- Destinations
- Middle East
- Israel
- Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is a vibrant modern city that is best known for its
sun-drenched beaches, pumping nightclubs, designer shopping,
crowded street markets and high culture. What it lacks in
antiquities, Tel Aviv makes up for in commerce. One third of
Israel's population have made this bustling metropolis home. Over
weekends, residents from nearby towns head to Tel Aviv looking for
entertainment and relaxation and city-slickers spill out onto the
city's beaches to soak up the Mediterranean sun along a six-mile
(10km) stretch of golden sand. The diversity of the population is
reflected in the architectural variations and influences, such as
the Yemenite Quarter and the Vodka cafes of Allenby Street. Tel
Aviv also provides an ideal base from which to explore other parts
of Israel, including Jaffa, the Galilee area and Caesarea.
Information & Facts
Climate
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.
Eating Out
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.
Getting Around
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.
Language
Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel.
Most of the population also speak English.
Money
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.
Night Life
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.
Shopping
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.