Categories: Travel

Travel tips from the locals: Tel Aviv, Israel

Here you will cheer yourself up with the positive energy of the local sun and hospitable Israelis.

What time of year is the best for visiting Tel Aviv?

The best time in Tel Aviv is autumn, namely September and the first half of October. In these months, there is no longer an insufferable heat but the sea is still warm. However, it is important to take into account that during this period there is a series of Jewish holidays, when almost everything is closed and you can go nowhere but to the beach. Therefore, you should better check the calendar for this year before buying tickets and select the dates before or after the holidays.

What is the best way to go to the center of the city from the airport?

The simplest option is a taxi. In addition, you can use a train from the airport to the city. In Tel Aviv, there are four railway stations but all of them are far enough from the sea, so you have to get to the hotel by bus or again by taxi.

It is very important to know that you cannot take any public transport due to Shabbat in the second half of Friday and until Saturday evening. At this time, you will have only one option – go by taxi.

What is the best way to travel around the city?

Tel Aviv is a small city, which center can be easily reached on foot. Nevertheless, if you are not ready to walk for hours, you can rent a city bicycle. Their parking lots are located throughout the city. You can take the bicycle in one place and leave it in the other one.

In Tel Aviv, there is an excellent public transport. You can buy a ride card “Rav Kav” and travel around the city by bus. Another option is minibuses. They go along the central streets of the city (Allenby, Dizengoff, Ben Yehuda), besides they work on Shabbat.

What tourist places should be necessarily seen and visited?

A couple of days is quite enough to see all the main attractions of Tel Aviv. Of course, a visit to Jaffa is mandatory. This is the historic center of the city with the architecture of Ottoman period, with a magnificent flea market, where besides unique vintage findings, you can buy clothes and accessories from local designers.

Neve Tzedek is one of the most luxurious areas of Tel Aviv, where there are small boutiques of European and Israeli designers (Sarit Bar Zohar, Shlomit Ofir, MAYU), restaurants of famous chefs (Popina, Lulu Kitchen & Bar, Anita, Nanuchka, TYO) and where the wealthiest people of the city live.

Dizengoff Street is the heart of Tel Aviv. On the Dizengoff Square, you can see several buildings made in the Bauhaus style, which are added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Every tourist should also visit the central market of the city of Carmel. Here you will feel the whole flavor of the Middle East.

Some special tips.

Do not arrive on Friday or Saturday. In these days (Shabbat), almost everything is closed in the city and there is no public transport.

Always bargain in the market and with the taxi drivers. The most effective way to lower the price is to make an indignant face and start walking away. In most cases, you will be hailed and offered a lower price.

A couple of non-tourist restaurants and coffee houses.

A typical Israeli breakfast is shakshuka (fried eggs in tomato sauce). Good non-tourist places where you can try this dish: Bread Story, Shakshukia.

You can have lunch with hummus. It is a chickpea pasta with olive oil and tahini. The best places are Abu Hassan in Jaffa, Shlomo & Doron in Kerem HaTemanim.

In the evening, you can go to La Shuk (local and European cuisine), Old man & the sea (Arabic restaurant) or to the vegan restaurant Nanuchka.

Thanks to our friends from date a real ukrainian lady for providing this article.

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