scubish.com: Travel information for Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv (Hebrew: תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, Arabic: تَلْ أَبِيبْ يَافَا) is the second largest city in Israel. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, about 60 km north-west of Jerusalem and some 100 km south of Haifa. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo (תל אביב-יפו), and reflects the fact that the city has grown beside (and absorbed) the ancient port city of Yafo (English: Jaffa, Arabic: يافا Yafa), to the south of the new city centre, in addition to many other neighbouring cities.

Districts

Yafo — (Jaffa in English, Yaffa in Arabic) is one of the world's oldest ports. It was here that the prophet Jonah started the journey that left him in the belly of a whale and Andromeda was tied to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster, before later being saved by Perseus. It was also here where Peter the Apostle received a vision marking a significant ideological split between Judaism and Christianity (Acts 10).

Neve Tzedek — the first neighborhood outside the walls of old Jaffa which is now a picturesque artists quarter and the location of the Suzanne Dellal Dance center.

Kerem Ha'Temanim — a densely populated neighborhood, older than Tel Aviv itself which was originally built by Jewish immigrants from Yemen. It is now situated right next to the Carmel Market.

HaYarqon Street — a long street running alongside the coast, home to some of the leading hotels in the city, as well as the American and British embassies. Parallel to it is Ben-Yehuda street, famous for some of the best ice-cream parlors in Israel.

Central ("Merkaz") Tel Aviv — the center of the city with many restaurants, cafe's, shops and small parks. Central Tel Aviv is the financial and cultural center of Israel. This part of the city is bordered by the Yarqon river to the north; the Central Bus Station and Florentine to the South; the Ayalon Highway to the east, and the sea to the west.

Hatikva — another Yemenite quarter located in the South with lively shish kebab restaurants. Hatikva is home to the singer Ofra Haza and in the last decade, has become home to many immigrant workers from the around the world, as well as into the area of the Central Bus Station. The largest immigrant communities are from China, The Philippines and West African nations.

Florentin — said to be the Lower East side of Tel Aviv, a mishmash of small industries and garages with hip and trendy stores, home to young families.

Ramat Aviv — an upscale northern neighborhood, north of the Yarqon river, where the Tel Aviv University, Diaspora Museum, and Haaretz Museums are located.

Understand

The smallish gulf of Jaffa has been the site of a fortified port town for at least 4000 years. During the 19th century the town’s population grew from about 2,500 (1806) to 17,000 (1886). The old city walls could no longer contain the population, and they were destroyed in the 1870s. New, more spacious neighborhoods started to appear.

Tel Aviv itself was founded in 1909 by a group of distinguished Jewish residents of Jaffa. They envisaged a European-style garden suburb, with wide streets and boulevards. Leaving Jaffa wasn’t, however, only a question of an upgrade in lifestyle. Moving out of the Arab-dominated town also represented their belief in the Jewish national movement, their belief in Zionism. In fact, the name Tel Aviv refers exactly to that: "Tel" is Hebrew for an artificial hill made of layers of settlements destroyed by wars and disasters; it implies old, often ruined. "Aviv" is Hebrew for spring, so while the name roughly translates as "Hill of Spring", it actually refers to the meeting of old and new, and the revival of Jewish national life.

The rise of the Zionist movement was accompanied by growing tensions between the Arab and Jewish communities within the country. In May 1921, dozens of Jews were killed by an Arab mob in Jaffa and soon after that, thousands of the 16,000 Jews of Jaffa moved north to Tel Aviv. The suburb had become a city and within a decade, Tel Aviv had become the center of culture, commerce and light industry for the entire Jewish population of the country. 1938 marked the opening of Tel Aviv port, an important milestone marking the end of its dependency on Jaffa. By this time, Tel Aviv was already the biggest city in the country, with 130,000 residents. After Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, Jaffa became a district of Tel Aviv and the city's name was officially changed to Tel Aviv-Yafo.

Today, Tel Aviv-Yafo represents the heart of a thriving, small-scale Israeli metropolis - the greater metropolitan area comprises a number of separate municipalities with approximately 1.1 million people living in a 15 km long sprawl along the Mediterranean coast - with around 360,400 in Tel Aviv-Yafo itself making it the second largest city in Israel after Jerusalem. Bat Yam, Holon, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Bnei-Brak, Petah Tikva, Rishon LeZion, Ramat Ha-Sharon and Herzliya are the other major cities in the coastal area commonly known as Gush Dan.

Whilst Jerusalem is Israel's capital city where most government departments are located, Tel Aviv and its satellite cities form the economic and cultural center. It is known as "the city that doesn't stop" and indeed you will find that the nightlife and culture are on around the clock. In summer it is not unusual to see the beach boardwalk bustling with people at 4am and the clubs and bars usually pick up around midnight until morning, giving Tel Aviv a well deserved reputation of being a party town. It is the pinnacle of secular life in Israel.

In July 2003 Tel Aviv-Yafo was declared a cultural UNESCO World Heritage site for the many "International" style (also known as Bauhaus after the German school it originated from) buildings built in the city during the 1930s-50s. As this style emphasized simplicity and the white color, Tel Aviv is also called the White City .

