Lod

Lod is a small city in central Israel, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Understand

The city's name is pronounced like the English word "load". Some locals will pronounce it like "lude".

Lod has a long history, and is mentioned briefly in the Bible. Today it has a mixed Arab and Jewish population of 72,000 people.

Lod is best known for its proximity to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV ^IATA), previously known as Lod Airport. Lod, in the past, was also known to Israelis as being run-down and crime-ridden, and the old central city was quite dilapidated. Nevertheless, Lod is prospering and the crime percentages are significantly lower thanks to the police in the city. Thus, visitors will be safe in the city and will enjoy to see the harmony between the Jewish and the Arab population.

Get in

By car

This is the most convenient way. From Tel Aviv or many other locations, take route 1 to the Lod interchange (just east of the airport turnoff). Turn off to route 40 south, which then passes along the outskirts of Lod.

By train

There are frequent, quick trains from Tel Aviv to Lod.

There are direct trains hourly from the Jerusalem Malcha train station to Lod.

• 🌍 Lod train station. On the western edge of the city. It is a long walk to the sites of interest in Lod. You can take a taxi or local bus though.  
• 🌍 Lod Ganei Aviv Railway Station. Train station service only for Ganei Aviv neighborhood.  

By bus

There are frequent buses to Lod from Tel Aviv. The buses make a number of stops in the city center.

From Jerusalem, there is a direct bus (408) only in rush hours. The rest of the time, use one of the following two options:

• Take route 947 to Tzomet El Al (north of Lod; this is where people get off for the airport) and transfer to a Lod bus (routes 23, 239, 244, 249, 475).
• Take route 403, 404, 432, 433, or 435 to Ramla, and transfer to a local bus to Lod, or else you can walk to Lod.

The first option (route 947) is probably faster.

By plane

• 🌍 Ben Gurion Airport (TLV ^IATA). Israel's main international airport was once known as Lod Airport due to its closeness to the town. It is a hub for flag carrier El Al and served by numerous airlines from all over Europe and some other countries. There is a train station in the lower level of Terminal 3.  

Get around

Inside Lod, Kavim operates 10 local bus lines. Only five of them have high frequency (1, 2, 3, 4, 6). Lines 5, 7, 8, 9 are commuter lines to Ganei Aviv Train Station. Line 14 is operated in summer only and makes a few trips per day.

Kavim also operates 3 bus lines to Ramla - lines 11, 13, 15.

See

• 🌍 Baybars Bridge (Close to Lahav 433 police unit HQ). A bridge built by the Sultan Baybars in the year 1273. It is still used for road traffic. On either side of the bridge, there are beautiful Arabic inscriptions and carvings of lions. Just north of the bridge, a dirt track branches off from the road - the bridge carvings are best seen from this track. (updated Jul 2016)
• 🌍 Hilo Khan (Khan Hilo). A travelers' lodge dating to the Mamluk period. It forms a large stone square: animals were left in the central courtyard, and people slept in buildings around the edge. The building is in bad condition, but some work has been done on restoring it. Be careful around the ruins, they are prone to collapse. The gate at the entrance is made of nicely carved stone. (updated Jul 2016)
• 🌍 Lod mosaic. Several stunning mosaics were found here, part of a bathhouse built in the Byzantine period. The site is in the midst of excavation/construction, and eventually a museum will be built on the site to display the mosaics. As of September 2016, the site is surrounded by a construction fence, but if you peek through the gaps or over the top, you can see some of the mosaics (from a bad angle). (It is possible they will be covered up in winter to protect them from rain) (updated Jul 2016)
• 🌍 Museum of Jewish Heritage in Israel, 20 Sderot Hamelech David, ☎ [phone]. A little-known but recommended museum with a large collection of exhibits from Jewish diaspora communities. Each room is full of artifacts from a different diaspora community - Tunisia, India, Ethiopia, Bulgaria, and others. Call before arriving, as there are some doubts whether the museum is still open on a regular basis. (updated Jul 2016)
• 🌍 Well of Peace (Be'er HaShalom). A well on the ancient road which passed through Lod (now a main modern road). The current building atop the well likely dates to the Mameluk period. It is a square stone building, with a dome atop, and interesting designs at the top of the walls. In past centuries, people would camp here, tie up their animals, and stay for the night. The social atmosphere between them may be what led to the name "Well of Peace". (updated Jul 2016)

Do

Buy

Eat

• Liz Bakery
• Lod Mall
• Burgerim
• Pizza Dominos

Drink

Sleep

Connect

Go next

• Ramla is a similar city bordering Lod. Sometimes they are together referred to as "Ramlod".