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How to get to the Dead Sea?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Do you want to know how to get to the Dead Sea without wasting extra time and money? Let's consider two possible routes to the unique lake - from the city of three religions Jerusalem, and from the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea - from the port city of Eilat.
Since the basis of public transport in Israel is the bus, we suggest using it.
How to get to the Dead Sea from Jerusalem?
The distance from Jerusalem to the northern coast of the Dead Sea is 39 km, and to the resort of Ein Bokek on the western part of the coast - 110 km. So, despite the distance to a specific point on the coast, in an hour and a half the problem of how to get to the Dead Sea from Jerusalem can be solved.
It is enough to take the bus #486 at the central bus station in Jerusalem, which is located on Jaffa Road – via Kibbutz Ein Gedi, Masada, Ein Bokek. This bus can take you to Ein Bokek on the very shore of the Dead Sea in 2.5 hours. From Sunday to Thursday it makes 8 trips (the first at 8:00, the last at 16:15; on Fridays 4 trips (8:00, 9:00, 11:00 and 13:00). The fare to Ein Gedi is 37.5 shekels, to Ein Bokek – 42.
You can also use one of these routes: bus route #421 runs daily (except Saturday) - departure at 9:45; route #487, which runs daily (except Saturday) at 15:15 and 20:30, on Friday - only at 16:15.
In addition, there is a more expensive option: hire a taxi (about 350 shekels or almost $100) or rent a car (if you have an international driver's license). For your information: a liter of 95th gasoline in Israel costs at least $2.2 (7.4 shekels), and the cheapest car rental per day is $42-56 (150-200 shekels).
How to get to the Dead Sea from Jerusalem by car? The road from Jerusalem to the Ein Bokek resort goes along highways 1 and 90. You need to leave Jerusalem in an easterly direction along road 404, then follow highway 1 and, passing the gas station at the turnoff to Kibbutz Almog, head straight until the intersection with highway 90. After turning right - after about 3.5 km - you will see another intersection. This is the intersection with highway 90, and here you need to turn right. And then - everything is just straight ahead, along the coast of the Dead Sea.
How to get to the Dead Sea from Eilat?
The distance to the Dead Sea from Eilat is about 230 km, according to other coordinates - 360 km. Obviously, in the first case, the northern coast is meant: it is closer to Eilat.
How to get to the Dead Sea from Eilat? You can get to the resort coast in Ein Bokek from Eilat in two and a half hours by bus #444 (the Eilat-Jerusalem express, going via the Dead Sea).
The bus departs from the local bus station (which is located at 12 Sderot Ha Tmarim). Bus #444 makes four trips a day (the first one is at 7:30). The ticket costs 55 shekels ($15.5).
A private transfer from Eilat to the Dead Sea will cost $230 (car for four passengers) or $260 (minibus for six people).
We hope that now it is clear to you how to get to the Dead Sea. Finally, we would like to remind you that on Shabbat - the seventh day of the week (from Friday evening to Saturday evening), according to the Torah, residents of Israel are required to refrain from work, so public transport does not operate.
Have a nice trip and stay healthy!