Orientation

Tel Aviv lies alongside the Mediterranean coastline. With few exceptions, all points of interest for tourists are in a rectangle defined by the sea to the west, the Yarkon River to the north, the Ayalon highway to the east, and Shlomo (Salame) Road to the south. This rectangle is separated into two long strips by Ibn-Gvirol Street, starting from the Yarkon River and changing its name to Yehuda Halevy. Most of the attractions are in the western of these strips.

Tel Aviv developed from south to north. To the south-western corner of the rectangle you will find old Jaffa. To its north, the first Jewish neighborhood outside Jaffa, Neve Tzedek. To Neve Tzedek’s east, Florentin, a 1920s light-industry quarter turned ultra-chic; and then the Central Bus Station area, now home to foreign workers from around the world.

To the north of Neve Tzedek is Kerem Ha'Temanim, a crowded but picturesque neighborhood dating to the early 20th century and east and north of here lies the city center, a chiefly residential area built in the 1920s and 1930s, where the majority of Bauhaus ("International") style architecture is to be found. Further north and east, the "old north" (not to be confused with "the north" on the other side of the Yarkon), is a more spacious residential area built during the 1940s and 1950s.

Israeli's often speak of a north-south divide in Tel Aviv-Yafo. The north is usually associated with a continental, chic, and suburbanite lifestyle centered around Kikar haMedina and Ramat Aviv. To the south, the city takes on a more rugged and eastern, albeit evermore trendy, urban feel.

Get in

By plane

Israel's main entry point for the international traveller, the newly built Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion International Airport (referred to as NATBAG by locals) is well connected to the city (as well as to the rest of the country). The airport comprises all the usual amenities expected from a first class airport and contains one of the world's largest duty-free shopping malls for an airport of its size. The City Center can be reached by train, bus, shared taxi or taxi from Ben Gurion.

By train: The airport train station is situated at the airport on Terminal 3 and is easily accessed. It offers good connection to many parts of the country, including the city of Tel Aviv, with a single-ride ticket to the city for only 12 NIS (roughly $2.7US). All tickets must be bought prior to entering the train station area. The train service operates from 04:45 to 00:00 on weekdays, although on weekends (starting Fridays late noon and ending Saturdays early evenings), it doesn't operate. Note: most stations are relatively suitable for the non-Hebrew speaker, nonetheless, passengers will often be glad to assist. For most travellers, HaShalom Station or Tel Aviv Centeral/Savidor would be the place to disembark.

By bus: Egged buses connect the airport to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and are good, reliable and cheap. Like the train, they don't run at night and on weekends. Busses information is found in the airport terminal.

By shared taxi: Locally known as Monit Sherut, the shared taxi is an easy way of travelling and is somewhat cheaper than a typical taxi. It should cost roughly 50 NIS (circa $12US) to take the Sherut to the city.

By taxi: Working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this is the most comfortable and of course, expensive way to reach the city center, with a typical ride price of around 100 NIS (circa $24US). If you travel with a friend or two, it can might be a good idea to share a taxi. It is not inappropriate to sit in the front seat, in taxis in Israel. It is obligatory by law to use the taxi meter, unless agreed otherwise by the passenger and driver, and a typical ride to the city center should not take more than 15-20 minutes, without heavy traffic. Be sure not to accept fix-priced rides with taxi drivers unless you're sure of what you are doing; you will always end up paying more than you could have had you asked to use the meter.

Tel Aviv has another airport, Sde Dov (SDV). This is a primarily a domestic airport, with frequent flights to Eilat (ETH) and Rosh Pina (Galilee) (RPN).

By car

Tel Aviv is the hub of the country's modern network of freeways. The city is easily accessible from Ben Gurion Airport via the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv freeway (freeway 1), Tel Aviv-Haifa freeway (freeway 2), as well as from Beer-Sheva and the southern parts of the country (freeways 4 and 20). Freeway number 6, often referred to as Cross-Israel Highway, is the country's only toll highway. Most freeways have a speed limit of 90km/h; however, it is not uncommon to drive around 110km/h when traffic conditions allow it. Nonetheless, avoid accelerating beyond 120km/h, as speed control cameras are quite common.

The city is divided west-east by the Ayalon Freeway (freeway 20), which is the main artery of the city. It is best to avoid commuter traffic in and out of Tel Aviv and its surrounding cities during rush hours (Sunday to Thursday, 7:00-10:00 and 16:00-19:00) and it is important to note that Israeli drivers are considered to be rather rude and aggressive in comparison to their Western European or North American counterparts. Survival chances on Israeli roads are certainly high, but require time for acclimation.

Israeli highway police are strict and speed limits and driving laws are strictly enforced. All in all, driving conditions in Israel are much better than in the rest of the Middle East.

By bus

The New Central Bus Station in southern Tel Aviv ("Tahana Merkazit", officially the world's biggest bus station!) offers routes servicing virtually every settled location in Israel. It is located within a short walking distance of the HaHaganah Train Station. The building is more than a bit confusing, but head to the 6th floor for inter-city lines and ask for directions if necessary. Major destinations are also served from the more user-friendly Arlozorov terminal, by the Tel Aviv Central/Savidor Train Station. Most north-bound buses stop there as well.

