Tel Aviv knows well how to win you over with just one visit. It is enough to have your list of everything to do in Tel Aviv well-noted and, as you tick off plans, you will feel yourself yielding to its spell. The result? Returning home with the certainty that you are completely hooked on Israel’s youngest city, the youngest because it was built barely 100 years ago on desert sand, along the coast and next to the port of Jaffa, to welcome Jewish immigrants fleeing Europe.
Tel Aviv, this is what you should know about its character
Perhaps because it’s almost a teenager, this city will charm you with the perfect dose of good vibes, spontaneity, and an overwhelming cultural, artistic, and leisure offering. Israel’s economic and financial heart has a Mediterranean character and a fun-loving spirit and that is evident in the number of things to do in Tel Aviv.
To make the experience even more powerful, when planning the itinerary, I recommend that you leave Tel Aviv for the end of your trip through Israel to be fully surprised by the contrast it offers compared to the rest of the cities. Tel Aviv knows it is fun and relaxed; it is aware of its uninhibited character.
Far from staying quiet, the rebellious sister of Jerusalem sheds any hint of religiosity and lives carefree in its own bubble; it enjoys its freedom, gets around by bike, practices surfing, is an urban art lover, and moves like a fish in water among wide avenues filled with skyscrapers and designer cafes.
Yes, the second largest city in Israel wants to make it clear that it is there to be enjoyed, felt, relaxed, or to get tired in its bubbling nightlife. Whatever you choose, there is so much to do in Tel Aviv that it will not disappoint you.
10 things to do in Tel Aviv
Some people decide to visit Tel Aviv as a day trip from Jerusalem and do so on Saturday, thinking there is nothing to do in the holy city on Shabbat. Don’t make that mistake and stay at least a couple of days because besides seeing and visiting, there is much to do. Take note.
Strolling through Jaffa
Before diving into the busy waves of Tel Aviv’s agenda, you can start with something relaxed and very interesting, such as discovering the old town of Jaffa, south of the city. Its three thousand years of history await you to show you how past and present can be good friends. Jaffa’s cobblestone streets, wrapped in an Arabic air between traditional and bohemian, invite you to get lost without haste.
Let yourself be surprised by the curious mix of art galleries, churches, and mosques in Jaffa. One of the most interesting museums is the Ilana Goor Museum where the artist who gives the museum its name, located in a historic 18th-century building facing the sea, exhibits an eclectic mix of art with works and sculptures by both herself and other artists.
The ideal way to end the day is at the charming port of Jaffa, one of the oldest in the world, from where you can watch the sunset with the Tel Aviv skyline as a backdrop. Also, take the opportunity to admire the Zodiac Fountain and the Statue of Faith in Abrasha Park.
Admiring Bauhaus Architecture
In 2003, Tel Aviv was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to the more than 4,000
Bauhaus architecture buildings built in the 1930s by Jewish architects who
fled Nazi Germany. This style is characterized by beautiful white buildings with horizontal lines and rounded corners and is the reason Tel Aviv is known as the White City.
- Book the Tel Aviv architecture tour to discover this area accompanied by a Spanish-speaking guide.
Complete the plan by stopping by the Liebling Haus building which, in 2019, to celebrate the first centenary of this architectural style, became the White City Center. Entering this museum means entering a space designed for exhibitions, talks, and workshops to highlight the heritage of the Bauhaus style.
Practical info for the White City Center: it is located at 29 Idelson Street. It opens Sunday to Thursday from 8 AM to 4 PM, Friday from 8 AM to 2 PM, and Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Admission is free.
Beaches for all tastes in Tel Aviv
Put on your swimsuit and head out to ride the waves of the Mediterranean Sea at some of Tel Aviv’s varied urban beaches. Is surfing not your thing? Well, try flying through the air with kitesurfing. Not that either? No problem, sit back and admire how others do it at Givat Aliya and Banana Beach. If you prefer to just sunbathe, take a dip, eat something, and enjoy Tel Aviv’s great beach atmosphere without leaving the center, your best options are Bograshov and Frishman beaches.
Families traveling to Tel Aviv with children should note the names of these beaches: Tel Baruch and Metzitzim, or even Tzuk. But if you are someone who likes to go to the beach to do sports, you are in luck because almost all are designed for you to work on your body, whether by skating, playing volleyball, running, or building muscle. At Charles Clore beach, for example, besides training, you can have a picnic with a barbecue included.
Discover why Tel Aviv is the LGTBI oasis of the Middle East
The second largest city in Israel is not only the country’s financial lung, but also the lung where a large part of the homosexual and LGTBI community of the Middle East comes to breathe deeply and without restrictions. Here gay tourism, if it can be labeled, is increasing, thanks to the offer of beaches like Hilton beach and bars and cafes like Shpagat (at Nahalat Binyamin, 43) and Albi (Hagdud Ha’Ivri ,8).
- Dates for Tel Aviv Pride 2022: parade June 17, 2022
- TLVFest 2022 dates: from October 27 to November 5, 2022
In summer, the madness arrives with the celebration of Tel Aviv Pride, which experiences its most epic day with the great Tel Aviv Pride parade that fills the city streets with color, fun, and party. And in autumn, the gay community from all over the world focuses on the city again because TLVFest, Tel Aviv’s international LGBTQ film festival is held, which has been exhibiting films for more than fifteen years (some cannot be seen in Israeli cinemas) and organizing talks and workshops with the intention of promoting tolerance and pluralism.
