Shabbat in Israel

Learn more about Shabbat

Shabbat in Jerusalem is a unique and special time. However, it raises many practical questions about what to do, where to eat, and how to get around.
Shabbat (Saturday) begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday (when a new week begins).
Starting from early Friday afternoon, businesses, shops, and most restaurants begin to shut; however, some non-Kosher restaurants remain open during Shabbat, as well as a limited number of businesses. Public transportation (buses and railways) do not run at all in Jerusalem during Shabbat, and all these services pause in the hours leading up to sunset. The final train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv/ airport departs at 14:39 on Friday afternoon, while shared taxis and private taxis continue to operate . When considering your travel plans home, please be aware that it takes approximately 25 minutes to get to the airport from Jerusalem by train, or approximately 30 minutes by taxi and that the advised time to arrive for check-in at the airport is 3 hours before departure.
Please keep in mind the timing described above when planning your travels on Friday afternoon/evening.
Since sunset hours vary throughout the year, the time that Shabbat begins and ends  also varies. Please keep in mind that each business has its own rules regarding hours of operation, but it is safe to say that in the summer, most businesses will close on Friday between 2 pm to 4 pm.
Regarding hotels on Shabbat – hotels have check-ins/checks out regularly. Before booking, check the hotel website for their hours of operation during Shabbat.
Saturday evenings after Shabbat (‘Motzei Shabbat’ in Hebrew) is when most businesses, restaurants, and public transportation begin again, usually around one hour after the end of Shabbat. Bus services resume almost immediately after the end of Shabbat, and the first train from Jerusalem (after Shabbat) to Tel Aviv/ airport departs at 21:39.

Shabbat is a wonderful time to explore Jerusalem; since most businesses and services are closed, the city is much quieter than usual, with minimal traffic.