Tel Aviv Museum of Art
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art has hosted the country's leading
exhibition of modern art since its inception in 1932. It also has
one of the best collections of Israeli art in the world. Art lovers
will enjoy the museum's permanent collection of European and
American art, which features prominent Impressionist and
Post-Impressionist paintings by Chagall, Dali, Cezanne, Vincent van
Gogh, Jackson Pollock, and Monet, among others. Regarding the scope
of its inventory, the museum showcases many mediums, including
paint, sculpture, print, photography, film, design and
architecture.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
TijsB
Eretz Israel Museum (The Land of Israel Museum)
The Eretz Israel Museum's unique layout and character make it
more like a park than a standalone establishment. It is clustered
around the ancient mound of the Tel Kasile, where ongoing
archaeological excavations are in progress. The museum consists of
various pavilions, each displaying different cultural artefacts and
collections. Visitors can purchase a map to help them navigate
through this fascinating campus, which covers 3,000 years of
history, culture and art relating to Israel. The permanent exhibits
include displays on ethnography and folklore, ceramics, copper,
coins, crafts, agriculture, domestic life, and many aspects of
social and political history.
Eretz Israel Museum
Yair Talmor
Museum of the Jewish Diaspora (Beit Hatfutsot)
The museum conveys the Jewish people's story, beginning with
their expulsion from Israel at Roman hands, and leading to their
return. Multi-storey displays and exhibitions show a diverse range
of Jewish communities, and the common cultural and religious links
that have bound them. Visitors can engage with murals,
reconstructions, dioramas, audio-visual displays, documentary films
and interactive multimedia, and the Jewish Music Centre has
thousands of recordings of Jewish music. Visitors will find
traditional fare, music of communities that didn't survive the
Holocaust, as well as works by Jewish composers.
Museum of Jewish Diaspora
Sodabottle
Carmel Market
The Carmel Market (Shuk Ha'Carmel) will enthral all visitors to
Tel Aviv with its bustling atmosphere and fine selection of goods
and produce. It's located on the 'trendy side' of town (just off
Allenby Street), and is essentially a long alley, jam-packed with
shoppers and vendors loudly advertising their wares. Although
shoppers can buy almost anything at the Carmel Market and usually
at better prices than elsewhere in the city, the real attraction is
its mouth-watering array of fresh produce. Visitors can shop for
the freshest fruit and vegetables, cheeses and baked goods, while
soaking up the typically Middle Eastern market atmosphere.
Carmel Market
JRodSilva
Beaches
Tel Aviv is blessed with almost year-round sunny weather and
warm sea temperatures. Its coastline is divided into about ten
beaches, all of which have their own appeal. Hilton Beach is best
for swimming, while Gordon Beach is popular with tourists and has
some good bars and cafes. Backpackers and bohemian types tend to
enjoy Drum Beach (where there are frequent evening drumming
sessions), and gay travellers will feel especially at home at
Atzmaut Beach. Hilton Beach South has some terrific waves for
surfers; Givat Aliya Beach's calm waters, shallow ocean pool and
children's playground make it a great stop for kids.
A Tel Aviv beach
Chris Yunker
Tel Aviv's climate is dry-summer, subtropical, with hot summers
and mild winters. Although it is close to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv has
quite a different climate, as it's not as highly elevated, making
it hotter and more humid. The average summer temperature in Tel
Aviv is 77°F (25°C), and the average winter temperature is 57°F
(14°C).
November to April is the wet season, and humidity tends to be
high year round. In winter rainfall comes in the form of heavy
showers and thunderstorms; snow is extremely rare in Tel Aviv.
Although summer is the hottest season, Tel Aviv can experience
severe heat waves in spring. The city gets plenty of sun, even in
winter. July and August are the busiest tourist months in Tel Aviv.
October is when Israelis tend to take vacations, so at this time
prices will also go up and finding accommodation may be more
difficult. The best time to visit Tel Aviv is in March and April or
September.
Ben-Gurion International Airport
Location: The airport is situated 16 miles (26km) southeast of Tel
Aviv, and 37 miles (59km) northwest of Jerusalem.
Time: GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the end of March to the end of
October)
Transfer Between Terminals:
A free shuttle service operates between the two terminals at
15-minute intervals.
Getting to the city:
Trains are the best option for getting into Tel Aviv; they're
clean, fast and cheap. Trains run from Level S of Terminal 3 to Tel
Aviv Savidor Station and a trip into town takes around 20 minutes.
Passengers arriving after midnight will have to wait until 3am for
the first train of the day. Buses run from the nearby Airport City
rather than the airport itself. Passengers can take the free Egged
5 Shuttle from the second floor of arrivals to Airport City.
Car Rental:
Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Eldan, Hertz and Sixt have
facilities at the airport.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis usually wait outside the arrivals hall. The trip into town
is 16 miles (26km). There is an added fare surcharge at night, on
Jewish holidays and the Sabbath.
Facilities:
Airport facilities include currency exchange, ATMs,
banks, a post office, luggage storage, business facilities and VIP
lounges, information desks, two synagogues, medical clinics, a
police station, a VAT refund desk, special-needs-assistance
services, a playroom and a mother-and-child room. There are also
myriad shopping and dining options.
Parking
The area directly in front of the terminals is reserved for
pick-up and drop-offs only. Short-term parking is available in the
parking lot in front of Terminal 3. Rates for short-stay parking
start at ILS 18 for the first hour, and go up by ILS 4 every
fifteen minutes thereafter. The maximum daily rate is ILS 90.