The main inter-city bus operator from Tel Aviv is Egged, which operates, among many others, line 405 from Jerusalem to the new central bus station and 480 from Jerusalem to the "Arlozerov, Tel Aviv" train station (17.70 NIS), line 905 from Haifa, and line 390 from Eilat (65 NIS). Buses faithfully follows the Fourth Commandment ("Remember the Sabbath day"), stopping on Friday afternoon, and only resuming service Saturday after sunset. Minor services often do not resume until Sunday morning. Tickets can be bought from the driver, or from the ticket counters in the main stations. +972-3-6948888, or *2800 from any phone within the country, . A daily bus service is also available to and from Amman through the King Hussein bridge. Call the operator (+972-4-6573984) for details.

By train

Israel Railways +972-3-5774000, operate train services within Israel. Train service have improved significantly during the last decade or so, and today they are a fast and comfortable alternative to buses for many destinations. Train services connect Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem to each other, as well as numerous smaller towns whilst a direct train line connects Tel Aviv to Ben-Gurion airport.

Note that the train ride to Jerusalem follows the 19th century path, and this scenic route is worth taking at least once, even though taking the bus on the modern highway takes half the time. Trains do tend to be crowded during rush hours, especially on Sunday morning, when soldiers return to their bases and students to their universities. Train service also stops on Friday afternoons, and resumes on Saturdays after sunset.

Tel Aviv has four train stations, all along the Ayalon highway. For best access to the city center, use either "Tel Aviv Merkaz" (a.k.a. "Arlozorov" and officially named "Savidor"), or "Hashalom". "Tel Aviv Ha-Hagana" Station is the closest one to the New Central Bus Station.

Get around

By bus

Tel Aviv has a modern, regular and widespread bus network run by a company called Dan . A lot safer than the bad reputation it burdens, bus services start at 05:00 and stop at midnight, though some of the lines stop earlier, so do check. Single tickets within the city and the close suburbs are purchased on the bus itself at the driver, and cost 5.10 NIS, around $1.2US (as of June 2006). Daily free-pass called "Hofshi-Yomi" are also available, and cost less than the equivalent of three rides. Note that these are only available after 09:00. There are also monthly free-passes and 10-rides tickets available, and everything can be purchased either at the driver of any bus line, or at the New Central Bus Station.

The most popular bus route in the city is bus route number 5, which connects the Central Bus Station in the south with the Central Train Station in the center of the city. It goes through Rotschild Boulevards; Dizengof Street (Including the Dizengof Center Mall) and Weizman Street. It is also useful for getting to Ibn Gevirol Street. Another popular bus route is number 18, connecting the Central Train Station with the southern neighbourhoods of Jaffa and Bat-Yam. It also has a stop in Rabin Square.

Like almost all Israelis, the bus drivers in Tel Aviv speak and understand English very well, and in most cases will kindly answer questions about the destination of their bus.

By train

The first light (partially underground) railway is scheduled to be operative in 2012 (but then again, plans for an underground are decades old, a campaign promise of every mayor in the passing 30 years). Anyway, in the meantime, either use your legs, bike or take a bus.

By taxi

You can hail a taxi in the street or call one (with extra surcharge). Taxis are obliged to give you a metered ride unless you settle for a price, so insist on the driver using the meter ("mo-NEH" in Hebrew, pronounced like the painter "Monet"), unless you are sure what the price to your destination should be. And no, the meter is never broken. A local ride without meter should be 20-30NIS in the downtown core, and up to 70 or 80 to the immediate suburbs. If you go for a price fixed in advance, haggle with your driver a bit, you can generally knock a few shekels off the price. Cutting a deal in advance is especially recommended on Friday night and Saturday, when there is a surcharge. Plus, if you get stuck in Tel Aviv's notorious traffic, you won't sit there watching your money tick away. Hakastel taxi service, phone +972-3-6993322 or Shekem +972-3-5270404 (add 3.30 NIS charge for the call).

In addition to normal (called "special") taxis, there are 6-12 person van-sized taxis that supplement many bus routes ("sheh-ROOT"). This alternative is often faster, slightly cheaper, and more frequent than taking a bus, and they tend to end their routes slightly later. If requested, the driver may also deviate a bit from the its normal course to drop you off where you need to go.

See

Tel Aviv is a big place, and these listings are just some highlights of things that you really should see if you can during your visit. The complete listings are found on each individual district page alongside many more things to see in each district.

Old Jaffa in Jaffa is a must see for any visitor to Tel Aviv

Rabin Square in Tel Aviv is the biggest public square in Israel and site of PM's Rabin assasination in 1995.

The Yarqon Park — the largest public park in Tel Aviv in Central Tel Aviv

Eretz-Israel (Land of Israel) Museum in Ramat Aviv

Beit HaTefutsot - Museum of the Diaspora, located in Tel Aviv University in Ramat Aviv

Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Central Tel Aviv

Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv also in Central Tel Aviv

To see Tel Aviv from up above, head up to Azrieli Center in Central Tel Aviv (a main centerpoint in the city), and for a mere $5.5 US you get a great view.

There is also Dizengoff Square where there a huge fountain with mixin of fire and water. It is sometimes used for indenpendence day with dances and music.

Again, there's loads to do in Tel Aviv, and for the biggest selection, check out the individual district articles. These are some of the highlights.

A visit to Tel Aviv isn't complete without a dip into its fantastic beach scene which is at its best in summer, especially during Friday afternoons as Shabbat comes in, when crowds of buff beachgoers converge to take in the Brazilian drums, the smell of barbecues, the thwock, thwock of "matkot" as the sun sets, but in early summer be careful as there are jellyfish sometimes, but if you ask the lifeguard he will probably tell you if there are any that day.

