Explore on your own rating
The State Department rates Israel Level 3 (Reconsider travel), and Jerusalem is a long drive from a port you can't walk out of.
Where ships dock
- Port of Ashdod, a large working cargo port; ships berth at a commercial quay inside the harbour
Getting to town
You can't walk out of Ashdod port: pedestrians aren't allowed through the cargo terminals, so everyone leaves by coach, a cleared private vehicle or a shuttle bus to the port gate. Jerusalem is about 70 km away (roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes each way), and Tel Aviv is closer to the north.
The ship's tour is the simple, safe choice. Private guides with cleared vehicles can meet you at the ship. Taxis wait outside the gate and usually can't bring you back to the quay; you ride the shuttle for the last stretch. Trains and buses are slow from the port and don't run on Shabbat.
Fares are as reported by the sources below and change often. Treat them as estimates.
Money & entry
Currency: Israeli new shekel (ILS). Cards are widely accepted; small notes help for taxis and markets.
Entry: U.S. citizens need an approved ETA-IL electronic travel authorization before arriving, including by sea. It costs NIS 25 on the official Population and Immigration Authority site (israel-entry.piba.gov.il); beware look-alike sites. Check your cruise line's instructions (PIBA, checked Oct 2026).
Top sights nearby
- Jerusalem's Old City: Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa (tour)
- Mount of Olives viewpoint (tour)
- Yad Vashem (tour)
- Tel Aviv and old Jaffa (tour)
- Ashdod Yam beach promenade (taxi)
Beaches
- Ashdod city beaches north of the port (taxi)
Safety & tips
- U.S. State Department warning: Israel is rated Level 3, Reconsider travel, due to terrorism and unrest (advisory reissued Aug 26, 2026). Gaza is Level 4, and the State Department says do not travel within 11.3 km (7 miles) of the Gaza Strip, within 2.4 km of the Egypt border, or to the north beyond Routes 85, 90 and 87. Ashdod is outside those zones, but read the advisory before you go ashore.
- Bethlehem is in the West Bank (also Level 3): go only with a tour that handles the checkpoint.
- Cover shoulders and knees for the holy sites, and expect security checks.
- Calls on Saturdays (Shabbat) mean many shops and public transport are closed.
Check U.S. State Department travel advisories before you sail.
⏰ Back to the ship on time
Jerusalem tours return in late afternoon traffic. On your own, allow 2 hours back from Jerusalem including the gate shuttle, and be at the gate 1 hour before all-aboard.
Ship time can differ from local time. Your ship won't wait for independent travelers.
Shore excursions that get you back on time
Prefer a guided option in Ashdod (for Jerusalem)? Browse shore excursions with reviews, and pick one that returns well before all-aboard.
Find Ashdod (for Jerusalem) shore excursions on Viator ↗
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Quick answers
Can you explore Ashdod (for Jerusalem) on your own?
A tour is the easier choice. The State Department rates Israel Level 3 (Reconsider travel), and Jerusalem is a long drive from a port you can't walk out of.
How far is it from the cruise dock to town in Ashdod (for Jerusalem)?
You can't walk out of Ashdod port: pedestrians aren't allowed through the cargo terminals, so everyone leaves by coach, a cleared private vehicle or a shuttle bus to the port gate. Jerusalem is about 70 km away (roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes each way), and Tel Aviv is closer to the north.
Do I need a passport for Ashdod (for Jerusalem)?
U.S. citizens need an approved ETA-IL electronic travel authorization before arriving, including by sea. It costs NIS 25 on the official Population and Immigration Authority site (israel-entry.piba.gov.il); beware look-alike sites. Check your cruise line's instructions (PIBA, checked Oct 2026).
When should I head back to the ship in Ashdod (for Jerusalem)?
Jerusalem tours return in late afternoon traffic. On your own, allow 2 hours back from Jerusalem including the gate shuttle, and be at the gate 1 hour before all-aboard.
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