Cycling through Tel Aviv
A good way to explore the city is on two wheels: cheap, sustainable, easy, and fun. Tel Aviv is completely flat and has a good network of bike lanes covering about 100 kilometers. Get ready to pedal, for example, along the famous Rothschild Boulevard among skyscrapers, Bauhaus buildings and coffee, smoothie, and juice stalls where you can stop to recharge. Many Tel Aviv residents do it this way, so why not imitate them?
Look for the green Telo Fun bikes that are all over the city. You just have to download their app, register, and pay through it with a card to rent a bicycle. Calculate that it can cost you about €2 per hour. Note that they are also starting to have electric bikes now.
Dining in the dark in Tel Aviv
If you are looking for a different gastronomic experience, take note of this one because it is very special and will not leave you indifferent. The Black Out restaurant at the Nalaga’at Theater offers you the opportunity to discover how the senses are sharpened during a blind dinner served by people with visual impairment or who are blind. Go ready to savor food in a completely different way than you have until now and you will live an unforgettable night.
There are only 14 ‘dark’ restaurants in the whole world, in which they also work to promote awareness and help the labor inclusion of the blind community. The Black Out restaurant in Tel Aviv is one of them and the only one in all of Israel. If you are willing to let yourself go, book in advance because it is in high demand. Keep in mind that it only opens on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in two shifts, 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM. You can choose from two menus between about €36 and €53 depending on the shekel exchange rate.
Additionally, you can combine dinner with attending one of the shows at the Nalaga’at Theater where the restaurant is located and where the actors are deaf and blind people.
From market to market
If you are one of those who like to visit a market wherever they travel, then entering the Carmel Market, or Shuk HaCarmel in Hebrew, is one of the essential things to do in Tel Aviv. Head to HaCarmel street and spend some time browsing through its stalls of fresh food, spices, nuts, and even clothes and all kinds of goods. An explosion of smells, flavors, and colors awaits you in one of the most vibrant areas of the city. The best day to visit is Friday when it is at 100%, but it opens from Sunday to Friday from very early and closes at sunset.
Around the market there are many places to try Israeli gastronomy, both street food stalls, where you can eat a baraka (fried pastry) or try some hummus, and restaurants with a more gourmet touch. A good option to combine the visit to the market with trying local food is to take the gastronomic tour in Tel Aviv during which you will visit the Carmel market with a Spanish-speaking guide and also have various tastings.
- Book the gastronomic tour of Tel Aviv
Change the atmosphere completely at Sarona Market, an indoor market that focuses on a less traditional, more modern, international, and refined gastronomy. Here you can go from stall to stall and even try some dishes from prominent Israeli chefs who have chosen to have small branches in the market. Sarona Market is at number 3 Aluf Kalman Magen street. Also take note of another different market option, Levinsky Market.
Treat yourself to something sweet at Max Brenner
If you are a chocolate fan, take good note of this plan because it will be one of the things you enjoy most of all the things to do in Tel Aviv. Give yourself a moment of rest to recharge your batteries at the Max Brenner chocolate bar in the city. Have a cup of hot chocolate and choose from pralines, crepes, and all kinds of chocolate-based delicacies as an accompaniment.
I suggest you go to the one at number 45 on the famous Rothschild Boulevard, the city’s financial artery that begins in Neve Tzedek, the most bohemian and alternative neighborhood in Tel Aviv. Thus, before or after your sweet treat, you can do more sightseeing.
Be amazed by the street art
In recent years, Tel Aviv has experienced an explosion of street art that has given new life to walls and has attracted artists like Tal Shetach, Rami Meiri, with murals in the Nahalat Binyamin neighborhood, and they even say Banksy has left their signature here. To admire the most impressive graffiti, you’ll have to take a stroll through the neighborhoods of Florentine, Neve Tzedek, or even near the port of Jaffa.
- A good way to enjoy these works of art is to book the Graffiti tour of Tel Aviv with a Spanish guide.
The best example of the good health of street art in Tel Aviv are initiatives like the Pop Up Museum TLV where a group of young artists has transformed an old residential building into a giant work of art temporarily open in February 2022 thanks to a private initiative.
Go on an excursion
If you don’t feel like traveling independently through Israel, you can make the most of your stay in Tel Aviv by using it as a base to discover other tourist areas of the country on guided tours in Spanish:
- Excursion to Jerusalem
- Excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea
- Excursion to Bethlehem
- Excursion to Nazareth, Tiberias, and Galilee
Other things to do in Tel Aviv
- Find out why the nightlife of the city that never sleeps is so famous by going out to the trendy bars. Did you know there is a party tour in Tel Aviv?
- Have a drink, or a coffee, at the old train station now converted into Ha Tachana (Kaufmann Street), a very cool outdoor space to have a drink, eat, and even go shopping in very chic boutiques.
- Did you know that in Israel you can admire works by Dalí or Picasso? Visit the impressive building of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art opened in 2011 and located at 27 Sderot Shaul HaMelech.
- Be amazed by the impressive building of the Design Museum Holon with its gigantic steel plates.
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