Tel Aviv
Discover Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv (Hebrew: תל אביב, Arabic: تل أبيب) is the second largest city in Israel (after Jerusalem), and the largest metropolitan area. It is on the Mediterranean coast, about 60 km northwest of Jerusalem and 100 km south of Haifa. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo (תל אביב-יפו), and reflects the fact that the city has grown beside (and absorbed) the ancient port city of Yafo (English: Jaffa, Arabic: يافا Yafa), to the south of the new city center. Tel Aviv is home to most embassies in Israel. In Israel, Tel Aviv is known for being a liberal city, in contrast to conservative Jerusalem. It has a thriving LGBT scene, and the general social norms are similar to major American and Western European cities.
What to Experience in Tel Aviv
Taste of Tel Aviv...
Tel Aviv has an amazing variety of restaurants for every taste. There are plenty of fast food restaurants, offering both international and local Israeli food. One can get a decent meal, including falafel or hummus on every street corner. You can also eat a toast, sandwich or some other snack at one of the cafes around the city. Many fruit juice parlors are around. The city is also known for being one of the best destinations for plant based eating. More than 30 restaurants cater to vegans with a wide range of cuisines and price ranges. The landmarks are Meshek Barzilai in Neve Tzedek, Anastasia on Frishman street and 416 near Sarona. You will also find many plant based options on the menu of most restaurants. Finally, Tel Aviv's ice cream parlors offer much more than basic flavors, as the taste buds are eclectic and strive for new flavors, such as Halva, poppy seed, and even a touch of alcoholic liqueurs in the ice cream (try these places: Vaniglia, Iceberg, Gelateria Siciliana, Dr. Lek and Aldo). Like everything else in Tel-Aviv, food can be prohibitively expensive. Tel Aviv is called "The city that never stops" by tourists and locals alike. It has a wide range of pubs, bars, clubs and it is known worldwide for its nightlife. The entire city is crawling with nightlife attractions and you would actually have to work pretty hard to find yourself further than 500 meters away from a place to have a drink.
Culture & Religion
Culture
Tel Aviv's (and Israel's) main entry point from abroad is 32.00046134.8705311 Ben Gurion International Airport TLV (referred to by its Hebrew initials Natbag by locals). You can arrive to the city center by train, taxi, or by hired car (it's a 20-min drive followed by a very long search for parking). There is no sherut taxi to Tel Aviv from Ben Gurion, although traveling by bus is possible. On Shabbat you will have a hard time reaching or leaving the airport. There's no bus or train; taxis still go but are extra busy, and charge extra. If you rely on public transportation, try not book a flight that lands in Tel Aviv Airport after 14:00 on Friday or before 20:00 on Saturday. If you go out of the terminal on ground floor and turn right, and head furthest distance out you will find buses to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Ask the bus driver to ensure you are getting on the right bus. By train: The airport train station is just below Arrivals in Terminal 3.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv hosts many festivals and events. Something is going on almost every weekend so make sure you're updated! Tel Aviv's markets are the best show in town, and they're bustling all day long. A Middle Eastern mélange of tastes, scents, sounds, colors – and lots of people. Friday is the busiest day when most Israelis do their shopping until the afternoon. Closed Saturdays. Tel Aviv's most famous market is the Carmel Market, which mostly sells fruit and vegetables, but also candy, clothing, toys, cellphone accessories, kitchen gadgets, and other goods. It is in Tel Aviv Center not far from the beach. The Levinsky Market, not far to the south, is the best place to buy spices, dried fruits, and different kinds of legume. A more upscale option is the Sarona Market, which has a variety of luxury foods and restaurants in picturesque surroundings.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsTel Aviv's (and Israel's) main entry point from abroad is 32.00046134.8705311 Ben Gurion International Airport TLV (referred to by its Hebrew initials Natbag by locals). You can arrive to the city center by train, taxi, or by hired car (it's a 20-min drive followed by a very long search for parking). There is no sherut taxi to Tel Aviv from Ben Gurion, although traveling by bus is possible. On Shabbat you will have a hard time reaching or leaving the airport. There's no bus or train; taxis still go but are extra busy, and charge extra. If you rely on public transportation, try not book a flight that lands in Tel Aviv Airport after 14:00 on Friday or before 20:00 on Saturday. If you go out of the terminal on ground floor and turn right, and head furthest distance out you will find buses to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Ask the bus driver to ensure you are getting on the right bus. By train: The airport train station is just below Arrivals in Terminal 3....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Tel Aviv has a modern, regular, cheap and widespread bus network run mostly by Dan. The main bus lines start at 05:00 AM and stops at 1 AM; on Thursday nights, Saturday nights, and during all July and August, the main lines run all night. Between November and March, the bus service stops on Friday at 15:00 and resumes on Saturday at 18:00, and between April and October the service stops on Friday at 17:00 and resumes on Saturday at 21:00. Several smartphone apps, such as efoBus or Moovit or Google Maps, offer route maps and real-time bus arrival tracking and trip planning. Most buses and trains now have USB chargers. Since Jan 2019, you can't pay cash on the bus. You need to buy a Rav-Kav smart card from the driver or Rav-Kav service center for ₪5 (if getting from service center, you may as well just issue a free personal card) plus either stored value to cover how many journeys you need, in ₪30 or ₪50 increments. If bought from bus driver (₪10.
