines.

Arriving in Haifa
Once you start the driving in Haifa, first thing that meets your eyes are the Baha’i Gardens and the German colony Houses going up the slopes of Mount Carmel. Both these places should be visited to understand the beauty of the city and energy it has due to being a religious place. Haifa has all what it takes in terms of tourist attractions throughout the sightseeing, cultural, culinary and outdoor activities on the beaches and any park, it has the natural park city of the North Israel train and bus companies is readily available for those who wish to move to Acre, Nazareth or the Sea of Galilee.

I trust this gives you sufficient detail and motivation to decide on what manner of transportation you would like to take from buzzing Tel Aviv to the picturesque Haifa seaside. Whichever you choose, get used to stop frequently along the coastal line and enjoy the sun, sea and history of the region. Exploring Israel between its two largest cities – in the north and in the south – reveals its multifaceted and vibrant nature in a way that can only be experienced on the road.