Airline tickets from Chisinau to Tel Aviv-Yafo

Direct flights Chisinau - Tel Aviv: who flies and how long it takes

Four airlines fly nonstop from Chisinau airport to Tel Aviv: FlyOne, HiSky, El Al and SkyUp. The plane lands at Ben Gurion Airport (code TLV), and the flight takes about 2 h 50 min on average. You won't need to change your watch: for almost the whole year, Tel Aviv time is the same as Chisinau time.

A connection via Istanbul or another hub makes the journey several times longer and barely saves any money, so on this route a direct flight usually wins. To find Chisinau - Tel Aviv flights for your dates, enter them in the search at the top of the page: you'll immediately see who flies on your day, at what time and with what baggage.

Airline	Carrier origin	Direct flights per week*
HiSky	Moldovan airline	about 7
FlyOne	Moldovan airline based in Chisinau	about 6
SkyUp	Ukrainian airline with a base in Chisinau	about 3
El Al	Israel's national carrier	about 3

There is one thing to know about 2026. From 28 February, the country's airspace was closed to most foreign airlines, and Ben Gurion only fully returned to normal operations in April. FlyOne was among the first to resume flights. In summer the airport was overloaded: according to figures for late July and August, only about a third of flights departed on time. When buying a Chisinau - Tel Aviv plane ticket, compare the change and refund conditions of different fares, and check your flight status on the day of departure.

Chisinau - Tel Aviv ticket prices and the best time to buy

The price calendar at the top of the page shows the route's seasonality clearly. The lowest fares hold from October to March, and the minimum price in the calendar is currently €64 for December. Tickets get more expensive from April, and August is the most expensive month on this route.

Booking ahead pays off, but there's no need to overdo it. According to Skyscanner's analysis, tickets to Tel Aviv are cheapest about 40 days before departure. Baggage has a big effect on the final amount: a hand-luggage-only fare and a fare with a suitcase from the same carrier can differ noticeably, so compare them with each other, not just with competitors. If an airline adds frequencies or launches a new Chisinau - Tel Aviv flight, it will appear in the search alongside the other options.

When choosing a date, look at the day of the week too. Shabbat runs from Friday evening to Saturday evening: trains don't run, city buses mostly stop, and taxis charge a surcharge. If you land on Friday evening, you'll get to the city by taxi or sherut (shared minibus). On Yom Kippur the airport closes completely, from a few hours before sunset on the eve until the night of the following day. In 2027 this falls on 10 and 11 October.

Visa, ETA-IL and passport: what you need to fly

Moldovan citizens don't need a visa; tourist trips of up to 90 days are visa-free. Instead of a visa, the ETA-IL electronic travel authorisation has been in place since 1 January 2025. You must obtain it before departure: passengers without an approved ETA-IL may be denied boarding.

Document	Requirement	In practice
Passport	Biometric passport only	You can't fly with a national ID card. The embassy requires the passport to be valid for at least 90 days from the date of entry
ETA-IL	Online application on the official website israel-entry.piba.gov.il, fee 25 ₪, payable by card	The answer arrives within 72 hours, so apply right after buying your ticket. Third-party sites charge several times more for the same thing
ETA-IL validity	2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first	The authorisation allows multiple entries. If you change your passport or surname, you need a new application
Length of stay	Up to 90 days per visit	ETA-IL does not guarantee entry: the final decision is made by the border officer
At the border	No stamp in the passport; a separate entry slip is issued	Keep it until your return flight, as hotels may ask for it at check-in

Ben Gurion Airport: what to keep in mind on arrival and on your return flight

Ben Gurion is about 20 km from Tel Aviv. The airport has two passenger terminals: most international flights use Terminal 3, while Terminal 1 handles some low-cost carriers and domestic flights to Eilat. The terminal number is shown in your booking; check it in advance, especially before your return journey.

ATMs in the arrivals area dispense shekels. You can also buy a Rav-Kav card there for trains and buses; you'll need it from day one.

For the return trip, arrive three hours before departure, as officially recommended by the airport. Before check-in, a security officer has a short conversation with every passenger: they ask about the purpose of your trip, where you stayed and who packed your suitcase. It's a routine procedure, so answer calmly and to the point.

If you bought anything in shops marked VAT Refund, ask for a special VAT refund receipt there. The refund can only be processed at the airport before departure; it can't be done from home. If the purchases are in your suitcase, go to the refund counter before checking in your baggage.