Where to Stay
Tel Aviv has a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and backpacker hostels, boutique hotels, right up to luxury 5-star hotels. The main area for a short term stay is in the center with a big hotels strip on the beach and many accommodation options all around. The center should be your default place to stay. Some places can also be found in the south and will usually be cheaper (except the David Intercontinental). Another option to cut expenses a bit is to sleep in the nearby towns instead of actually staying inside Tel Aviv. This is a very common practice for young Israelis that want the Tel Aviv lifestyle without the Tel Aviv cost. The most common options are Ramat Gan, Bat Yam, Holon and Givatayim. Most coffee shops and fast food places have free WiFi. Tel Aviv municipality operates a free Wi-Fi network called "Free_TLV" in select locations around the city.
Money & Budget
Tel Aviv's markets are the best show in town, and they're bustling all day long. A Middle Eastern mélange of tastes, scents, sounds, colors – and lots of people. Friday is the busiest day when most Israelis do their shopping until the afternoon. Closed Saturdays. Tel Aviv's most famous market is the Carmel Market, which mostly sells fruit and vegetables, but also candy, clothing, toys, cellphone accessories, kitchen gadgets, and other goods. It is in Tel Aviv Center not far from the beach. The Levinsky Market, not far to the south, is the best place to buy spices, dried fruits, and different kinds of legume. A more upscale option is the Sarona Market, which has a variety of luxury foods and restaurants in picturesque surroundings.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
In general, most tourist areas are completely safe for tourists even at night. However, try to avoid the Central Bus Station, especially at night. This bus station is a large building with many abandoned parts that brings with it many dodgy people. Instead, try to take a bus that arrives at "Terminal 2000" or outside the Azrieli Towers. The "HaHagana" train station is safe, but avoid walking around the nearby Neve Shaanan neighborhood at night (the area east of "Ha'Aliya" and "Menachem Begin" streets), as it contains many homeless refugees from Eritrea and many drug addicts. Also watch out for scooters and electric bikes. It is not uncommon to see these vehicles traveling at a speed of 40 km/h (25 miles per hour). On the path next to the promenade on the beach, they travel at particularly high speeds due to the lack of intersections.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
I wanted to take this photo for a long long time
aerial view photography of city beside body of water
Tel Aviv cityscape
Rush hour in Tel Aviv is a sight to behold.
a group of people sitting on benches
Beach ready - lifeguard station on the Tel Aviv waterfront
Tel-Aviv landscape from mindspace Ahad Ha'am
This vibrant photograph captures a beautiful beachside cityscape at sunset. The sky is painted with soft hues of orange, pink, and blue as the sun begins to set, casting a warm glow over the scene. The beach is bustling with activity, filled with people enjoying the pleasant evening. Some are lounging on the sand, while others are playing games or walking along the shore. Tall, modern buildings line the beachfront, their windows reflecting the golden light of the setting sun. The architecture is a mix of sleek glass structures and more traditional designs, creating a dynamic.
Overlooking the beach of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
I wanted to take this photo for a long long time
aerial view photography of city beside body of water