Tel Aviv is Israel's trendy metropolis. While Jerusalem's many significant religious and historical sights make the city inherently touristic, Tel Aviv's main selling point is its way of life. Nestled between the skyscrapers and seemingly endless beachfront is a vibrant city packed with art installations, tasty food, and sunshine.

Good to Know

• Getting There: Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Aiport serves plenty of destinations all around the globe, so flying into Israel is the easiest option. Alternatively, you can cross into Israel by land from Jordan and travel by bus or car to Tel Aviv.
• Getting Around: Tel Aviv has a good bus network, which connects all parts of the city. To use the buses, you must buy a Rav-Kav card from the bus driver. Another great way to explore Tel Aviv is to rent a bicycle and ride up and down the boardwalks: It's cheap, efficient, flexible, and eco-friendly!
• Where to Stay: Tel Aviv isn't huge, so wherever you stay, you'll never be too far from the action! Solo Travelers might enjoy the atmosphere and hostels in Florentine or the Yemenite Quarter. Neve Tzedek and the White City are also lovely neighborhoods to stay in.
• When to Visit: Temperatures in Tel Aviv are pleasant all year round. We recommend visiting between April and November to get the most sunshine during your stay. However, you may want to avoid the sweltering heat of July and August.
• How Long to Visit: The city can be explored in around four days. However, you can combine a trip to Tel Aviv with many (day) trips, for which you should plan around 6 more days.
• Day Trips: Tel Aviv is a good starting point to explore Jerusalem, Haifa, the See of Galilee or the Dead Sea.
• LGBTQ+: Tel Aviv offers many LGBTQ+ bars and hotspots, and the city is very LGBTQ+ friendly overall!
• Shabbat: During Shabbat, no busses or trains are running to and from the airport, so consider that when booking your flight. In addition, the bus service within Tel Aviv is also reduced during Shabbat.

Highlights

Jaffa

Though Tel Aviv is a relatively young city, it doesn't lack historical sights entirely. For example, just south of the city center is the old port town of Jaffa, which was first settled around 1800 BCE! The best way to experience Jaffa is by taking a free walking tour of the historic center and the harbor. Interestingly, Jaffa is associated with Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Greek mythology! There are three main religious sites to visit: St. Peter's Church, the Libyan Synagogue, and Mahmoudiya Mosque. You should also stop by the Clock Tower, built during the Ottoman Era.

The Tayelet and Beachfront

Perhaps the best thing about Tel Aviv is the Beachfront. Cities with amazing beaches are hard to come by, yet Tel Aviv has an abundance of them! While all are great, each beach is unique in its allure and offers its own set of activities. Roughly 5 km (3.1 miles) of Tel Aviv's coastline, stretching from Hilton Beach down to Jaffa, is connected via the Tayalet. This boardwalk is perfect for quick strolls and long walks along Tel Aviv. If you rent a bike, you should ride along the entire Tayalet at least once!

Beaches

Hilton Beach, at Tel Aviv's north end, is a popular spot for the LGBTQ+ community. The lively beach is also lined with bars and clubs. Nordau Beach switches between being open exclusively for men and exclusively for women during the week, so it's great if you want more privacy. Families with young kids might want to visit Tel Baruch Beach to play in the sand or enjoy the calm sea. Lastly, Banana Beach is popular with surfers and has a small surf school. But there are even more beaches in Tel Aviv, so check the Points of Interest for all the others!

The City Center

Tel Aviv's city center is known for small restaurants with tasty food from all over the world and plenty of art galleries and museums. We've marked some of our favorite attractions in the Points of Interests!

Neighborhoods

Tel Aviv has multiple charming neighborhoods which you can explore on foot. The Yemenite and Neve Tzedek Quarters are especially interesting to visit. Both boast intriguing, old houses dating back to roughly the beginning of the 20th century when European and Yemenite Jews settled in the area. In addition, the White City Quarter is home to over 4000 Bauhaus-style white buildings, for which it received the title of the UNESCO World Heritage Site!