A craft fair is held in the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian zone in Central Tel Aviv

Performing Arts

Tel Aviv has the widest selection of performing arts in Israel. Fans of classical music might enjoy Israel's Philharmonic Orchestra (http://www.ipo.co.il/) and the New Israel Opera (http://www.israel-opera.co.il/). The Barby (52, Kibutz Galuyot st., 03-5188123), and the Goldstar Zappa (24, Habarzel st., 03-6499550) present Israeli (and sometimes foreign) rock daily. Dance can be enjoyed in Suzanna Dellal Center in Neve Tzedek (http://www.suzannedellal.org.il/view_page.aspx?p=76). Theater is mostly performed in Hebrew, naturally, but English interpretation is available is some of the shows for extra-fees in Habima National Theater (03-6295555) and HaCameri Municipal Theater (http://www.cameri.co.il/eng/menu.asp).

Sports

Tel Aviv is an excellent city for people who exercise on a regular basis. On any given day, tens of thousands of Tel Aviv residents go out jogging, cycling and walking in the Yarqon Park and on the beaches. There are also many fitness clubs spread across the city, some of which include swimming pools. If you are fond of swimming, it is best to visit the Tel Aviv beaches in the early morning, before they become crowded with locals and tourists.

Tel Aviv also is home to many official sports clubs, that compete in the national and continental levels. The local Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team is considered as one of the best basketball teams in Europe having won the European Championship five times in the last 30 years. Maccabi plays against leading teams from Europe every Thursday evening at the Nokia Sports Center. Tickets can be purchased any day of the week.

The most popular sport in Israel is soccer. There are three soccer teams from Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League: Hapoel, Maccabi, and "Bnei Yehuda" (Representing the Tikva district). Hapoel and Maccabi are considred as two of the best soccer teams in Israel. When one of the teams plays a home game in the Jaffa Stadium, thousands of fans arrive. The most popular sporting event during the year is the Derby match between the two. Watching a soccer game in Israel can be quite an attraction, but please note that often violence erupts among the large crowds attending.

Buy

Markets

Hakarmel Market in Kerem HaTemanim — the city's biggest market, stretching south-west from Allenby st. The Allenby end is a clothing market. The other end is a food market, with emphasise on fruit and vegetable and a bloody side-alley for meat.

Bezalel Market in Kerem HaTemanim — not far from Hakarmel, on the other side of Allenby St., this market specializes in stocks of ???, so if you are lucky, you can find good bergains there.

Nahalat Binyamian crafts market near Neve Tsedeq — the pedestrian street at the northern end of Nahalat Binyamin, near Allenby st., becomes a good crafts on Tuesdays, Fridays and some holidays (10:00-17:00). Crafts are sold by the artisans themselves, sometimes even on the spot. In addition for being a good place for original souvenirs, the atmosphere is lively and colorful, especially on Fridays.

Jaffa flea market in Jaffa — a good place for souvenirs and hippy-style clothing. Newly renovated. Haggle hard.

Dizengoff Street in Central Tel Aviv — second-hand market\flea market is held every Tuesday afternoon (14:00-20:00) and Friday (08:00-17:00) by the Dizengoff square.

Levinsky Market in Florentin — The best place in Tel Aviv to buy spices, dried fruits, and different kinds of legume. This small market is stretched along Levinsky street in southern Tel Aviv, between Har-Zion and Ha-Aliya streets, ten minutes of walking from the Central Bus Station.

Hatikva Market in HaTiqva — A good place for Jewish-Iraqi cuisine, in the south-eastern "Hatikva" neighbourhood.

Malls

Israel has the highest ratio of shopping mall sqm per capita, in the world. As malls are good places to catch some air-conditioning in the hot Israeli climate, they have quickly become a preferable place of entertainment for the locals. The variety is usually mid-range, mainstream, with both international and local brands.

Azriely Center (aka HaShalom Mall) near Ayalon Highway - situated at the feet of the Azriely Towers and connected to HaShalom Train Station. This is the largest mall in the city and is often over crowded. Visitors can climb to the top of the mall for a nice free view of the city, or get to the observatory at the top of the Circular Tower (see in the "to do" section). There are very many stores in the mall, along with a large cinema.

Dizengoff Center in Central Tel Aviv - On the corner of Dizengoff and King George streets, this large mall has, in addition to the usual selection, some specialty shops, such as musical instruments, stamps, hand-held devices, hobby etc.

Ramat Aviv mall in Ramat Aviv - situated in the Ramat-Aviv neighborhood, walking distance from Tel Aviv University, this is slightly more upmarket than your usual mall, featuring, in addition to the usual brand selection, some designer shops.

Gan Ha'ir mall in Central Tel Aviv - just off Rabin square, this is also an up-market oriented mini-mall.

Shopping Streets

The air-conditioned malls threaten to destroy the concept of shopping streets, but some of the more special ones still survive. Sheinkin street is a good location for more bohemian clothing. The northern end of Dizengoff st. (mainly from Arlozerov st. and northwide) has many shops of Israeli designers. Kikar Hamedina is the place for general up market clothing, with focus on Italian and other imported fasion.

