TRAVEL / January
TRAVEL / January
The port’s wooden decks are part of the Tel Aviv Promenade.
Explore Old Jaffa’s inspiring labyrinth of ancient alleyways.
Expect to see sterling, white examples of
the Bauhaus architecture style.
Tel Aviv is one of the dog-
friendliest places on Earth.
The beaches on the eastern shores of the
Mediterranean offer surfing all year round.
BEACHES: YEAR-ROUND SUN
If you’re looking for the social life of Tel Aviv, you can’t
do better than go to the beach, where every year around
8.5 million people gather to enjoy the nice weather. The
coastal strip between Herzliya and Bat Yam entices
everyone with its 13 official beaches, and each beach
has a unique feel and personality. There are countless
services on the beachfront, including lifeguard stations,
ice-cream parlours and kiosks, restaurants and bars,
playgrounds for children, and outdoor fitness and vol-
leyball facilities.
Beaches are great for spending an entire day with
friends and family without being bothered by souvenir
sellers. Sunbathe and try a traditional Israeli beach snack:
melon with feta cheese or banana-chocolate flavoured
popsicles. Don’t want to just sit around all the day in the
sand? Go surfing, play volleyball, or try matkot, Israel’s
national sport that’s similar to beach tennis. Locals be-
lieve that racquets are the sound of summer in Tel Aviv.
For those who enjoy reading, the beach libraries at
Jerusalem Beach, Gordon Beach, Metzitzim Beach, and
HaTsuk Beach North are worth checking out. These
libraries let tourists and beachgoers read books for free
while they sunbathe.
HaTsuk Beach is the only beach with an entrance fee.
Away from the noise of the bustling city, it has a well-
kept and clean beach area, lawns, walking paths, and an
outdoor gym.
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Hilton Beach, named after the nearby hotel, is split
into three areas. The dog beach is popular among
singles and families with dogs. The city’s most gay-
friendly beach is in the middle section, and surfers
hang out at the southern end of Hilton Beach. This
is a great training camp for beginners who want to
learn surfing and windsurfing. Recently, special light-
ing was installed for nighttime surfing.
North of the dog beach is a segregated beach
for religious people. On Sundays, Tuesdays, and
Thursdays, Nordau Beach is open only to women;
on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays it’s open only
to men. It’s open to everyone on Saturday, when ob-
servant Jews don’t go to the beach. There are fitness
facilities and playgrounds, but barbecues, parties,
and dogs are not allowed at Nordau Beach.
Gordon Beach is one of Tel Aviv’s most popular
and famous beaches. With many colourful umbrel-
las and chairs on display, the sandy shore is very
inviting. It’s also a great place for volleyball. When
it comes to fitness activities, this beach even offers
Pilates classes.
To get a view of the city, walk the whole length
of Tel Aviv Promenade, known as the Tayelet in
Hebrew. The long promenade stretches along the
seashore from south to north and is full of walkers,
runners, and cyclists at all hours of the day. In fact,
it’s hard to find a local who doesn’t live a healthy
lifestyle and do sports. If you love running, plug in
your earphones and join the joggers! After your run,
pick one of the beaches, bars, or restaurants to relax
and watch the surfers having fun on the big waves.
HISTORY: JAFFA’S OLD CITY
Called Tel Aviv’s older sister, the city of Jaffa feels
completely different from the modern and vibrant
metropolis of Tel Aviv. Jaffa was established more
than 4000 years ago and has a rich history. It’s even
mentioned in the Bible as a disembarkation point
for pilgrims to the Holy Land.
The Container
Jaffa’s port is one of the oldest in the world and
for centuries was a strategic point in the eastern
Mediterranean until a new port was built near Tel
Aviv. Local fishermen continue the long-established
tradition of setting out to sea from Jaffa Port.
However, some things have changed over the years.
The ancient seaport, once conquered by Napoleon,
now offers a mix of new and old, a vibrant blend of
Middle Eastern flavours and Levantine and Eu-
ropean cultures. Although Jaffa is home to more
Arabs than Jews, here you’ll find diverse crowds of
people: merchants, craftsmen, chefs, wanderers,
traditional Jewish families, young and emerging
artists, gallery owners, and eager tourists all on the
same boardwalk.
The city offers a wide range of exciting historical,
cultural, and culinary attractions and experiences.
Jaffa Clock Tower, Jaffa Museum (Mifrats Shlomo 10),
and the many mosques, churches, and galleries are
just some of the sights worth seeing. Jaffa Flea Mar-
ket should also be on the list, with countless stands
selling antique furniture, handmade goods, and
vintage clothes.
The old warehouses in the port area have been
renovated and now house galleries, bookstores, and
coffee shops – it’s an area full of life and culture that
combines the traditional with a touch of modern,
urban style. Shops and restaurants run along the
entire length of the port, such as The Container
(Warehouse #2, Jaffa Port), a waterfront eatery that
features a hipster art space, refined cuisine, and
live music.
Jaffa is also a very artistic area with many
galleries along its charming streets. Gordon
Gallery (5 Hazerem Street) is one of Tel Aviv-Jaffa’s
top art spaces. Saga Gallery (4 Rabbi Pinhas
Street) also stands out among its peers and features
around 100 designers, both young and established.
Gallery Har-El (8 Elisabeth Bergner Street) is a
fine-art gallery with top Israeli artists on its list.
When you feel like escaping the crowds,
Midron Yaffo Park is a great spot with large
lawns, palm trees, and shaded areas. From here
you’ll have a terrific view of the sea, Jaffa, and Tel
Aviv’s coastline.
ARCHITECTURE: WHITE CITY
Most of Tel Aviv’s skyscrapers are built along the
Mediterranean coast. In the heart of the city,
though, the streets are dominated by buildings in
the Bauhaus and International styles. With a par-
ticularly large number of Bauhaus buildings, this
style has come to be recognised as the signature of
Tel Aviv.
In Bauhaus architecture, style plays a more im-
portant role than symmetry and beauty lies in sim-
plicity. Look for white walls that reflect the sunlight
(hence the White City, Tel Aviv’s nickname), hori-
zontal lines, flat roofs, construction on columns,
and balconies. Jews from Germany and Austria
brought this unique style of architecture to Israel
and constructed hundreds of beautiful properties
in Tel Aviv. They adapted some of the elements of
the Bauhaus style to the local climate. For example,
instead of large windows, architects designed build-
ings with long, narrow windows and balconies. The
first building built here in this style and on top of
pillars was Beit Engel (84 Rothschild Boulevard).
Baltic Outlook
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