Modiin is sometimes considered a quiet suburban city, although its vibrant city centre provides many shopping and recreation opportunities and puts that notion in dispute. Additionally, the city centre is highly connected elsewhere by public transport, which can get you near and afar quickly. The city centre of Modiin is comprised of two main parts: the northern part of the city centre, which is known as the “Maar”, and the southern part – which will be discussed here.
The southern part is actually a very large roundabout which got the name Transportation Circus or “Kikar Hatachbura” due to the various transportation facilities in and around it. The roundabout is situated on top of the main road crossing Modiin from north to south, Shderot HaHashmonaim, and a tunnel was built for those who do not wish to enter the roundabout. The central rail station of Modiin (Modiin Merkaz) is located here and trains can take you to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in less than 30 minutes. Crossing the street will get you to the central bus station of Modiin. This two-floor bus station can take you to various towns across Israel, such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Petach Tikvah, Ramle, Holon, and Rishon Lezion.
The Azrieli shopping mall is situated just between the two and is a great place to shop and eat. There are many shopping opportunities here for the likes and tastes of everyone, from books to fashion and anything in between. As of February 2024, a new underway passage connecting the central bus station to the train station has opened. This enables you to quickly change forms of transport and will surely be of use in the cold and rainy days of the winter and the hot days of the summer. In case you fancy a workout or a glass of wine after a long day of work, you have a gym and a wine bar on your way out.
Modiin is set to become a large and central city in Israel. Nevertheless, its prime location in the heart of Israel offers many possibilities for those who like to enjoy the best of both worlds in just a short bus or train ride away.
Article and map by Amitai Bloom