Egged sells hofshi hodshi monthly bus passes, good for unlimited travel in a specified city; a NIS96 pass allows free travel on Egged buses in all three big cities (note that in Tel Aviv most buses are operated by Dan; they have their own Tel Aviv passes for N1S96). These are well worth the price if you will be staying in one area for a longish time. Egged also offers Israbus, an unlimited bus pass valid all over the country; you can get them at any Egged Tours office (7 days US$59,14 days US$95, 21 days US$115, 30 days US$129; call (03) 527 1223/4 for office nearest you). Otherwise, you can buy a karOstya from any bus driver (NIS24); this useful item gives you 11 rides with a token discount. Most local routes cost NIS2.40.

Most bus stations have printed schedules-sometimes in English. Egged has intercity information lines in the major cities (tel. (03) 537 5555 in Tel Aviv, (04) 54 95 55 in Haifa, (02) 30 45 55 in Jerusalem) for all the facts on every place you can think of visiting (open Sun.-Thurs. 6:30am-9pm, Fri. 6:3Oam-3pm, Sat. 4-10pm). You can call any of these numbers from anywhere in the country, and you will be charged only for a local call. For information on local lines, call the local central bus station.