Things to Visit in Tel Aviv: Beaches, Bauhaus, and Nightlife
Experience the best of Tel Aviv from its Mediterranean beaches and UNESCO-listed Bauhaus architecture to world-class nightlife and vibrant food markets. Covers beaches, culture, neighborhoods, food, and nightlife.
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Beaches and Waterfront
Swim at Gordon Beach in central Tel Aviv
The most popular beach with a swimming pool, volleyball courts, and a vibrant atmosphere. The promenade behind the beach has cafes and bike rental stations. Free entry. Lifeguards are on duty from 7 AM to 5 PM during summer. Friday afternoon before Shabbat is the peak social scene.
Walk the Jaffa Port waterfront to Old Jaffa
The 5-km promenade from central Tel Aviv south to ancient Jaffa is one of the great urban walks in the Mediterranean. The path passes through different beach personalities before ending at the historic port. Allow 1.5-2 hours walking or 30 minutes by rental bike.
Surf at Hilton Beach
The break near the Hilton hotel is the most popular surf spot in the city. Board and wetsuit rentals cost 100-150 ILS for 2 hours from beach shacks. The waves are gentle enough for beginners. Surfing lessons cost 200-300 ILS for a 90-minute session.
Watch sunset from Alma Beach in Jaffa
The southernmost city beach, near the Jaffa flea market, has a quieter, more local atmosphere than the central beaches. The sea wall is perfect for sunset watching. Several restaurants on the cliff above serve cocktails with sea views.
Architecture and Culture
Tour the UNESCO White City Bauhaus architecture
Tel Aviv has the largest collection of Bauhaus and International Style buildings in the world, with over 4,000 structures built in the 1930s-40s. The Bauhaus Center on Dizengoff Street offers guided walking tours for 80 ILS. Rothschild Boulevard and the streets around Dizengoff Square have the finest examples.
Explore ancient Jaffa old town
One of the oldest port cities in the world, with narrow stone alleys, artist galleries, and views across the Mediterranean. The flea market at the entrance sells vintage furniture, clothing, and antiques. The Clock Tower Square connects old Jaffa to the modern city. Free to walk and explore.
Visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Israel's leading art museum has strong collections of Israeli art, Impressionism, and contemporary work. The Herta and Paul Amir Building by Preston Scott Cohen has a striking geometric interior. Entry is 50 ILS. Allow 2-3 hours for the permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Walk down Rothschild Boulevard
This tree-lined boulevard is where Israel's independence was declared in 1936 at what is now Independence Hall. The street is lined with Bauhaus buildings, cafes, and a central pedestrian path with public art installations. The kiosks along the boulevard serve excellent espresso for 12-15 ILS.
Food and Markets
Eat at Carmel Market
Tel Aviv's largest open-air market has fruit stalls, spice shops, fresh juice bars, and food vendors selling everything from burekas to shawarma. The market is busiest and best on Friday mornings before Shabbat. The surrounding streets have some of the city's best small restaurants. Most items cost 10-30 ILS.
Try sabich, Tel Aviv's signature sandwich
Fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini, and salad stuffed in pita bread. This Iraqi-Jewish dish has become a Tel Aviv staple and costs 25-40 ILS. The best sabich shops are near the Carmel Market and in the Florentin neighborhood.
Eat shakshuka for breakfast
Eggs poached in a spiced tomato sauce served in a sizzling skillet with bread for dipping. This is the definitive Israeli breakfast and nearly every cafe serves it for 40-60 ILS. The version with feta cheese is particularly popular. Weekend brunch culture is a Tel Aviv institution.
Visit the Sarona Market food hall
This indoor food market in a restored German Templar Colony has over 90 shops selling artisan cheese, wine, sushi, pasta, and local specialties. It is more curated and upscale than Carmel Market. Open daily including Shabbat. Main courses at the sit-down restaurants cost 50-90 ILS.
Drink craft cocktails in Florentin
This formerly industrial neighborhood south of the Carmel Market is Tel Aviv's hipster hub with street art murals, speakeasy-style cocktail bars, and live music venues. Cocktails cost 45-65 ILS. The bar scene heats up after 10 PM on Thursday and Saturday nights.
Neighborhoods
Explore Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood outside Jaffa
Founded in 1887, this is Tel Aviv's oldest Jewish neighborhood and now its most charming, with restored Ottoman-era houses, boutique hotels, design shops, and sidewalk cafes. Shabazi Street is the main artery. The Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre hosts performances in a beautiful courtyard.
Browse the galleries in Florentin
Street art covers the walls of this neighborhood's industrial buildings and residential blocks. Independent galleries, printmaking studios, and artist workshops occupy the ground floors. The area south of the Levinsky Market and east of the flea market has the densest concentration of art.
Stroll through the Kerem HaTeimanim neighborhood
This Yemenite Jewish quarter near the Carmel Market has a village feel with low stone buildings, narrow lanes, and authentic Yemenite restaurants serving malawach flatbread and zhug hot sauce. It is one of the oldest and most atmospheric neighborhoods, largely untouched by modern development.
Nightlife
Experience the bar scene on Dizengoff Street
The northern stretch of Dizengoff has become Tel Aviv's main bar strip with cocktail bars, wine bars, and live music venues in the ground floors of Bauhaus buildings. Things start late in Tel Aviv, with bars filling up after 10 PM. Thursday and Saturday are the busiest nights.
Dance at a club until sunrise
Tel Aviv's club scene rivals Berlin's, with DJs spinning until 6-7 AM. Clubs in the industrial area south of Jaffa and around the old port host international and local acts. Cover charges range from free to 100 ILS. The scene peaks from midnight to 4 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Attend a rooftop bar overlooking the Mediterranean
Several hotels along the beachfront have rooftop bars with panoramic sea and city views. Cocktails cost 50-70 ILS. The sunset hour is the most popular time. Some require reservations on weekends. The Hotel Montefiore bar on Montefiore Street is a local favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Tel Aviv?
Three to five days covers the beaches, Jaffa, markets, neighborhoods, and nightlife. Spend one day on the beach and waterfront promenade, one day exploring Jaffa and the markets, one day on Bauhaus tours and museums, and extra days for deeper neighborhood exploration, day trips to Jerusalem, or more beach time. Two days covers the highlights at a fast pace.
What is the best time to visit Tel Aviv?
April through June and September through November offer warm beach weather around 25-30 degrees Celsius without the extreme summer heat. July and August are very hot and humid at 30-35 degrees Celsius but the beach and nightlife scene is at its peak. Winter from December through February is mild at 14-18 degrees Celsius with occasional rain but fewer tourists and lower prices.
Is Tel Aviv expensive?
Tel Aviv is one of the more expensive cities in the Middle East. Restaurant meals cost 50-100 ILS for mains, craft cocktails 45-65 ILS, and mid-range hotels 400-800 ILS per night. Budget travelers can eat well at markets and street food stalls for 25-50 ILS per meal. The beaches are free and walking or cycling covers most of the city, helping keep transport costs low.
How do you get between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem?
The high-speed train connects Tel Aviv HaHagana station to Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station in about 30 minutes, with trains running every 20-30 minutes. Tickets cost about 24 ILS one way. Buses are slightly cheaper and take about 1 hour. Service stops on Shabbat from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening, so plan around this if visiting both cities.