Books and music

The country's widespread Steimatzky and Zomet Sfarim chains are a good source for current books. Almost every shop has at least a small selection in English. Allenby st. has a number of second hand bookshops, most sell (and buy) English books. The Steimatzky shop in the opera tower, on the corner of Alenby and Herbert Samuel, has a good English selection and it's open on Saturday. In the same complex, Tower Records (also open on Saturday) is a good place for music. If you're into it, pirated cds and dvds are on sale in the Central Bus Station.

Art, Craft, Judaica, Jewelry

Gordon street is famous for its art galleries. The best contemporary art gallery is Raw Art Gallery Raw Art Gallerywhich is located in the southern part of Tel Aviv - with free transporatation. Ben-Yehuda street has several Judaica\Jewelery\souvenirs shops. You can buy jewelry from Michal Negrin, a world-famous Israeli designer, in her shops at the Azriely mall and on Sheinkin st. The prices are much better than abroad. For more original crafts and Judaica, try the Nahlat Binyamin craft market mentioned above.

Eat

Tel Aviv has an amazing variety of restaurants for every taste. There are plenty of fast food restaurants, both international and well-known to every western tourist (such as McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc.), and local which offer Israeli food. One can get a decent meal, including flafel or hummous (Try Mshawsha on Bugrashov st. and Abu Hasan in Yafo) on a every street corner, for less than 3$.

You can also eat a toast, sandwich or some other snack at one of the cafes around the city. Many fruit juice parlors are around.

Raphael, Orca and Messa consider to be Yafo's most elegant restaurants, serving gourmet and unique plates, inspired both by local and foreign cuisine.

Finally, Tel Aviv's ice cream parlors offer much more than basic flavors, as the taste buds are eclectic and strive for new flavors, such as Halva, poppy seed, and even a touch of alcoholic liqueurs in the ice cream (Try these places: Iceberg, Gelateria Siciliana, Dr. Lek and Aldo.

Whitehall, 6 Mendele st. (opp. Dan Hotel), 03-5249282. Open every day 12pm-12am. The best Steakhouse in the city with great service. (www.white-hall.co.il)

Mashawasha, 40 Pinsker st. (corner of Bugrashov), 03-6293796.

Abu Hasan (Ali Quarwan), 14 Shivtey Yisrael st., Jaffa, 03-6828355. Open Sunday-Friday, 7:45-14:45 only.

Raphael, 87 Hayarkon st. (Dan Hotel building), 03-5226464.

Orca, 57 Nahalat Binyamin st., 03-5665505.

Messa, 19 Haarbaa st., 03-6856859.

The Soupia ("Marakiya), 56 Yehuda Ha-Levi Street - Offering 10 different kinds of home made soup on a daily basis. This is also an excellent place for Italian food.

Bar Gurion - Sandwiches street bar, on Ben Gurion Ave/Dizengoff St (http://www.telavivcity.com/bargurion)

Knafe - Sderot Hen 52, very close to Rabin Square. A good plae for Middle-Eastern cuisine, have the traditional "Knafe" for dessert.

Sub Coch Milega, 22 Ha-Mashbir Street (Florentin), 03-6813412 - Popular Indian restaurant. One of the best places in Tel Aviv for vegetrain people.

Brasserie ,70 Iben Gvirol, acroos the st. from Itzhak rabin circle, Great Hamburgers and upscale dishes open 24h. Good fries too. and nice atmosphere.

Drink

The Tel Aviv club scene is comparable, if not superior, to those in most European capitals. Top international DJs regularly perform here, with clubs constantly vying to outdo each other with ever more extravagant parties. The biggest and newest club (mimicking New York's Roxy) in the city is Haoman 17 (Florentin quarter). Other fantastic clubs are TLV, Dome (gay; Offer Nissim is the resident DJ), Vox, Powder and the "indie" Cafe Barzilay and Studio 46. Beware: it is not unusual to find 23-and-over parties in a city where all 18 through 22-year-old males are serving in the army.

Rock clubs include Barbie Club, in Kibutz Galuyot Street, or the Zappa Club, in the northeastern neighbourhood of Ramat haChayal, among others, host concerts almost every night of the week. whilst billiards (Pool) clubs include Gypsy on Kikar Atarim (Atarim plaza), located in Hayarkon St.

The Lilinblum district offers chic and trendy bars, including some strictly for pick up: Mishmish, Shesek, Abraxas and others. Nahalat binyamin and Rothschild Blv. area also offers some trendy bars and lounges such as Betty Ford, Mecca, Brown and Shoshana Jhonson, Alcohol runs like water until the last customer leaves.

Molly Bloom's Irish pub, 2 Mendele St. One of the best old fashioned pubs in the Tel Aviv area. The pub has a great atmosphere and reasonable prices, and is quite busy on weekends. Also, it's close to the hotels.

The Gordon Inn, 17 Gordon St, is an intimate, Irish-oriented pub with a local crowd. It offers a calm atmosphere, mellow music and a pool table. There is a guesthouse next door by the same name.

The Norma Jean at 23 Elifelet St, or its younger offspring The Norman at 8 Hillel Hazaken St are two of the places which currently serve beers from local micro-brewery "The Dancing Camel". Excellent choice for gastronomic tourists who like to taste local brews.

