Bus 379 only really makes sense if you already ride Metropoline
Metropoline Bus 379 is an intercity route that serves towns in central/southern Israel, not Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, and some variants only pass the Ben Gurion Airport area on Highway 1 instead of entering Terminal 3. Regulars use it to reach specific communities on the Metropoline network, but it is rare to see short‑stay visitors with suitcases on this line.
Timetables, fares, and stop locations for Route 379 change from time to time, and recent Reddit threads point out that Metropoline’s English information lags behind Egged and Israel Railways. One commenter flatly said that for a tourist, “it’s not worth the complexity” to figure out a passing route like 379 from TLV compared with taking the airport train to Tel Aviv HaHagana or Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon.
Several 379 trips run along Highway 1 near the airport instead of entering the Terminal 3 public transport plaza, which sits above the Ben Gurion train station and about 20–25 minutes by rail from Tel Aviv HaHagana. Those highway stops are basic roadside poles with minimal shelter and not built for people dragging 23 kg checked bags plus carry‑ons from long‑haul flights.
Because of that layout, regulars heading to smaller towns typically take the train or a sherut from Terminal 3 to a big node like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Beersheba and only then board Metropoline 379 or a related route. That two‑step pattern gives them better frequency options and avoids standing with luggage on a narrow shoulder along Highway 1 near the airport interchange.
If you still want to use Metropoline 379 from TLV, expect to combine modes: train one stop to a hub, then switch to the bus once you’re landside with clearer signage and more space. The practical move: check the Metropoline website or Moovit app on the day you land, and if 379 looks confusing or involves roadside stops near Highway 1, just ride the airport train first and board Metropoline from a central station instead.
- Step 1: Land at Terminal 3 and clear passport control and customs; this typically takes 20–45 minutes depending on arrival banks.
- Step 2: Follow signs down to the Ben Gurion Airport train station directly under Terminal 3 and buy a ticket with a Rav‑Kav card or contactless.
- Step 3: Ride the train 1–3 stops to a hub like Tel Aviv HaHagana or another station where Metropoline 379 or related routes have signed platforms.
- Step 4: Exit the station, locate the Metropoline stop using Moovit or Google Maps, and confirm “379” plus your destination on the front and side displays before boarding.
- Step 5: Pay on board if required or tap your Rav‑Kav, keep an eye on the stop list in Hebrew and English, and press the stop button one stop before you want to get off.