Tel Aviv - Explore the Nonstop City

Tel Aviv is easily accessible to people across Europe for a short city break or weekend get-away. You could choose to go to another European city but being able to hop over to the Middle East for the weekend is even more special! On a city break in Tel Aviv you can choose to relax and pamper yourself go sightseeing party all night shop til’ you drop or take part in outdoor activities and extreme sports. 

A lifeguard tower on Tel Aviv's Beach. Photo by Guy Tsror on Unsplash

Tel Aviv is nicknamed the “Big Orange” because the city never sleeps like the Big Apple and it is called the “White City” for its UNESCO-listed Bauhaus architecture. Tel Aviv truly has it all as a city break destination. After a short flight, you’ll arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, a 30-minute ride from Tel Aviv. Settle into your hotel and start to unwind. There are hotels to suit all budgets from historic boutique hotels to simple hostels.

Relax and Pamper Yourself on a Tel Aviv City Break

For starters there are the stunning Tel Aviv beaches just minutes from the city center you’ll find an attractive promenade running the length of the 13 sandy beaches and the Mediterranean beyond. The beachfront is lined with top restaurants, pubs, and hotels. If you want to indulge and pamper yourself Tel Aviv has many excellent spas. You could even go further afield and visit one of Israel’s hot springs at Ga’ash, Hamat Gader, Hamei Yoav, Tiberias, or the Dead Sea. At the Dead Sea, you can get unique spa treatments that use the natural minerals and salts found in the Dead Sea water and mud. 

Tel Aviv City Breaks for Foodies

Foodies will be spoilt for choice in Tel Aviv; there are many top chef restaurants serving world-class cuisine. Many of the best restaurants have brilliant sea views while others are in the heart of the city. Visit the farmers’ market at Tel Aviv’s old port; the fresh produce market and small hole-in-the-wall restaurants at Carmel Market; Levinsky spice market and the gourmet market at the Sarona Center. Don’t leave without sampling the Tel Aviv street food and enjoying a good pita stuffed with falafel and hummus.

Exhibition at Tel Aviv Old Port. Photo credit: © Dmitry Mishin

Having Fun on a Tel Aviv City Break

Tel Aviv is home to a great amusement park with thrilling rides for the whole family. There are numerous parks, like Yarkon Park, a safari park, and a bird safari. You could chill out at one of the cinema complexes or rent a bike and explore the city. Other places of entertainment in Tel Aviv include Escape Rooms, trampoline centers, playgrounds, climbing walls, and much more.

Nightlife on a Tel Aviv City Break

Tel Aviv truly is the city that never sleeps; nightclubs and bars only really come to life after 11 pm and they continue buzzing until the early hours of the morning. You won’t have to look far to find places of entertainment after dark. Visit underground clubs near Rothschild Blvd. hipster bars in the historic Neve Tzedek neighborhood; arty clubs around HaHashmal Street and the bohemian hang-outs of Florentin. If you’re not into night clubs Tel Aviv has wine bars, ballet, opera, concerts, and theatre.

Shopping in Tel Aviv

Your shopping choices in Tel Aviv are numerous and diverse. You could stick to the traditional markets like Carmel Market or the flea market in Jaffa. Visit Nahalat Binyamin market for hand-made arts and crafts. Visit the upmarket fashion stores at Kikar HaMedina or travel to one of the large malls like Azrieli Tower. In Tel Aviv, you can find everything from traditional items and locally made goods to international name brands.

Tel Aviv Gay Pride, 2018. Photo credit: © Dmitry Mishin

Outdoor Activities on a Tel Aviv City Break

In Tel Aviv you can rent a bicycle and use the many cycle paths; go rowing in the Yarkon River, do water sports at the beach, join locals on a morning jog try yoga at Tel Aviv Port at sundown visit a local gym, or take a trip out to the countryside for bird-watching. Tel Aviv locals love exercising outdoors and the parks and beachfront are always full of dedicated fitness enthusiasts.

Sightseeing in Tel Aviv on a City Break

Tel Aviv has excellent museums including the Museum of Art, Design Museum Holon, Bauhaus Museum, Museum of the Jewish People, and the Eretz Israel Museum. There are historic landmarks including the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed on Rothschild Blvd. and the houses of famous artists and political figures.

Don’t miss Jaffa, now a joint municipality with Tel Aviv this ancient port city has narrow lanes flanked by stone houses leading down to the water’s edge, excellent restaurants, markets, art galleries, and museums. Also visit Sarona, a restored German Templer settlement, and the American-German Colony neighborhood.

Seeing the Rest of Israel on a Tel Aviv City Break

There are plenty of tours in Israel from Tel Aviv that take you to locations across the country including Jerusalem, the Galilee, Golan Heights, Dead Sea, and more. This way you can see more of the county without having to bother with logistics and transportation issues. The day tours include a complimentary pick-up from Tel Aviv and return you at the end of the day. All you have to do is choose your destination and book the tour, the rest is taken care of for you.

An old house in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. Photo credit: © Dmitry Mishin