The Essential Guide to Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is the hub (and bubble) of Israel. With the alluring beach on a hot summers day, the appetising restaurants, the energetic nightlife, interesting museums and the charmed Old City of Jaffa, Tel Aviv has a lot to offer. I’ve rounded up the ten best things to see and do in Tel Aviv so you don’t miss anything during your visit!

I would suggest spending 3-5 days in this city if you enjoy partying, swimming, eating and walking so you have enough time to fit in everything comfortably.

1. Old City of Jaffa

The Old City of Jaffa stands on a cliff that protrudes into the water. From Old Jaffa you can look back onto the Tel Aviv skyline. Old Jaffa hosts mosques, churches, the ancient clock tower, a wishing bridge, sculptures, a lot of art galleries along with trendy restaurants and bars.

The tastiest restaurants to visit: Cafe Puaa, Abu Hassan, Casino San Remo, The Old Man and The Sea

The coolest bars to visit: Cuckoo’s Nest

2. Rothchild Boulevard

Tel Aviv’s most famous street. Wander down the tree-lined boulevard to see charming cafes, people picnicking on blankets and boutique stores. It is central Tel Aviv so you can wonder in and around the surrounding streets enjoying the beauty and eccentricity of the city.

The tastiest restaurants to visit: Sabba & 300 Rabbits, Bucke Cafe

The coolest bars to visit: K Bar

3. Explore the White City

The White City refers to a collection of over 4,000 buildings built in the form of Bauhaus from the 1930s by German Jewish architects who immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine. Tel Aviv has the largest number of buildings built in Bauhaus of any city in the world.

The White City is located between Allenby Street in the south, Begin Road and Ibn Gvirol Street in the east, the Yarkon River in the north, and the Mediterranean in the west.

The tastiest restaurants to visit: Cafe Noir, Benedict, Da Da & Da, Edmund Coffee

The coolest bars to visit: Kuli Alma

4. Neve Tzedek

Neve Tzedek was the first Jewish neighbourhood to be built outside the Old City of Jaffa. A high contender for the trendiest and ritziest area of Tel Aviv; it is filled with beautiful boutique stores and jewellery shops, trendy European restaurants where you can sit outside and people watch, and one of the tastiest ice-creameries in Tel Aviv. Whilst here visit Hatachana: a cool old train station turned into shops. It is a quick ten minutes walk to the beach from here.

The tastiest restaurants to visit: Suzana, Anita’s Ice-Cream

5. Shuk Ha-Carmel

This is the largest shuk/market in Tel Aviv. It is home to the freshest produce, small eateries, the best falafels and bargain souvenirs. The market is bordered by Allenby Street and Magen David Square. It is open from 8am until the early hours of the evening. On Friday the shuk closes in the early afternoon, and is closed on Saturday for Shabbat. Bordering the shuk is trendy restaurants and bars open until late.

6. Nachalat Binyamin Market

This is a street market with all sorts of different arts and crafts coming from all over Israel. Over 200 artists set up stalls every Tuesday and Friday. Peruse through the creations, paintings, and jewellery that the artists have handmade. Around this area the walls are covered in street art, there are hip bars and another tasty ice-creamery.

The tastiest restaurants to visit: Arte Ice-Cream

The coolest bars to visit: The Prince

7. Tel Aviv Beaches

Tel Aviv’s beaches sprawl from Jaffa in the south to Tel Aviv port in the north. The beaches in Tel Aviv are free, but if you prefer to live in luxury you can hire a beach chair for a small fee. Watch life pass you by as you sit on the sand with volleyballers energetically playing in the background. Make sure you leave time to walk, run or cycle along the seaside promenade before or after your dip in the ocean.

8. Florentin

If Neve Tzedek is the trendiest area, then Florentin rightfully receives the title of hipster-ville. Florentin owes this title to the bohemian cafes, quirky graffiti and grungy vibe that fills the suburb. Check out Levinsky Market for bureka pastries and falafel pitas. There are also small art galleries to check out if that’s your scene.

The tastiest restaurants to visit: Tony and Esther Cafe, Ouzeria

The coolest bars to visit: Teder.fm

9. Tel Aviv Museum of Art

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art was established in 1932 in a building that was the home of Tel Aviv’s first mayor, Meir Dizengoff. The museum has various sections, and holds a comprehensive collection of local Israeli art and famous international artworks. It has different opening hours depending on the day so make sure you check before you go, but is closed every Sunday.

10. Dizengoff

Dizengoff Street is located in central Tel Aviv, and is lined with boutique shops, cafes and delicious restaurants. Avoid Dizengoff Center shopping mall like the plague, but the surrounding areas are lovely and worth a peruse to see why it was once awarded the title of the “Champs-Élysées of Tel Aviv”.

The tastiest restaurants to visit: La Shuk, Miznon, Cafe XOHO

The coolest bars to visit: Spicehaus