The day pass is a “contract”, that can only be purchased with a Rav-kav card. There are different contracts/day passes, and #671 is the one you need for Jerusalem!

#671 Day Pass

• Day Pass price： 13.5 NIS
• Area Coverd: Jerusalem (Band 1)
• A single ticket price in Jerusalem: 5.9 NIS

Where Can #671 Be Used?

As a tourist, all you need to know is that,

1. Any stop on Light Rail. So that means Yad Vashem or Israel Museum.
2. You can’t use it for going to the airport. (It costs 17NIS for direct train or 16NIS for airport bus.)
3. Bus… if it’s within city. (Further explanation below)

This is Jerusalem Light Rail, it is more punctual and reliable than taking the bus. So I recommend using it.

 

This is the bus, Egged.

#671 Sample Itinerary

• Arriving Jerusalem Central Bus station, take the light rail to your hotel/hostel
• Take the light rail to Mount Herzl, the stop where Yad Vashem is
• Take the light rail to Mahane Yehuda Market
• Take the light rail to City Hall, the closest stop to the Old City. Watch a sound and light show
• Take the light rail to go back to your hotel/hostel

So this is already 5 trips already!

However, if you aren’t traveling with luggage, I’d recommend walking. It’s an easy and pleasant walk from Jaffa Center to the Old City. Plus, most of the attractions are in or around the Old City of Jerusalem!

Try to plan Yad Vashem, Israel Museum or other attractions which are further away on the same day, and use the day pass for that day!

 

How to Purchase #671?

You’ll find ticket machine/kiosks near the bus stop and light rail stop.

This is the ticket machine at the light rail station. It is written “Day Pass Jer Kernel”. The only package with the price, 13.5NIS.

The Rav-Kav machine at bus stops offers more options for contracts/day passes. Go to Jerusalem Metropolitan, and find #671

Important Notice!

You can only buy a day pass (contract) with a Rav-Kav card. (Click here to know more about Rav-kav card ).

You CANNOT buy a Rav-kav card at a light rail station. You can get one from one of those Sales Points or from the bus drivers. I’d recommend getting one from the train station at Ben Gurion airport!

By the way, ticket inspectors are commonly seen in Jerusalem’s light rail. It’s important to make sure you validate your Rav-kav card EVERY time you board the light rail (or the bus).

 

The Bands? The Zones…

So central Jerusalem is in Band 1. The light rail is in Band 1, which you don’t need to worry about. And I’d say most bus rides fall in Band 1 too. So there’s not much to worry about.

 

These are the exact moshavs (towns) around Jerusalem that also fall into the category of Band 1, in case you want to know.

 

Did this help? Try to remember getting a #671 for unlimited travel in Jerusalem! Leave me a message if you have a question!

Rav-Kav Types & Purchase Methods

• Anonymous/Rav Kav Anonimi: It costs ₪5. You can get it from train stations, central bus stations, some hostels and from some bus drivers.
• Personal/Rav Kav Ishi: It’s free, but you can only get this personal card at sales points. Your photo will be taken, and your name will be written in this card. The discount for elders and students apply only to residents of Israel. So this card will not give you more discount than the anonymous one, it’s fun but you cannot transfer this.

Where can Rav-Kav be Used? 

Except for Arab buses and Shabbat sheruts in Tel Aviv, you can use it on most transportation systems, for example, Jerusalem Light Rail, train, Egged bus, Superbus, GNB tours, Haifa’s Metronit etc.  

How to Use Your Rav-Kav Card? 

1. Validate when You Board

When you board intracity buses or light rail, you will see a sensor near the door. Use your card to validate only when you board, and since the ride is fixed (for example, 5.9NIS per ride).

2. Communicate with a Driver

If you board an intercity bus, it’s pretty cool that you can use Rav-Kav card to pay for your ride. But you have to tell your bus driver your destination, and the driver will deduct the fee accordingly.

On every bus, there is a sensor like this. Place your Rav-Kav card on it, and tell the driver your destination. You don’t need to (and can’t) do the math. The driver will tap a few buttons.  Don’t remove your card until the driver finishes. If you are paying for more than 2 passengers with this card, make sure you tell the driver in advance.

You’ll get a receipt (useless though) when it’s done!

3. Use it for Ticket Machine/Ticket Counter

For trains and Haifa’s metronit, you need to buy your ticket in advance with cash or this Rav-Kav card.  This is a train station:

And this is Haifa’s metronit.

How to Load Your Rav Kav?

There are 6 ways…  (Rav-Kav Online)

I’ve used these methods:

1.Rav-Kav Machines near bus stations or Light rail stations

2.Ticket machines at train stations

3. Drivers can load your card for you (but this option is no longer applicable in Jerusalem) This method exists because you cannot find Rav-Kav machines in rural areas.

