Is there a way to save money on transportation? The answer is yes. You can buy a Rav-Kav card, kind of like Oyster card in London. And then you can buy a day pass/ticket with this Rav-Kav card.
Rav-Kav card is like a SIM card, you can buy ‘add-ons’.
What’s a Day Pass?
A day pass allows you to have unlimited traveling in a certain zone for the whole day. You will NOT get another physical ticket, but everything is stored your purchase in the system. (see below)
Should I buy a Day Pass?
The rule of thumb is you should get a day pass if you are making a return trip to a destination on the same day. For example, if you are making a day trip to Akko from Akko.
Without a day pass, it would have cost you ₪38.8, plus bus ride fare if you cannot walk to train station. But with #501 Day Pass (Haifa + Outskirts Extended), it costs ₪21.5 ONLY!
In Jerusalem, a one-way ticket is 5.9NIS. And if you plan to take at least 3 rides in a day, consider the #671 day pass that costs 13.5NIS.
How to Find a Day Pass that Suits You?
There are so many types of a day pass. Go to either of these 2 websites:
1.Rav-Kav Online
Rav-Kav integration started in 2016. So always check up-to-date information from the official website. Though it’s in Hebrew only. (Open it in chrome for Google translation). 以
2.Trans-reform Website
http://www.trans-reform.org.il/docs/english.pdf
This document is in English, though only Haifa, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, and Beersheva are included.
3. Egged
http://www.egged.co.il/Article-801,1427-Monthly-Weekly-Day-Pass.aspx
It has the most detailed information in English. Egged is the company of public bus. It’s easy to search on this website.
Common Day Passes
These ones are probably the more common day passes
- #671, Jerusalem + Outskirts, Band 1) ₪13.5
- #698, Dead Sea Valley (Bik’at Yam Ha-Melech, Band 3) (Ovnat, Vered Yeriho, Kalya, Almog, Beit Ha-Arava, Mitspe Shalem, Ein Gedi) ₪ 13.5
- #677, (Jerusalem Metropolitan Area, Band 1+2+3)₪37.5
- #740, Golan Heights, Kinnereth, Upper Galilee ₪21.5
- #501 Haifa + Akko (Band 1+2) ₪21.5
How to Buy a Day Pass?
You can tell the driver, go to the counter in a train station, or use the ticket machine in each station. The step by step guide will come later!
The easiest way is probably by getting help from Rav-Kav counter!
But ticket machines are easy to operate!
