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Car hire at Tel Aviv Airport - Discovering the Heart of Israel

Tel Aviv Airport, known locally as Ben Gurion International Airport, is the main hub for almost all international flights arriving to or departing from Israel. Besides being the hub for several large companies, including El Al, Israir Airlines and Arkia Israel Airlines, it is the city's main gateway and caters for regular flights from over thirty major international airlines.

Managed by the Israel Airports Authority, it is named after Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, and is the largest and busiest international airport in the country. Registering around 25 million passenger movements every year, it serves the two cities of Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital, and Jerusalem, one of the world's most significant religious centres.

It is located near Lod, a small city about a half-hour drive from Tel Aviv and some 45 minutes by from Jerusalem. Most international flights arrive to and depart from Terminal 3 which was renovated in 2004 and today offers a full complement of on-site facilities and amenities, including Duty-free shopping, banking and currency exchange services, a post office and large dining area.

Very much the cosmopolitan heart of Israel, Tel Aviv is the country's vibrant capital with a wealth of history and top-notch cultural attractions. Originally a suburb of the ancient city of Jaffa, the city today is a first-choice tourist destination with a fine promenade running along its sun-drenched Mediterranean shoreline where visitors can enjoy an abundance of street vendors, bars, cafés, buskers and al fresco eateries open late into the night.

There's much that can be explored with a car hire from Tel Aviv Airport, such as the fascinating the fortress city of Akko just an hour's drive up the coast. Easily accessible from the city, the Sea of Galilee is the gateway to the Golan Heights, one of the most scenic parts of the country. In less than an hour it's also possible to drive to Jerusalem to visit some of the main pilgrimage sites of the life of Jesus Christ.

Auto Europe offers the best rates for car hire in Boston and elsewhere in Israel, including Jerusalem. Not only do we have the strong of partnerships with all the world's most prestigious car hire companies, we can also provide you with the right vehicle for your trip, whether it's a few days' city sightseeing in Tel Aviv or a long drive down the country's magnificent Mediterranean coast.

Our experienced rental specialists are on hand should you need help with your reservation. If you'd like to see what other Auto Europe customers thought about their car rental experience in the city, please check out their ratings and the comments they posted on our Tel Aviv car hire reviews page for added peace of mind.

Airport Information

Situated 20 kilometres south-east of Tel Aviv and 50 kilometres west of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv's ultra-modern Ben Gurion Airport is the main gateway to both cities and Israel as a whole. Designed as a sequence of spaces enhanced with an abundance of natural daylight, the complex features ceremonial arrival halls, dramatic communal gathering areas and lush indoor gardens. Everything is within easy reach of the constant flow of passengers passing through its terminals, including the ticketing, customs, immigration and baggage-claim areas.

Tel Aviv Airport (TLV)
Address: Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, 70100 Israel
Telephone: +972 3 975 2386
Airlines operating at Tel Aviv Airport: The list of the most important airlines operating at Tel Aviv Airport includes Air Canada, Alitalia, Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, United Airlines Phone, Delta Air Lines, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa German Airlines, Lot Polish Airlines, Swiss Intl. Airline, Tarom, Turkish Airlines, Israeli Airlines Arkia and Israir, among others.

Where to pick up my car hire at Tel Aviv Airport

To pick up your car rental at Tel Aviv Airport, just head for the suppliers' desks located in the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 3, after which you'll be able to collect your vehicle quickly and seamlessly on Level G of the car park located opposite the terminal building. Most of the car hire companies at Tel Aviv Airport accept rental returns in a designated area near Terminal 2 and offer free transportation to your departure terminal. If you didn’t get a chance to fill up your tank on the way, don't worry because there is a petrol station on the airport's premises.

Car hire desks' operating hours

	Avis at Tel Aviv Airport Arrivals Hall, Tel Aviv, Israel 70100 +972 39773200	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Budget at Tel Aviv Airport Arrivals Halls, Tel Aviv, Israel70100 +972 39350011	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Europcar at Tel Aviv Airport Arrivals Hall Tel Aviv, Israel 70100 +972 36058000	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Hertz at Tel Aviv Airport Arrivals Hall Tel Aviv, Israel 70100 +972 3 975 4505	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours
	Sixt at Tel Aviv Airport Arrivals Hall Tel Aviv, Israel 70100 +972 508500114	Opening Hours: Daily 24 hours

Terminals

Tel Aviv Airport has two passenger terminals - Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 used to be the airport's main building before the opening of Terminal 3. Nowadays, it handles all domestic flights and some of the airport's international operations. Terminal 3 is Tel Aviv Airport's international terminal that revolves around the Rotunda which has 30 gates. The Rotunda is very much the heart of the airport and comprises an inverted dome pierced by an oculus through which a waterfall flows. A free shuttle bus operates between Terminals and 3 and the airport's long-term car park 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Airport Facilities

As one of the world's busiest and most important airports, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion has several banks, ATMs and currency exchange services located inside the terminals, as well as dozens of decent places to eat, including high-quality bakeries, fast-food outlets, cafés and full-service restaurants. There are large Duty-free stores situated in the departures areas of both terminals (1 and 3) with several shops and boutiques located in the main Square area of the terminal where electronics, souvenirs, sports equipment and fashion accessories, etc. are available for purchase. There's also a children's play area in the main international terminal and an emergency first-aid clinic which operates around the clock, day and night.

How to get to and from Tel Aviv Airport

When picking up or dropping off your car hire at Tel Aviv Airport, the quickest way in and out of the city is via Highway 1 (turning off at the Shapirim Interchange) which takes around 20 minutes outside the rush-hour. Without a car, the easiest way to travel between the city and the airport is by train. An efficient train service links the airport with downtown Tel Aviv departing from Terminal 3, with a journey time of around 15 minutes. The Isreali Ministry of Tourism advises visitors to only use taxi companies licensed by the Israel Airports Authority upon their arival. A cab can be arranged through on-site dispatchers just outside Terminal 3 (to your left when you exit the Arrivals Hall). Local bus operator Kavim runs a regular service (number 445) to Tel Aviv from Ben Gurion Airport, departing from Terminal 3 (Level G, exit 01). Bus 485 connects Tel Aviv Airport directly with the centre of the city of Jerusalem most days of the week.

Parking Tips

When you rent a car at Tel Aviv Airport and drive to the city to visit the main tourist attractions, you'll need to consider the various parking options available. The city is divided into different colour zones for street parking, with red and white stripes on the curb designating emergency vehicles only. Red and grey stripes indicate occasional parking in accordance with local road signs, while blue and white stripes on the curb means parking is allowed. Generally speaking, paid parking is allowed in the city from 9am to 5pm Sunday through Thursday and 9am to 1pm Friday and bank holidays (but prohibited at all other times). There are numerous car parks in convenient locations all across the city, especially in the more popular parts of Tel Aviv. Some of the larger ones are located at Shevet Binyamin 1, Gruzenberg 16 and the Millennium car park at Harba’a 17. For parking at Tel Aviv Airport, there are short-term car parks at the entrances to Terminals 1 and 3, as well as a large long-term car park in a more remote location connected by a regular airport shuttle bus service.

Useful links

Tel Aviv Airport