Benefits of Using Rav-Kav

 1. Extra 25% Value

This is the reason why people use Rav-Kav! When you load 100, you get 125! That’s a big difference!  You can only load 30 / 50 / 100 / 150 / 200, and you get 37.5/62.5/126/187.5/250 stored value in return.

2. Discount on Return Ticket

If you are making a return trip to a city on the same day (for example Jerusalem to Tel Aviv), then instead of buying 2 single rides, you can buy a return ticket with your Rav-Kav card. I think you get 20% off! (Ask the driver!)

 This is probably cancelled! 

3.The Day Pass Option

You must have a Rav-Kav card to buy a Day Pass. It means you can have unlimited travel in one area or region. For example, you can use #501 Day Pass for Haifa + Akko, you pay 21.5NIS this trip would have cost you at least ₪38.8.

By the way, you cannot use your stored value to buy a day pass. You must use cash or credit card to buy a day pass. Stored value is only good for buying single tickets. And you can have different packages of a day pass (or weekly pass) PLUS having some stored value for single rides in one single Rav-Kav card.

4. You can pay for 9 people with 1 Rav-Kav card

Maybe you are traveling as a group, so it saves time to pay for everybody with 1 Rav-Kav card. (But you cannot pay for multiple passengers for using day pass)

With an exception on Jerusalem’s Light Rail

5. The 90 Minutes Free Transfer Rule

When you use your Rav-Kav card to buy for a single ride, the system will record the time you board your first ride. You can have unlimited transfers for 90 minutes! Using the same single-ride ticket!

With an exception on Jerusalem’s Light Rail

The Disadvantages of Rav Kav

1. The loading amount is fixed,  30 / 50 / 100 / 150 / 200.  So if you are a tourist in Israel, then for sure you will have unused stored value in this card.

2. Anybody can use your anonymous Rav-Kav card

3. There’s no refund？？？？？

4. Maybe there’s still some integration problem? I’ve heard someone had less than 10NIS balance, but when he loaded his card, he lost that balance?!

Where to Get Personal Rav-Kav Card? (Rav Kav Ishi)？

I think it makes more sense to buy the anonymous card and NOT this personal one as tourists. But in case you want your name in Hebrew and a photo taken, the make sure you bring your passport to certain Sales Points. Here is the list.

Conclusion

1. If you are going to give away this card, get an anonymous card even though it costs 5NIS (which is nothing in Israeli standard)

2. Except for Jerusalem, you can load your card on buses

3. You have to buy a ticket using train and metronit. For other transportation, you can jump on and validate Rav-Kav on board

4. There’s a discount of an extra 25% value when loading money on Rav-Kav card

References

www.trans-reform.org.il/docs/english.pdf

The sharing code of this day pass is #501, and the cost is 21.5 ONLY!

How Do I know #501 is Right For me?

Well, first of all, the idea of Day Pass means you can have unlimited travel in certain areas/zones. If you are making a day trip, then get a day pass!

Without a day pass, the train from Haifa to Akko would cost you  ₪13.5 already! Plus you need to consider a single bus ride would cost you ₪5.9. That’s almost the same as buying a #501 day pass, which would cost you ₪21.5 ONLY. And plus you get to travel unlimited in Haifa and Akko.

If you are not returning to Haifa on the same day, then you don’t need to buy a day pass.

And if you are exploring beyond Akko from Haifa in one day, then check other options here.

There are many options. But if you don’t want to overcomplicate thing, just remember #501 is the right pass for Akko from Haifa.

How to Purchase Day Pass from the Train Station in Haifa?

1. You Need a Rav-Kav card

There are two types of Rav-Kav cards. The anonymous one costs 5NIS, the personal one is free but you need to go to certain sales points. Get a Rav-Kav card that suits your need!

2. Tell the Ticket Counter “#501”

Tell the counter that you want to purchase “Day Pass #501”. You can buy your Rav-Kav, load it, and purchase this day pass from the counter. And then you will receive a receipt which is most likely useless as all data is stored in the card!

Alternatively, you can use a ticket machine and choose from the screen.

Once you have bought your day pass, it will be stored in your Rav-Kav card.

Types of Transportation You’ll Encounter

1.Train (Haifa to Akko)

You’ll use this type of train.

Once a day pass package is recorded in your card, you will not be charged anything extra when you validate your Rav-Kav to go in and out of the train station.

2.Bus (Akko Train Station to Old Town)

You can take unlimited bus rides for free with a day pass, but you still need to validate your Rav-Kav as you board the bus.

Normally, you will get a receipt. It doesn’t have any use though.

3.Metronit or Buses (Haifa)

If your hostel or hotel is not in walking distance from the train station in Haifa, then you can use Metronit or bus for free too!

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 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!