Transportation in Palestine

Shared taxis (service taxis) are the backbone of Palestinian travel, cheap, ubiquitous, and faster than they look. They run fixed routes between cities and within them, leaving when full. Wave from the roadside and state your destination. For shorter hops inside towns, regular taxis are moderate and meter-less, so agree the fare before you sit. West Bank buses connect the larger towns less frequently but cost a fraction of a private taxi. They depart from each city's central bus lot, usually near the main market. Renting a car is a splurge and only worthwhile if you're heading to multiple rural sites in one day. First-timers should download the "Al-Moovit" offline map, it lists the main service-taxi routes and shows where to stand. Avoid the tourist-trap "VIP" minibuses at border crossings. They charge several times the local rate for marginally quicker queues. If you're flying into Queen Alia (Amman) or Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv), the simplest onward move is a pre-booked shared shuttle to the Allenby or Sheikh Hussein bridge, then a service taxi into Ramallah or Nablus. Do not wait for "hotel cars" at the bridge, the regular yellow-plate taxis on the Palestinian side are half the price and just as safe.