Visas
All visitors entering Israel are required to have a valid passport for at least six months from their arrival date, and for some countries a visa is required. For more information please contact your travel agency or the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you plan to visit in the future countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, you may request that a separate page of paper be stamped instead of your passport. If you are a citizen of a country without diplomatic relations with Israel, please tell us as soon as possible so that the necessary arrangements can be made in time.
Invitation letter
Let us know if you need one: isotdaq@weizmann.ac.il
Getting to Israel
Ben-Gurion International Airport (TLV) is about 30 minutes drive from Rehovot. There are many European and American carriers flying here, including some low cost airlines, e.g. EasyJet, Air Berlin, Transavia, etc...
Security checks
Security checks to Israel are traditionally a bit longer than for other destinations, but agents are usually very courteous. In case of a problem, either at El-Al check-in/boarding or at the airport in TLV, you can give Daniel's or Lorne's cell phone number.
Getting to Weizmann from the airport- Taxi
After exiting the customs area at Ben-Gurion airport, step outside door 03 and go to the taxi queue about 50 meters to your left (facing away from the terminal). A dispatcher will ask you for your destination and get you into a taxi. Ask the driver to operate the meter and request a receipt. The ride should cost you approximately 150 shekels (~$40), and takes about half an hour. Note that after 9PM the price is ~20% higher. We do not recommend taking an unauthorized taxi.
You can find an ATM and a currency exchange close to door 03. This is a nice meeting point for those who wish to wait for each other and share a cab.
Depending on where you want to go, ask to be dropped off at:
- Reisfeld Residence of the Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot.
- San Martin guest house in the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot.
- Leonardo Hotel by the train station in Rehovot (It is right next to the railway station).
Getting to Weizmann from the airport- Train
A cheaper (17.50 NIS, 5$) but longer (~1h) way to reach Rehovot is by train. Trains run Sun-Thu from 06:00 to 22:30, Fri from 06:00 to 14:30, and Sat from 18:30 to 21:00. There is a service every 30mn typical, but it involves a change.
At the airport railways station, board any train towards Tel-Aviv, get out at the first station (Tel-Aviv Hahaganah), then wait for a southbound train to Rehovot, opposite direction on the other side of the platform (1 → 2). Beware, not all trains run to Rehovot. Link to train schedule (select: from "Ben-Gurion Airport" to "Rehovoth").
At the Rehovot station, use the southern exit (left w.r.t. the train direction) and follow the map attached.
Getting the keys to your room
The same rules apply for both the Reisfeld (resp. San Martin) residences:
- Business hours (08:00 to 16:00): get the keys directly from the receptionist
- Outside business hours: get the keys at the main gate of the Faculty of Agriculture (resp. Weizmann Institute).
Lost your way?
Give us a call. Lorne: +972-52-339-1296, Daniel: +972-50-510-9603.
There is free wifi at the airport and you can also use What's app or send e-mail to daniel.lellouch@weizmann.ac.il or lorne.levinson@weizmann.ac.il , if needed.
Getting around
A car is not needed during the school. If you plan to travel before or after you can either rent a car or use public transportation. Keep in mind there are no public buses or trains during the weekend: Friday afternoon until Saturday after dark. However, the main lines are operated by private minibuses. Therefore, if you have the choice, extending your stay after February 2nd sounds better than arriving before January 24th.
Also, visit the Israel railways website for more information. There is a train station a short walk from the Institute, and for longer distances (e.g. Haifa, Be’er-Sheva) it is faster and nicer than the bus system. We do not recommend driving a private car to Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem during weekdays.