Silon, 89 King George St, Neighborhood bar, warm atmosphere and kind service. Tel: (03) 6200053, Hours Sun-Thu 18:00-04:00, Fri-Sat 20:00-05:00.

Night Life

Allenby St - including The Goodbar, Joey's Bar, Temptation, Bloom Bar

Tel Aviv seaport - check out Wisky a gogo, Erlich, Shalvta, Galina and more

Dizengoff St

King George St

Lilienblum St - check out Nanuchka, Abracses, Mish Mish, Shesek and more

Bograshov St

Rothschild Blvd - western part

Note that parking is barely available in those parts of Tel Aviv; walk or take a taxi.
Tel Aviv Gay Scene

Tel Aviv is home to the leading gay community in Israel and all of the Middle-East, and is generaly a very friendly city towards gay people.

The most popular gay bar in the city include the "Evita" on Yavneh street.
Another popular place is "Minerva", a lesbian-affiliated bar in Allebny street.
There are many gay clubs and parties. Some of which are running for several years already (Shirazi's FFF line, which is currently taking place in the 'HaOman 17' club. The electro 'PAG' line). Others are changing from time to time.

For more information check out .

Must Party at

Clara Mega Bar – very trendy open-air mega bar located on the southern part of the Tel Aviv beach, close to the David Intercontinental hotel. All wooden deck floor with a very long bar, multiple seating areas by the sea view, or all around this huge bar, and a great atmosphere makes this place a must visit during a stay in the city.

Also recommended is the Temptation Bar on Allenby Street that hosts live DJs every night and is open till 05:00 in the morning at least. Check out the home made liquors.

Cafés

Tel Aviv boasts many cafés, which can be found everywhere in the city, offering aromatic Italian Espressos and Capuccinos (called "Hafuh", meaning upside-down, in hebrew). Espresso-bar, Cafeneto, Café-café and arcaffé are some of the local chain-cafés. Aroma's the biggest among them.

Bohemian 'Puah' (located in the Jaffa flea market) and Café Noah ,and Chic 'Le Central' (Rothschild av.) 'Tolaat Sfarim' (Rabin sq.) are recommended for their very distinctive and Israeli café-drinking experience.

Sleep

Tel Aviv has a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and backpacker hostels, right up to luxury 5-star hotels.
Budget

IYHA Tel Aviv (Israel Youth Hostel Association), 36 Bnei Dan St, PO Box 22078, Tel Aviv 62260, +972-3-5441748, Fax +972-3-5441030, , . The hostel is located near Hayarkon Park, offering easy access - by foot or a short bus ride- to the city's main cultural and tourist attractions.

Mugraby Hostel , 30 Allenby Street, +972-3-5102443 located in the heart of Tel Aviv about one minute's walk from the beach, double room from USD$40, dormitory USD$10.00.

HaYarkon 48 Hostel 48 HaYarkon Street, +972-3-516 8989 - located in the heart of Tel Aviv about one minute's walk from the beach, double room from USD$42, dormitory USD$10.50 with good discounts for booking ahead

No 1 Hostel, 4th floor, 84 Ben-Yehuda Street, +972-3-523 7807. Rates include breakfast.

Gordon Inn, 17 Gordon Street (on the corner of Ben-Yehuda Street), +972-3-523 8239. A 31-room guest house with private, family and dormitory rooms, basically but comfortably furnished. Close to the beach and with its own great little bar, open late, with cold Guinness on tap.

Dizengoff Suites Boutique Hotel 39 Gordon St. (Corner of Dizengoff) +972-3-5234363, Fax: +972-3-5273524, . Dizengoff Suites is a charming boutique hotel run by a family that is eager to make your Tel Aviv hotel stay a pleasant and enjoyable one. They know Tel Aviv Yafo inside out and speak English, French, Italian and Hebrew. The hotel offers a choice of 3 suites and accommodates business travellers who seek long term Tel Aviv hotel rentals. Wireless Internet is also available.

Mid-range

Hotel Cinema, 1 Zamenhoff Street, Tel Aviv (on the corner of Kikar Dizengoff / Dizengoff Square). Part of the Atlas hotel chain, the Hotel Cinema is a stylish, non-pretentious conersion of the former Esther Cinema, built in classic Bauhaus style in 1930 as one of the first cinemas in the then young city. Décor includes touches of cinema nostalgia, rooms well-appointed. Conveniently located right on Dizengoff Square in central Tel Aviv. Rates from USD$92 double room per night, breakfast included Reservation Page.

KDA - Luxury studio apartments (5 stars) for short and long term rentals, 89 Dizengoff St (on the corner of Kikar Dizengoff / Dizengoff Square) +972-3-5241151, Fax: +972-3-5232614, Centrally located for business and leisure, varied convention and meeting facilities. Online Reservation with instant confirmation. Overlooking the sea, close to Jaffa and Tel Aviv highlights.

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv, Hayarkon 145 Tel:+972 3-5390808 Reservation Page - reasonably priced hotel in an excellent location. The Hotel is on the bearch and a short walk from the heart of Tel Aviv.

The Grand Beach Hotel, 250 Hayarkon St. (on the corner of Nordau and Hayarkon st) +972-3-5433333, Fax: +972-3-5466589, across the road from the Mediterranean and a series of excellent beaches. Nearby Tel Aviv's bustling centers and nightlife. Close by are the major highways that offer easy access to airports and anywhere else you want to be in Israel. Quiet setting.