How to get from the airport to Tel Aviv and how much it costs

Option	Journey time	Best for	Limitations
Train	About 12 minutes to HaHagana station, up to 30 minutes to University station	Weekday arrivals, light luggage	The station is beneath Terminal 3. No service on Shabbat and holidays
Bus 445	Depends on traffic	Hotels near Dizengoff, Ben Yehuda and HaYarkon streets	Runs every 60-90 minutes. The driver doesn't accept cash; you need a Rav-Kav or the app
Taxi	20-30 minutes without traffic	Night arrivals, Shabbat, lots of suitcases	Official taxi rank only, operated by Gett. Metered fare
Sherut	Depends on the number of stops	Arriving on Shabbat when there's no train	The minibus leaves once it fills up with passengers
Transfer	20-30 minutes	Families, late flights	Booked in advance, fixed price

How much it costs to get from the airport to the city:

• Train. Under 15 ₪, the fastest option at rush hour.
• Bus 445. About 8 ₪ at 2026 fares.
• Taxi. Usually 150-200 ₪ to the centre during the day. From 21:00 to 05:30, and on Shabbat and holidays, the fare is about 25% higher.
• Sherut. Around 50-65 ₪ per person.
• Transfer. The price is quoted when booking; night and Shabbat surcharges are not added on top.

It's best to turn down drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall offering a "fixed price". Signs on the floor lead to the official taxi rank, where rides are metered.

Money on your trip: currency, cards and approximate costs

The local currency is the new Israeli shekel (₪, NIS), and it's the only currency accepted for everyday purchases. Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere, and contactless payment is widespread. You'll need cash at markets and small shops: the easiest way is to withdraw it from an ATM right at the airport. There are also limits on carrying money. You can't take more than €10,000 out of Moldova without supporting documents, and when entering the country by air, amounts from 50,000 ₪ must be declared.

In terms of café and transport prices, Tel Aviv is closer to Western Europe than to Chisinau. Guide prices for 2026:

• cappuccino at a café: about 16 ₪;
• falafel or sabich in pita: 20-35 ₪;
• lunch at a mid-range restaurant: 50-90 ₪ per person;
• a ride on public transport: 8 ₪ with Rav-Kav or the app;
• tips: 10-15% is customary in restaurants, but not expected at street stalls.

Tel Aviv markets and what to bring home to Moldova

Carmel Market, the largest in the city, is open Sunday to Friday and closed on Saturday. On Friday trading winds down after lunch before Shabbat, and it gets packed at those hours, so it's calmer to come Sunday to Thursday around midday. Fruit and spice prices are usually displayed, but haggling over souvenirs and clothes is normal.

The Jaffa Flea Market (Shuk HaPishpeshim) is open Sunday to Thursday roughly from 10:00 to 18:00, and on Friday until 14:00. Haggling is expected here: sellers start with a padded price. This is the place to look for old tableware, lamps, vintage jewellery and Jewish ritual objects. On Tuesdays and Fridays, a crafts fair takes place on the pedestrian Nahalat Binyamin street next to Carmel, where handmade items are sold directly by their makers.

What to bring	Where to look	How to pack it
Dead Sea mineral cosmetics: mud, salt, creams	Pharmacies and cosmetics shops	Tubes over 100 ml go in checked baggage only. In VAT Refund shops, ask for the VAT refund receipt
Halva and tahini (sesame paste)	Carmel Market	Tahini counts as a paste, so put the jar in your suitcase
Za'atar and spice blends	Spice shops at Carmel	Ask for the bag to be heat-sealed, otherwise the smell will get into all your clothes
Medjool dates	Markets and supermarkets	In factory packaging they're easier to carry and to show at customs
Israeli wine	Wine shops, duty free	You can bring 2 litres of wine into Moldova duty-free
Vintage items and antiques	Jaffa Flea Market	Antiques require an export permit from the country of purchase; without it, expect questions at Moldovan customs

The overall allowance for air passengers arriving in Moldova is €430 per person, and purchases must be for personal use, not for resale. Duty-free alcohol is allowed in one category of your choice only: 2 litres of wine, or 5 litres of beer, or 1 litre of spirits.

Unusual dates for a trip from Chisinau to Tel Aviv

The cheapest months on this route coincide with several vibrant events. If your dates are flexible, you can plan your whole holiday around them.

When	What's on	What to keep in mind
4-12 December 2026	Hanukkah: eight evenings of lights and sufganiyot doughnuts in every bakery. In December a Christmas tree is also lit by the clock tower in Jaffa	December is one of the cheapest months in the price calendar
26 February 2027	Tel Aviv Marathon: 42 km race, half marathon, 10 and 5 km along the sea	Some central streets are closed on race day
23 March 2027	Purim: adults and children take to the streets in carnival costumes	You can buy a costume on the spot; markets are full of them before the holiday
Second week of June	Tel Aviv Pride; in 2026 more than 100,000 people joined the parade	June is already high season, so book tickets in advance
Late June	White Night (Laila Lavan): concerts and events all over the city until morning	The exact date is announced closer to summer; in 2026 it was 25 June
10-11 October 2027	Yom Kippur: the city goes still, cars vanish from the streets, and people cycle along the empty roads	The airport, transport and shops are closed. Arrive the day before and leave no earlier than the following day

Choose your dates in the search, compare the fares of the four carriers and buy your Chisinau - Tel Aviv plane ticket online. If anything changes along the way, Zbor.md support is available 24/7 at +373 22 844 111.