The climate of Tel Aviv is subtropical, with hot summers and mild winters. The average temperature in summer is 77°F (25°C) and in winter, 57°F (14°C). Humidity tends to be high all year round and November to April is the wet season. July and August are the busiest months in Tel Aviv, and it is perhaps best to travel to Tel Aviv off-season.

Tel Aviv has an incredible range of restaurants, guaranteed to satisfy every traveller's mood, taste buds and budget.

Fast food in Tel Aviv (usually falafel with humus) is uncommonly healthy, and there are snack shops and small take-away eateries located on basically every street corner. Be sure to try Abu-Hassan (in Jaffa) and The Syrian (near the Carmel Market) - locals are divided on which of these two establishments is the best.

For classier evenings out, Tel Aviv has a wealth of local and international cuisine restaurants - far too many to provide a comprehensive list. Pizza Fino serves highly-rated kosher pizza, while Raphael Restau-Bistro is a chic little place specialising in Moroccan food. Onami makes the best Asian food in Tel Aviv (try their tofu dishes!), while the Yoezer Wine Bar offers a gourmet French and Italian selection.

The easiest way to get around Tel Aviv is on foot or by taxi. Taxi mini-buses ( sheruts) follow the same routes as the public buses, often with more frequency and are slightly cheaper on weekdays. The bus system itself is extensive with a fixed fare in the city-centre. Taxi cabs are not of any particular make or model car, but do have rooftop signs and are plentiful. Fares are metered and more expensive at night. Driving in Tel Aviv is not for the faint-hearted, as local drivers tend to be aggressive and impatient.

Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. Most of the population also speak English.

The Israeli Shekel (ILS) is divided into 100 agorot (singular is agora). Money can be changed in the small exchange bureaux found on most main streets, or at banks and hotels. ATMs are prevalent throughout the country and linked to American systems. Most banks are open Sunday through to Friday until noon, and are open again from 4pm till 6pm on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques, though commission on these is high.

Tel Aviv is the irrepressible social hub of Israel, and has a great selection of trendy bars, grinding clubs and pubs with enough loud music, dancing and merriment to keep any party person happy.

During the summer months, kick things off with sundowners at one of the many beach bars, such as the popular Jerusalem Beach or Banana Beach. The nightlife in Tel Aviv doesn't usually get going until around 11pm, so it's best to ease into the swing of things by going out for dinner before hitting the bars and clubs. Even on Friday nights during Shabbat the locals go wild, while Thursday nights are another big night out.

Clubs and bars are constantly changing, but the main areas stay the same. Allenby Street is a good place to start, with over 20 clubs centred round the small area offering house, disco, funk and techno music. The Tel Aviv port and Rotschild Blvd. areas are popular too, with clubs such as TLV; while those looking for a gay scene, should head to Vox or to the trendy Florentin district. Expect traffic jams at 2am, as this city that never sleeps is capable of keeping you up way past dawn.

Tel Aviv undoubtedly offers the best shopping options for tourists to Israel. Whether you're looking for speciality items, high fashion, or some authentic Israeli souvenirs, you are bound to find what you're looking for in Tel Aviv.

There are three main types of shopping experience to be had in Tel Aviv. Firstly (and most memorably), are the city's wonderful, colourful market-places (shuks). These open-air markets bustle from dawn to dusk and - over and above the exciting things to buy from their noisy vendors - are tourist attractions in themselves, giving visitors a real taste of the Middle East. The biggest and busiest market is the Carmel Market (near Allenby Street), but the Flea Market (Rabi Nachman Street) is a great place for antique-hunters, and the Levinsky Market (on Levinsky Street) is the place to go for dried foods and spices.

Tel Aviv also has a fast-growing shopping mall culture, and if you're looking for international brands these establishments are probably a good place to start. Even if you're not a mall person back home, you might find yourself enjoying the air-conditioned interiors of these places more than the shopping that's on offer! The biggest and best shopping malls in Tel Aviv are Azriely, the Dizengoff Centre and Gan Ha'ir - all located near the city centre.

Tel Aviv also has a few remaining speciality shopping streets. For those seeking fashion deals, Dizengoff Street is a must (and particularly, the second-hand clothing store Daffodil 11); while those after arts, crafts, jewellery and Judaica products should head to Gordon Street. Finally, haute couture junkies should try coincide their visit to Tel Aviv with the City Designers' Market, where twice a year (in February and August) the city's top designers present their latest creations to the admiring public.