Travel to Tel Aviv

Charles Clore Beach, Tel Aviv

I have had the great opportunity to travel to Tel Aviv several times since 2018. First, in April 2018, I attended my friends’ wedding. The next two trips were for work, and then other trips for fun and to visit friends. As I wrote in the Israel post, my memories of Tel Aviv consist of the delicious food, sunshine, beautiful architecture and nature. In fact, the food made such an impression that I will soon write a separate post on the Tel Aviv Food Scene.

Tel Aviv is located on the Mediterranean sea. Therefore, it benefits from sun most of the year, and the summers can be very hot and humid. Besides being a city packed with art, culture and food, it also benefits from beautiful beaches. In addition, there is easy transport available to see other areas of Israel. This post expands on the Israel post to share more specific info on travel to Tel Aviv.

Sheinkin Street, Tel Aviv
Sheinkin Street, Tel Aviv
Jaffa Old Town, Tel Aviv
Jaffa Old Town, Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv Trumpeldor cemetery
Tel Aviv Trumpeldor cemetery

Highlights

  • Tel Aviv Food Scene
  • Old Tel Aviv Port restaurants
  • Metsitsim beach, Frishman beach and Bograshov beach to name a few!
  • Carmel market for eating and shopping- spices, falafel, baklava and more
  • Great Synagogue – visit the inside as it is interesting and beautiful
  • Walking around the city to see sights such as the Itzhak Rabin monument (prime minister assassinated in 1995), Trumpeldor Tel Aviv cemetery, and the American German colony area (great architecture)
  • Jaffa Old Town with its many sights including the Jaffa flea market, clock tour, a suspended orange tree in between buildings, galleries
  • Mohamidiye and Sea mosques
  • St Peters church
  • Ramses Gate and garden
  • Barby club – great music, building and atmosphere
  • Enjoy the interesting street art especially in the Florentine area

Before you go

  • Summers are hot and humid. Winter is cooler and less humid, though not very cold
  • Carry your identification around with you as there are times when you may be asked for it. There is a police / military presence around the city
  • Be respectful and aware of religions as many of the interesting places to see are religious places
  • Most people speak English so it is easy to travel around
  • Be aware of the current events in the country as there are times when it is more dangerous to travel to Israel
  • During Passover, some restaurants are closed and bread sections of supermarkets may be restricted
  • Bring good walking shoes as it is a fun city to explore on foot
  • Keep an eye out for cool graffiti as there is a lot around the city
  • Most areas are safe to walk around during the day, but be more careful at night
Florentin Hotel, Tel Aviv
Florentin Hotel, Tel Aviv
Fabric Hotel, Tel Aviv
Fabric Hotel, Tel Aviv
Rooftop at the Brown Hotel Tel Aviv
Rooftop at the Brown Hotel Tel Aviv

Transport

  • The flight from Paris or London is about 4-5 hours direct
  • Ben Gurion international airport is about 30 minutes by car to Tel Aviv. Ensure you go to the Official Taxi queue and do not go with the men who are in the airport saying “Taxi, Taxi”. There is public transport by train and bus from the airport to Tel Aviv. The bus saves money but can take over an hour. The train is great and inexpensive, but is does not run Friday evening nor all day on Saturday
  • In 2018-19, Uber was not very reliable so locals instead recommended the Gett app. However, I have had many issues with the drivers trying to charge more or have you cancel so you have to pay them in cash

Accommodation

  • Gordon Inn – simple, clean, close walk to the beach; I stayed in the new extension)
  • Brown Hotel – fancy, rooftop bar, Molten Brown toiletries, good air conditioning, breakfast vouchers for nearby restaurants
  • Florentin House – trendy hotel / hostel, modern, clean, cool area
  • Fabric Hotel– modern, comfortable and trendy. Their restaurant/bar Bushwick has great food and drinks all day
  • HermeSpa Hotel – comfortable, clean but not good for arriving out of normal working hours. Communication was difficult!
  • Dave Downtown, which is part of the Brown Hotel chains was my least favourite hotel. Clean, modern rooms, but poor location and untrained staff.
Street art in Tel Aviv
Street art in Tel Aviv
Independence Hall (Dizengoff House), Tel Aviv
Independence Hall (Dizengoff House), Tel Aviv
Mono (Japanese band) at the Barby Club, Tel Aviv, Israel 10 Jul 2019
Mono (Japanese band) at the Barby Club, Tel Aviv, Israel 10 Jul 2019
Lunch at Dallal, Tel Aviv Green lentil and eggplant Masabaha
Lunch at Dallal, Tel Aviv Green lentil and eggplant Masabaha

Food

I am going to write a separate post about the Tel Aviv Food Scene as there are too many recommendations I can share!

One of the surprising aspects for me was the variety of food that is done very well in this city! From raw fish to hummus to pastries and ice cream. In fact, it is difficult to stop eating the delicious foods found on every corner. Also, the fruits and vegetables taste amazing! Stay tuned for the upcoming post on my favourite places in Tel Aviv.

Suspended Orange tree in Jaffa, Tel Aviv
Suspended Orange tree in Jaffa, Tel Aviv
St Peter's Church, Tel Aviv
St Peter’s Church, Tel Aviv
Spices in Carmel Market, Tel Aviv
Spices in Carmel Market, Tel Aviv

FAQs

Q: Do I need a tour guide?

A: No, not for the main city as it is walkable and there are many signs highlighting places to see. GoogleMaps also offers good coverage of the city.

Q: Do people speak English?

A: Yes for the most part in Tel Aviv. I did not run into any problems at restaurants, shops or the market. The only time I did have some language issues was in a taxi.

Q: Is it a walkable city?

A: Yes it is walkable and I recommend you walk at least through some of the main areas such as Jaffa, the beaches, Florentin, the White city, and city centre. There are so many details to see in the architecture and small restaurants, cafes and bakeries to discover.

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