Tel Aviv
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Tel Aviv is the largest city in Israel, a primarily secular city with a history going back just over 100 years - as opposed to most other places in Israel that are known for their long and colorful histories and significance to multiple world religions.
The city of Tel Aviv was originally founded in the 1880s by Jewish immigrants as an alternative to the expensive neighbouring, historic town of Yafa. The two towns became united in the single municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo in 1950, two years after the establishment of the State of Israel. Tel Aviv is Israel's economic capital (whilst Jerusalem is the administrative and official capital). It is Israel's cultural capital with a vibrant cultural scene, and a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Bauhaus architecture (Tel Aviv is also known as "The White City", though unfortunately the white has quickly become more of a dingy brown).
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Culture & People
Tel Aviv has an extensive art and culture scene, a great variety of restaurants, clubs and festivals. It is localy called "the city that never sleeps" as there is something going on, literally, 24/7 - restaurants are open as long as there is a clientele, pubs and bars don't even get going until well into the night.
The beach is Tel Aviv's most dominant feature, with a long promenade and many beach cafes. Various water sports have gained popularity in recent years: one can see the kite surfers near the Dolfinarium beach, the sea kayakkers near the Yarkon estuary, and there is also Wave Surfing, scuba diving, underwater fishing and more.
Another interesting feature is the juxtapositon with the Arab city of Yafo with the modern city of Tel Aviv. A few minutes walk can take you from a Turkish hamam to an oxygen bar, or from a crusader fortress to techno club.
Tel Aviv is also a diverse city - native Christian, Jewish and Moslem population (of Middle Eastern and Eastern European descent) have been augmented by mass immigration from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, and with migrant workers (both legal and illegal) from other parts of Africa, South East Asia, the Philippines, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. There is also a large number of French Jews that have recently immegrated and you can now see storefronts with signs in French. Add that to the Hebrew, English, Arabic and Russian already common here, and you begin to get the idea.
Language
Hebrew is the most commonly spoken of the official languages of Israel, but you can easily get along here in English.
Getting Around
There is pretty good public transportation here, though it can be confusing if you don't speak the language. However, the truth is that most places in Tel Aviv are within walking distance, and taxis are not expensive.
Make sure you ask the taxi driver to put on the meter.
Culture and Events
Tel Aviv is the cultural capital of Israel, and with many events every day to choose from. Here are some useful links:
- Tel Aviv City website [1]
- Lior's calender [2]
- Art shows: There are all sorts of them all over the city. most Galleries are on Gordon st.
http://www.all-art.co.il/events/EventDoc.asp?EventId=3844
Music
Levontin7 – music shows
Things to do in Tel Aviv
(Zvikas Summery of things that don’t cost a fortune & don’t always involve the beach)
Museums:
- Beth Hatefusoth: museum of the Jewish Diaspora, where you may trace your family tree, roots, and find distant relatives.
Markets:
- The Carmel Market: is a big and very photogenic market. Food and goods mixed together. You can also eat there plenty of good food. special deals: really cheap fruits & vegetables on friday afternoon, just before closing.(open everyday).
- Nachlat Binyamin St: Artist and artisan fair (Tuesdays and Fridays throughout most of the day)
- Farmer’s market at the south end of the Tel Aviv Port (Friday mornings)
- Jaffa Flea market: off the to the East of Jaffa's "tourist hill". Very colourful and fun, in particular the kitchens section. (everyday)
- Second hand market next to Dizengoff plaza (Tuesdays and Fridays)
- Ethnic Food market at Dizengoff Center Mall (on Thursdays and Fridays).
Where to eat:
- King George St. - Get a cheap meal at King George restaurant
- Falafel Gabay at Bugrashov St. (if you go, ask them to add "mystery balls" 'cadurei pele'!)
- Falafel on Tcharnichovsky st. A small, very good falafel place. always people lined up.
Shopping and walking / loitering / people watching / strolling in the streets:
- Bauhaus architecture sites in Tel Aviv. You may even find organized tours in the city that cover those.
- Shopping in trendy Shenkin St.
- Yafo (Jaffa) - Visit the old port and the flee market
- Rothschild Ave.
- Dizengoff St.
- Hayarkon Park (granted, it's not too big but very much our own!)
- Neve Tzedek
- The new Tel Aviv Port, a trendy new development, with lots of restaurants, clubs and shopping venues.
- The old Jaffa port - under renovations now. A good place to eat fish, and watch the fishing boats go out to sea.
- Around The Tayelet (promenade)
- Bialik Square - a tiny square with a water fountain, gold fish etc. Great place to waste time. located at the end of Bialik st. Next to the Museum of the municipality of Tel Aviv (which has not opened yet).
Other:
- Go up on top of The Azrieli Building, it's a pretty cool view
- Hayarkon sporteque - sports: basketball, inline skating, running, rock-climbing, and many other physical activities.
- There's a large rollerblading (inline skating) group touring Tel Aviv every Tuesday night. Free. ask for details here: TelAvivRoller-TAR (Hebrew)
Nightlife
- Live Music: The music scene is not too bad, and there are certainly some shows (usually in certain bars/venues, like "The Sublime") that require neither an entrance fee nor a minimum. Most shows are not too expensive anyways.
- Bars: We all have our preferences for that, among them are Herzel St. area and Florentine (trendy little pub's in the south of Tel Aviv).
- Clubbing mega clubs in the new Tel Aviv Port
- Famous clubs like "Haoman 17" and the "TLV".
- Activities of all sorts, really, from contact jam classes to parties...
Restaurants
- You can find fast food fallafel and slightly slower humus places all over the city.
- Buddha Burgers is a vegan burger place, a bit pricey (for fastfood, not for a restaurant), but definitely worth it if you're vegan. All sorts of healthy foods and shakes. if its your first time, go for the "Buddha" burger.
- There's a cheap bakery on King George & Merkaz-Baalei-Mellacha st. junction. Its cheap, trans-fat oriented and cheap. Get a bag of your favorites and have it @ Gan Meir (Meir Garden) - just a few hundred meters away from there. Hardcore.
- add more
Hostels
CSers Recommendations:
Hayarkon 48 Very recommended[3]. They have shared boys & girls room, private rooms and only female shared rooms, lots of great traveler, 2 minutes from the seaside, in a very central area.
Useful information
Links to various Group Threads with personal recommendations from CSers. They are by no means exclusive or extensive.