Vital Hotel Tel Aviv, Weizman 14 weizman center, Tel Aviv +972-3-7770000, Fax: +972-3-7770020. Vital hotel is a new luxurious boutique hotel, located at Weizmann center, in the heart of the cultural area of Tel Aviv. Adjacent to the "Opera House", the "Tel Aviv Museum", train station, Azriely center, walking distance from Dizengof center and more. For your convenience, an elevator connects the hotel with the new shopping center and cafes at Weizmann Center.

Hotel de la Mer, 62 Hayarkon St., 36904, Tel Aviv +972-3-5100011 , Fax: +972-3-5167575. A boutiquehotel, created within an historic Bauhaus building on the famous Hayarkon Street. Overlooking the beach of the Mediterranean Sea and located in the heart of Tel Aviv. The Hotel’s ambience is characterized by the harmony with nature that is the fundamental element of the Chinese art of Feng Shui. From its entrance and public areas to the unique decor of the individual rooms, guests will relax in an atmosphere of carefully balanced color, light and art designed to assure maximum comfort. Hotel De La Mer website.

Center Hotel, 2 Zamenhoff Street, Tel Aviv (on the corner of Kikar Dizengoff / Dizengoff Square). Part of the Atlas hotel chain, the Center Hotel is a completely renewed hotel. Housed in a historic Bauhaus building that has been renovated to preserve the special characteristics of the “White City“ architectural style. Rates from $70 double room per night, breakfast included Reservation Page.

City Hotel, 9 Mapu Street, Tel Aviv, Tel: +972-3-5246253, Fax: + 972-3-5246250. Centrally located in the hotel tourism and business area of Hayarkon Street, near the Mediterranean beach of Tel Aviv, the City Hotel has a unique comfortable atmosphere with free parking and internet Wi-Fi access. Rates from $93 single room per night, breakfast included.City Hotel website.

Mercure B&P Tel Aviv, 14 ben yehoda st. Tel-Aviv 63802, The hotel is situated in the center of Tel Aviv and offers spacious and contemporary 4 star accommodation. This makes it ideal for business and leisure travelers.Mercure B&P website.

Splurge

Hilton Tel Aviv , Independence Park, northern end of Ben Yehuda Street, +972-3-5202222, fax +972-3-5272711 - this is the first major 5-star international hotel in the city. It remains a preferable accommodation for the wealthy traveller.

David Intercontinental Tel Aviv, 12 Kaufman Street, +972-3-7951111, fax +972-3-7951112, , one of the newest and best luxury hotels in the city. Often the choice for celebrities and successful businessmen.

Sheraton Tel Aviv, a high-class international chain hotel on the Yarkon street, overlooking the Mediterranean.

Dan Tel Aviv Hotel 99 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63432, +972-3-5202552, Fax: +972-3-5480111, . Dan Tel Aviv Hotel centrally located for business and leisure, varied convention and meeting facilities. Online Reservation with instant confirmation. A member of the "Leading Hotels of the World".

Dan Panorama Tel Aviv Hotel Charles Clore Park, Tel Aviv 68012, +972-3-5202552, Fax: +972-3-5480111, . Though not as centrally located as the others, it is still a good choice for both business and leisure, varied convention and meeting facilities. Online Reservation with instant confirmation. Overlooking the sea, close to Jaffa and Tel Aviv highlights.

Center Hotel is a new boutique hotel that is located on Dizengoff Square in city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. Center Hotel is part of Atlas Hotels, a well-known hotel chain in Israel. In 2006, the historic Bauhaus building of the Center Hotel was renovated to preserve the special characteristics of "The White City" architectural style. There are 56 rooms in this new design hotel, all have a dash of life style with an historic and cultural connection to the "The White City".

Stay safe

Tel Aviv was and remains a safe city to visit. The usual warnings regarding being alert for bomb threats also pertain to Tel Aviv - beware of suspicious packages in public places (though don't over panic), and suspicious behaviour on the part of people around you; if in doubt, report it! The local police are generally very friendly and many of the law-enforcers can speak understandable English. Also be aware of pickpockets, like in every big city, mostly in HaCarmel Market, Nachlat Binyamin market, the old and new central bus stations, the beach promenade and all of Jaffa and the flea market area. Nevertheless, regular crime rates are much lower in Tel Aviv (and in all of Israel) than in most other cities of similar size.

Security control checks are necessary when entering shopping malls, markets (maybe sometimes only), the central bus station, and most hotels, cafes and restaurant. You are frequently requested to let the guards look into your bag - this is the common procedure for everyone (but many times males checked, or checked more).), tourists and Israeli's alike so don't resist it. It is best not to find it offensive or intrusive, and unless you carry a pistol, this check shouldn't take more than half a minute and end with a smile and a green light. It is also best advised to carry some sort of identification documents on you at all times.

As buses are the best (some might say the only) way to tour the city, it is advised not to think twice before using them. Despite their reputation as "terrorism targets", the city buses remain a very safe way to travel, where reality is far different than the image most trourists would have on them. They are safe at all times of day and night, frequent, cheap, reliable and easy to handle. You can always approach the driver with any relevant question and the passengers are usually keen to assist tourists.

