Israel's Yom Kippur Transport Shutdown: What to Expect

Israel's public transportation system will largely grind to a halt for approximately 25 hours during Yom Kippur in 2026, which begins on the evening of Sunday, September 20, and concludes on the evening of Monday, September 21. While the fast officially starts at sunset, transportation services will begin winding down earlier on Sunday afternoon. Buses will cease operations in the latter half of Sunday, with most final departures occurring two to three hours before the holiday begins, though exact times vary by route and company. For instance, Metropolin buses in central Israel will run on a Friday schedule until 2 PM on September 20. Regular bus service will not resume until Monday evening, September 21, with full schedules returning Tuesday morning, September 22.

Rail service will be even more restricted. Israel Railways will operate an enhanced schedule on Sunday morning, September 20, until 1 PM, with increased frequency between Haifa and Tel Aviv. After 1 PM, all passenger service will stop, and trains will not run at all on Monday, September 21, including the evening after the holiday. Regular train service is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, September 22. This means train travel to and from Ben Gurion Airport will be unavailable during Yom Kippur.

Air travel will also be suspended. At Ben Gurion Airport, the last departures from Terminal 1 will be at 1 PM on Sunday, September 20, with the last domestic arrival at 1:10 PM. Terminal 3 will see its final international departures and arrivals by 1:55 PM. Air traffic will resume later on Monday evening, September 21, with the first international arrival at 10:30 PM and the first international departure at 11:30 PM. Terminal 1 will reopen for international and domestic flights at 2 AM on Tuesday, September 22. Ramon Airport in Eilat will close after its last flight at 11:30 AM on September 20 and reopen at 6 AM on September 22. Haifa Airport will close after its last landing at 2 PM on September 20 and also reopen on September 22.

Land border crossings will also be affected. The Allenby crossing will close at 11 AM on September 20 and reopen on September 22. The Begin crossing is scheduled to reopen at 10 PM on September 21. While there is no legal prohibition on driving during Yom Kippur, roads become nearly empty due to a strong societal norm. Emergency services continue to operate, and the Ministry of Health warns that vehicles may still appear, especially at intersections. This period sees a significant increase in cycling and other personal mobility devices, leading to a notable number of injuries. In Yom Kippur 2025, 295 people required medical attention for road incidents, including accidents involving bicycles, electric scooters, and cars. Over the past decade, 2,472 people have been injured and six have died during the holiday period. The Ministry of Health emphasizes safety precautions for cyclists, including helmet use and visibility aids, and advises against riding on intercity roads.