Paying for the Bus and Light Rail You can buy a daily, weekly, or monthly ticket or with any sum of money sufficient to cover the bus ride. 'Rav Kav' smartcards are available at kiosks and other points of sale (eg. the Central Bus Station, all Cofix branches, Super-Pharm etc) throughout the city.

In 2026, tourists in Israel cannot pay for bus or light rail fares with cash; instead, they must use a Rav-Kav card or a mobile payment app. The most common method for short-term visitors is the Anonymous Rav-Kav, a smart card that can be purchased for 5 NIS at Ben Gurion Airport, train stations, or kiosks. You "load" the card with credit (accumulated value) or a daily pass using the Rav-Kav Online app or at automated machines. Alternatively, many 2026 travelers prefer using apps like Moovit, Pango, or HopOn, which link directly to a credit card and use GPS to calculate the fare based on the distance traveled. When using a Rav-Kav, you must "validate" the card by scanning it at the reader immediately upon boarding the bus or before entering the light rail platform. Failure to validate, even with a valid pass, can result in a 100 NIS fine. Note that senior and student discounts generally only apply to Israeli residents with a "Personalized" Rav-Kav, so tourists should expect to pay the full adult fare.