Potential volunteers, students, interns, and visitors to the Excellence Center often ask: How do I get to Hebron, Palestine? What airport should I fly to? How do I travel to Hebron? How do I obtain a visa? How do I find the Excellence Center?

This article aims to answer these questions and ease any concerns you may have about your journey.

For many, the idea of passing through Israeli checkpoints to enter occupied Palestine (the West Bank) can feel intimidating, even for experienced travelers. However, most international visitors find the process to be relatively straightforward. Once inside the West Bank, traveling to Hebron or any other Palestinian city is manageable and well-supported.

Entry Point

The first decision to be made is choosing the first point of entry. We recommend two options for entering Palestine:

Flying to Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv), Israel, is the easiest point of arrival for most Americans and Europeans, who are issued a 3-month visa at the airport and after clearing customs. From the airport, it is only two to three hours by shared taxi (called sherut, Israeli; and service, Arabic) from the airport to Hebron and an hour and a half by a private taxi

B) Entering Palestine from Jordan – Costly and Takes More Time.

From Jordan, this journey is significantly longer and involves the likelihood of lengthy delays, several hours possibly, at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge. Once through the checkpoint, you can find a shared or private taxi that will take you to Hebron directly or via Jerusalem or Bethlehem. Please email us if you wish to come via Jordan so that we can send you all the needed information.

How to Get to Hebron from Tel Aviv Airport by Sharing a Taxi?

You travel from Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem and then from Jerusalem either to Bethlehem and then to Hebron or directly from Jerusalem to Hebron. Here is the detailed information:

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (Around an hour)

By shared taxi, one drives straight into Jerusalem. Sheruts (or service in the West Bank) do not leave for their destinations until they are full, but this generally does not take long! These depart from outside the airport arrivals hall. They can deliver you directly to your destination in Jerusalem and should cost about 60-70 shekels (approximately $20). Internationals traveling to Hebron should ask to be left at the Old City of Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate, the location of the Arab bus station.

From Jerusalem to Bethlehem (Around 45 minutes)

This bus station is located just in front and slightly to the left of Damascus Gate. Internationals should look for Bus number 231 to Bethlehem. These buses depart frequently, and the trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem should take about 45 minutes and cost about seven shekels.

Internationals should stay on the bus until the last stop in Bethlehem. Although unlikely, there is the possibility that travelers may have to get off the bus and walk through the checkpoint into Bethlehem. If this is the case, there should be servees (group taxi, in Arabic) traveling directly to Hebron from just inside this checkpoint, or taxis available to the Hebron Road/Beit Jala junction (in Arabic, ‘’Bab Azqaq’’) at Bethlehem’s City Center.

From Bethlehem to Hebron (Around 40 minutes)

In Bethlehem, internationals will likely be greeted by numerous taxi drivers. You may take a private taxi for about $25 (not more than 100 NIS) the rest of the way to Hebron, but we highly suggest that you walk straight ahead to the main intersection of Beit Jala and Hebron Roads. Here, the shared taxis and services depart from the right side of the street.

The bus station is usually filled with many yellow service minivans. Just ask for the service to Hebron. The service to Hebron generally costs nine shekels (9 NIS). Tell the driver where you are headed in Hebron. and he may well drop you right off at the Excellence Center door.

The Excellence Center in Palestine Location: 

  • Go south on Ein Sarah Street until you pass the stadium. 
  • Turn left. Pass the stadium again and the mosque just behind it.
  • Turn left onto the alley just after the mosque. 
  • This alley stretches between the blue dot and the stadium on the map.
  • Go to the second set of doors.

Otherwise, stay on the service until it stops at the city center to let everyone off; from there, take a private taxi for no more than 10 shekels to the Excellence Center. Travelers can also call the Excellence Center via WhatsApp for more directions if they need help: 

  • Marwa Shantir’s Whatsapp Number: +972-597-840984 
  • Osama Abu Hussein’s Whatsapp Number: +972-598-042496

A second option from Jerusalem is to take a service from just outside the Damascus Gate. The service is usually yellow minivans parked in the busy market area across the Damascus Gate.

The drivers can be heard shouting: “Al Khalil! Al Khalil! (Arabic for Hebron). The cost for one of these will be about 25-35 NIS, and the trip should take about 50 minutes. Board the service, and wait for it to fill up and depart.

How to Get to Hebron from Tel Aviv Airport via Private Taxi (1.5h)?

The Excellence Center staff can organize a taxi to pick you up at Ben Gurion Airport and take you straight to Hebron and the Center. This is the easiest and fastest way (about an hour and a half) to get to the Excellence Center.

It costs, however, about 160 Euro. Please Contact the Excellence Center staff if you are interested in this option.

Concluding Remarks

Although these detailed directions might seem overwhelming, internationals should remember that the people they meet on this journey are extremely welcoming and eager to help! Most of these people will speak English, and they are very eager to enjoy the company of an international AND impart a positive impression of their homeland to the international.

Internationals will very quickly become comfortable with the transportation modes between Hebron and surrounding cities. Our advice? Embrace the journey’s adventure and all the friends you will meet along the way!

Important Information

  • We highly recommend booking a flight to Tel Aviv with an early morning/daytime arrival time, as you can travel to Hebron in one day. If you arrive at night, you will likely have to spend a night in a hotel in Jerusalem or the airport vicinity.
  • There are ATMs at Ben Gurion where you can receive NIS/shekels. Don’t worry if you see only Hebrew language on the ATM – as soon as you insert your ATM card, a menu will appear asking you what language you desire.
  • The visa you receive at Ben Gurion is a 3-month visa, valid for Israel and Palestine (West Bank).
  • Being stopped at Israeli checkpoints is a fairly routine affair. You will be asked for your passport and visa and then sent on your way.
  • We advise always using a shared taxi/service (pronounced sair-vees), especially in Jerusalem or Bethlehem. Not only will you pay less, but you will be in the company of other passengers. Private taxis can cost 10 or even 15 times more than a service. In Hebron, a private taxi fare is an appropriate 2 to 10 shekels, not more than 10, for anywhere in the city.
  • If it is after 6-7 pm when you arrive at the Damascus Gate, it is possible that the buses have stopped running for the night; in this case, take a private taxi for about $40 (Not more than 170 NIS) the rest of the way to Hebron and the Excellence Center; otherwise, stay the night in Jerusalem and take Bus 231 in the morning.
  • Many people speak English in Palestine, so you’ll not have to speak Arabic to get around. Of course, if you try in Arabic, people will be very pleased!
  • A former teacher also advises you to get yourself a good guidebook, such as Lonely Planet’s guide, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, before you come to Hebron. The guidebook will provide much useful information and come with a map in your native language. Remember: once here, the maps will be in Arabic or Hebrew!
  • Do NOT be shy about asking for help. Palestinians are very friendly and are eager to help out!
  • Do NOT be shy if you need to use someone’s cell phone. Ask anyone around you for the use of their cell, and don’t be surprised if they make the call for you! People will not tell you no. If you appear confused, it is quite possible that a cell will be offered to you before you even ask!

Get Further Information 

For more information, please visit our website: https://excellencenter.org/

Engage in Palestine: https://ecpalestine.org/

WhatsApp:+972 599 479 880

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Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron

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