Ben Gurion International Airport
Tel Aviv, Israel
Ben Gurion International Airport
Israel's primary international gateway near Tel Aviv.
- ›Named after David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister.
- ›Terminal 3, opened in 2004, was designed by Moshe Safdie.
- ›The airport is renowned for its multi-layered security screening process.
- ›Originally opened as Lydda Airport during the British Mandate period in 1936.
- ›Handles over 20 million passengers in peak pre-pandemic years.
Ben Gurion International Airport, located near Lod approximately 15 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv, is Israel's primary and busiest international airport. Opened in 1936 as Lydda Airport under the British Mandate, it was renamed in honour of Israel's first Prime Minister and has grown into a world-class hub handling over 20 million passengers annually. The airport serves as the main base for El Al Israel Airlines and connects Israel to destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond.
- Terminal 1 — Handles select low-cost and charter carriers, as well as some domestic and regional flights.
- Terminal 3 — The main international terminal, a modern facility housing El Al, Star Alliance members, and most major international carriers with extensive retail and dining.
- Train: Israel Railways runs direct service from Ben Gurion Airport Station to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and major cities
- Taxi: Licensed metered taxis available at designated stands outside arrivals halls
- Sherut (shared taxi): Fixed-rate shared minivans operating to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
- Bus: Egged and Dan bus lines connect the airport to surrounding cities and suburbs
- Car rental: Major agencies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Sixt operate on-site
- Ride-hailing: Gett and Yango operate legally and are widely used
- Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel
- Carlton Tel Aviv
- Renaissance Tel Aviv Hotel
- Airport City Hotel (adjacent to airport campus)
- Leonardo Airport Hotel Lod
Terminal 3 offers a wide range of kosher-certified restaurants, cafés, and fast-food outlets catering to diverse dietary requirements, including separate meat and dairy options. Airside, travellers can find Israeli staples such as hummus, falafel, and shakshuka alongside international chains. Outside the airport, the nearby city of Lod and the greater Tel Aviv metro area provide abundant dining options spanning Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and international cuisines.
- Arrive at least 3 hours before departure — security checks at Ben Gurion are thorough and may include detailed questioning.
- The airport train station is located below Terminal 3; trains run frequently to Tel Aviv HaHagana and continue to Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station.
- All food outlets in Terminal 3 are kosher-certified; check the meat or dairy designation before ordering if you have dietary preferences.
- Keep your passport and boarding pass accessible at all times — multiple checkpoints occur between check-in and the gate.
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Ben Gurion International Airport, commonly known by the Hebrew-language acronym Natbag, is the main international airport of Israel and the busiest in the country. It lies on the northern outskirts of Lod, 45 kilometres (28 mi) northwest of Jerusalem and 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv. Known as Lod Airport until 1973, it was renamed that year in honour of David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, following his death. The airport is operated by the Israel Airports Authority and serves as a hub for El Al, Israir, Arkia and Sundor.
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