Long-term parking is available opposite Terminal 3. A shuttle bus
runs from this parking lot to the terminal at 15-minute intervals.
Long-stay rates are ILS 80 per day.
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Tel Aviv is the irrepressible social hub of Israel and has a
great selection of bars, clubs and pubs with enough loud music,
dancing and merriment to keep any party person happy. The saying in
Israel goes 'Haifa works, Jerusalem prays, Tel Aviv plays', and
this should give visitors some idea of what they're in for.
During the summer months, many visitors kick things off with
sundowners at one of the many beach bars, such as the popular
Jerusalem Beach or Banana Beach. The nightlife in Tel Aviv doesn't
usually get going until around 11pm, so it's best to ease into the
swing of things by going out for dinner before hitting the bars and
clubs. Even on Friday nights during Shabbat, the locals go wild,
while Thursday nights are another big night out in Tel Aviv.
Clubs and bars are constantly changing, but the main areas stay
the same. Allenby Street is a good place to start, with more than
20 clubs centred round the small area, offering house, disco, funk
and techno music. The Tel Aviv port and Rotschild Blvd areas are
popular too; while those looking for a gay scene should head to the
trendy Florentin district.
Visitors should expect traffic jams at 2am, as this city never
sleeps and is capable of keeping them up way past dawn.
The easiest way to get around Tel Aviv is on foot or by taxi.
Taxi mini-buses (sheruts) follow the same routes as the public
buses, often with more frequency, and are slightly cheaper on
weekdays. The bus system itself is extensive with a fixed fare in
the city centre. Taxicabs are not of any particular make or model
car, but do have rooftop signs and are plentiful. Fares are metered
and more expensive at night. Ride sharing for a fee is illegal in
Israel. Uber does operate in the country but only as a service for
ordering taxis. Gett, Raxi and Yango provide the same type of
service.
Tel Aviv is known for its lovely Mediterranean beaches, hip
nightlife and colourful markets. The city does have an impressive
arts and culture scene too and some of the most rewarding and
popular attractions in Tel Aviv are museums. Using Tel Aviv as a
base, visitors also have some wonderful destinations on their
doorstep. The gorgeous holiday resort of Eilat on the Red Sea is
great for scuba diving and snorkelling. The ancient port city of
Jaffa, and the magical Underwater Observatory Marine Park are also
worthwhile.
Museum lovers are unlikely to run out of things to see and do in
Tel Aviv. Three of the city's best museums are the Tel Aviv Museum
of Art, an absolute must-see for art fanatics, the Museum of the
Jewish Diaspora (Beit Hatfutsot), which tracks the history of the
Jewish people all over the world, and the Eretz Israel Museum,
which is a kind of exhibition park with several different pavilions
housing their own distinct collections. Theatre lovers should
attend a show at the Nalagaat Centre, which is renowned for its
performances and atmosphere.
For those keen to enjoy sun and sea, Tel Aviv's beaches won't
disappoint. Some favourites with tourists are Hilton Beach and
Gordon Beach. For those travelling in Tel Aviv with kids, Givat
Aliya Beach is wonderful. The old Tel Aviv port area is becoming
increasingly popular with tourists, combining the industry of the
harbour with cultural attractions and some good bars and
restaurants.
Jaffa
The historical port city of Jaffa is within walking distance of
Tel Aviv. Its inhabitants have included notable biblical figures,
and its name is said to come from Japhet, who was Noah's son.
Archaeological finds show that Jaffa existed as a port city
thousands of years ago, serving both Egyptian and Phoenician
sailors on their sea voyages. The Ottoman Clock Tower is a
prominent landmark and meeting point, and marks the Old Town's
entrance, but the area's main draw is its ancient and magical
atmosphere.
![Ottoman Clock Tower]()
Ottoman Clock Tower
Ian McKellar
Eilat
Eilat is a popular holiday resort located at the northern tip of
the Red Sea, where temperatures seldom drop below a wonderfully
warm 70°F (21°C). Many travellers visit Eilat to enjoy fantastic
diving and snorkelling opportunities in the Red Sea: one of the
world's most magnificent marine preserves. Brightly coloured coral
fish, moray eels and even manta rays can be seen, while landlubbers
will enjoy lazing on the beautiful beach and splashing in the
shallows. Swimming with bottlenose dolphins in their natural
environment is one of the resort's more popular activities.
![Eilat]()
Eilat
Prince Roy
The Underwater Observatory Marine Park
The Underwater Observatory Marine Park lies just south of Eilat
and is conveniently close to Tel Aviv. Visitors can view a
fantastic range marine life in its gigantic, seawater aquarium.
Animals such as eels, sharks, turtles and stingrays are part of the
population, while the rare-fish aquarium is home to some exquisite
(and poisonous) species. The Red Sea is renowned for its colourful
reefs and rich marine life, and the Marine Park's unique Underwater
Observatories allow visitors to really immerse themselves in this
underwater world. Visitors can also look forward to daily feedings,
with shark feedings typically drawing the most attention.
![The Underwater Observatory Marine
Park]()
The Underwater Observatory Marine
Park
Israel Tourism
Tel Aviv Museum of Art
TijsB
Eretz Israel Museum
Yair Talmor
Museum of Jewish Diaspora
Sodabottle
Carmel Market
JRodSilva
A Tel Aviv beach
Chris Yunker
Ottoman Clock Tower
Ian McKellar
Eilat
Prince Roy
The Underwater Observatory Marine
Park
Israel Tourism
