Tel Aviv Facts

Tel Aviv isn't the only city in Israel that is on the Mediterranean Sea, but it's the hippest by far. At the northernmost point of Tel Aviv is the Namal, or the port. Aside from great restaurants and a very happening nightlife, the Namal is also home to a farmer's market on Fridays and arts and crafts fair on Saturdays. From here you can grab an iced coffee, a beer, a yogurt or a hummus plate and watch the waves, the boats, and the people. You can also get involved in any number of activities, or shop at many of the stores exclusive to the Namal.


At the southern end of Tel Aviv, is Jaffa, an ancient port town. Though Tel Aviv boasts 100 years as a city, Jaffa's history goes back over 2000 years. The city is mentioned in Egyptian sources and there are many legends which state that Jaffa is named for one of Noah's sons, Japheth, who supposedly built the city up after the great flood. There are other legends of how the city came to be, how it was named and they all pre-date 0 CE. The official name of Tel Aviv is Tel Aviv-Jaffa, but not for this reason alone should travelers visit the gorgeous city of Jaffa. Every area of Tel Aviv has a different feel. The Northern end is known for being a little ritzier, a little fancier, while Southern Tel Aviv boasts a working population. Neve Tzedek is an older section of the city, maintained and beautiful. Each place has it's special features, it's distinctive qualities.  If you're looking to get around Tel Aviv, I recommend traversing by bus or by foot. Traveling by car can be a daunting task for non-Israeli drivers, and the streets don't often go the way they are expected. There are many one-ways and curving streets that will lead you down unexpected, however delightful, paths. Purchasing a street map of Tel Aviv is your best bet, in English and Hebrew, although all the street signs in are English, Hebrew and Arabic. Also, people are very friendly here and willing to help lost travelers find their way. Use the sea as a reference point and remember, it's in the west!


If you're looking for a gorgeous place to walk, jog, run, skate or cycle, the Tayalet is one of the best ways to see the coastline of the sea and Tel Aviv passing by on the east. It is a path that runs from Jaffa to Tel Aviv's old harbor. Hayarkon is the road that runs parallel to the beach and the luxury hotels all line the coast as well. One street up from Hayarkon is Ben Yehuda, a great destination for shopping and eating. Follow the road south, and it turns into Allenby. Here one can find the Carmel Market, or the shuk as natives refer to it. Cheap shirts printed shirts like "Don't Worry America, Israel is Behind You" and Coca-Cola shirts written in Hebrew can be find in the shuk, along with trinkets, jewelry, fruit, nuts, spices and other items you might find at a flea market, all new. On Tuesdays and Fridays, head one street south of the Shuk to Nahalt Binyamin and you will find a crafts fair. Local artisans create beautiful jewelry, home decor, games, purses, frames, mirrors, hamsas, menorahs, and other items you may want to buy as a collectible, rather than a souvenir. Near to Allenby is Sheinkin Street, a place where  you can people watch and be people watched. Another important street all visitors to Tel Aviv must know and visit is Dizengoff Road. It's a few streets east of Ben Yehuda, though at the north end, they intersect. At the other end is Dizengoff Center, a standard shopping mall unremarkable in all respects. But in between are designer clothing stores, singular food experiences, antique shops, book stores, and at least 20 places to buy shoes. If you get hot or thirsty, there are a number of cafes with inside and outside seating providing momentary respite from shopping, but keeping you involved in the hustle and bustle of Dizengoff Street.


Continue walking east from the beach and you will encounter Ibn Gvirol Street. Here you can find almost any bus in either direction. There are also many shops, cafes and another shopping center, all of which boast equally interesting fare at a lower price simply because it's not from Dizengoff. Also on the street is Kikar Rabin(Rabin Square), and the memorial to the late Prime Minister.


Amongst the variant neighborhoods of Tel Aviv are Kikar Medina, and Basel Square, both a little fancier and more quaint, both located in Central Tel Aviv.


Neve Tzedek is one of the oldest sections of Tel Aviv, but is very valuable real estate. One of the top rated restaurant in Tel Aviv is in Neve Tzedek, Angie's, and has been designated as having the best filet mignon in all of Israel.


Florentine is for furniture, but more than that, it's a neighborhood in south of the Tel Aviv that can be explored by walking down Herzl Street. Tel Aviv's younger population lives in Florentine, and those who don't live there, often go there to party. Florentine has the distinction of being able to boast about wild parties on Yom Hatzmaut and other holiday and party events.


The city of Tel Aviv is as diverse in people as it is in activities and events. As the capital and the largest city in Israel, you can find many different types of people, Israeli and immigrant, Jewish and Arab, rich and poor, cultural and athletic, young and old. Hebrew, Arabic and English are spoken here, but so are Russian, French, Thai, Spanish,Tagalog and Amharic. Like any city, it has it's downfalls. But unlike most other cities in the world, Tel Aviv continues to grow in it's excitement and allure to the traveling public. When you're booking your next international flight, think of Tel Aviv and all it has to offer.

1. A surprising fact: Tel Aviv has only half the population of Jerusalem-- Approx. 400,000 to Jerusalem's 796,000.

2. Cool fact: In 2003 Tel Aviv was designated a White City by UNESCO in recognition of the multitude of Bauhaus-style (generally white) buildings designed by German Jewish architects who immigrated to Israel in the 1920s and 30s.

3. Interesting fact: Tel Aviv celebrated its centennial in 2009.  The city was founded in 1909 by a tiny group of Jews who had been living in nearby Jaffa.

4. Random fact: It takes a little less than an hour to drive between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (43 miles) Another interesting fact: The Jewish state came into being in Tel aviv on May 14, 1948 when David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence at the home of Mayor Dizengoff. Today the house is a museum.

5. Fun fact: Tel Aviv boasts ten beaches along the length of its seafront.

6. Weird fact: The Nordau Beach has separate days for men and women. It caters to the ultra-orthodox and women who don't feel comfortable on a beach with men. The beach is surrounded by a wall  and is open for women on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday while men rule the roost on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

7. It's a fact that Tel Aviv boasts more than 25 miles of bike paths--generally a quicker way of getting around than by car where you'll find yourself sitting in traffic during most hours of the day.

8. Another random fact: Tel Aviv's climate could almost be interchangeable with Miami. Heat and humidity rule for most of the year and winters are mild.

9. It's a fun fact that 18 out of Israel's 35 performing arts centers are located in Tel Aviv.

10. A random fact about Tel Aviv's emblem.  It was designed by artist Nahum Guttman in the 1950s and features 7 stars to represent the 7-hour working day that Zionist thinker Theodor Herzl held to be the ideal work day...

11. Another fun fact: Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel's cafe culture.  Many of the cafes founded before Israel became a state in 1948 are still popular today.

12. A random fact: calling someone a "tzfoni" in Hebrew ("northy") is shorthand for saying the person is a materialistic snob. North Tel Aviv is where the bourgeoisie hang out.