Though not really dangerous for tourists, it would be best advised to avoid walking parks alone at night, or visiting the southern neighbourhoods (south of Eilat Street) after dark. If necessary, a companion would be a good idea.

When going for a swim in the Mediterranean, stick to the patrolled beaches with lifeguards, marked with flags and signs - every year people drown off the Tel Aviv coast when strong currents get them into difficulties. Also, at the beginning of the summer, keep an eye out for jellyfish (called medusa in Hebrew). Remember that during the months of winter, though the weather may allow a bathe, the lifeguard service is inactive. (official bathing season begin on April 18th and ends late in October)

Tel Aviv-Yafo (תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ; تَلْ أَبِيبْ يَافَا) is the second largest city of Israel, located on the Mediterranean coast. It is the main city of the largest and most populous metropolitan area in Israel, Gush Dan (Dan Bloc), which has a population of 3.04 million. The city itself has a population of 382,500 over an area covering 50,553 dunams (50.6 km² or 19.5 sq mi).

The City of Tel Aviv was originally founded in the 1880s by Jewish immigrants as an alternative to the expensive neighbouring, historic town of Jaffa (יפו, Yafo; يافا, Yafa). Tel Aviv grew and grew, and eventually overtook the Arab dominated town. The two towns became united in the single municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo in 1950, two years after the establishment of the State of Israel. Tel Aviv is today viewed by many as Israel's economic capital (Jerusalem is the official capital) and the city lies in the area known internationally as Silicon Wadi. Tel Aviv is also viewed by many to be the country's cultural capital with a vibrant, modern, cosmopolitan character, and a UNESCO World Heritage Status for its Bauhaus architecture.

Etymology

The name Tel Aviv in Hebrew means "Hill (tel) of Spring (aviv)". This is the title given by Nahum Sokolow to his Hebrew translation of Theodor Herzl's book Altneuland (German: "The Old New Land").

There is an account that Sokolow came up with the Hebrew title "Tel Aviv" to allude to the destruction of the ancient Jewish state and its hoped-for restoration: aviv = "spring" to symbolize renewal; and tel to symbolize the destruction of the ancient state, following not the usual Hebrew meaning of the word "tel" but its use in archaeology, meaning "mound of accumulated ruins". Sokolow took the name from the Book of Ezekiel, 3:15 : "Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel Aviv, that lived by the river Chebar, and to where they lived; and I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days." (The spelling in the King James Version of the Bible is Telabib ). The Aviv referred to is possibly an indirect reference to a Mesopotamian god or goddess believed to bring forth the season of spring.

Jaffa is Yafo in Hebrew, which may well be derived from yafah/yofi (beautiful) or may simply come from the name of its founder, Japheth, son of Noah. This port city is mentioned in the book of Jonah. A mention of the city by the name of "Japo" was found on an ancient Egyptian tax register clay tablet found at Tel el-Amarna, which could render the etymological derivation from "yofi" (or "Yefet") unlikely.
History

The gulf of Jaffa has been the site of a fortified port town for at least 4000 years. During the 19th century the town’s population grew from about 2,500 (1806) to 17,000 (1886). The old city walls could no longer contain the population, and they were destroyed in the 1870s. New, more spacious neighborhoods started to appear.

The settlement in the area of modern southern Tel Aviv (the neighbourhoods of Neve Tzedek and Neve Shalom) was started in the 1880s as a substitute for the relatively expensive Arab neighbourhoods of Jaffa by some of the town's distinguished Jewish residents.

In 1908 the Ahuzat Bayit homebuilders association bought land north of Jaffa. Building started in 1909, and the association admitted members of two suburbs established nearby. In 1910, the common name of Tel Aviv was adopted. At its founding, Tel Aviv was intended only to be a suburb, a bedroom community, with the workers commuting to Jaffa. The founders envisaged a European-style garden suburb, with wide streets and boulevards.

In May 1921, however, dozens of Jews were killed by an Arab mob in Jaffa and soon after that, thousands of the 16,000 Jews of Jaffa moved north to Tel Aviv. Following the disputes, the inhabitants of Tel Aviv created a new central business district. The master plan for development of the city, based on a framework of central routes and boulevards, was designed in 1925 by Patrick Geddes and adopted by the city council under Meir Dizengoff. Owing to its proximity to the port of Jaffa, and its status as the first Jewish community that immigrants saw when coming into the country, Tel Aviv quickly grew to become the centre of Israeli urban life, which it remains to this day. 1938 marked the opening of Tel Aviv port, an important milestone marking the end of its dependency on Jaffa.

Israel's Declaration of Independence took place in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, and it served as Israel's temporary capital throughout the 1948 Arab-Israeli War due to the Arab blockade of Jerusalem, which was proclaimed capital in December 1949. Due to the international dispute over the status of Jerusalem, most embassies stayed in the Tel Aviv area. Thirteen more returned there in the early eighties. . Today all but two of the international embassies to Israel are in Tel Aviv or the surrounding district. In 1950 Tel Aviv and Jaffa were united in the single municipality Tel Aviv-Yafo.

Tel Aviv has been the victim of violence and terrorism having been targeted several times by :Category:Palestinian militant groups|Palestinian militant groups. On October 19, 1994, a suicide bomber exploded on the Line 5 bus killing himself and 25 civilians. On March 4, 1996, another suicide bomber exploded nearby at an ATM and killed 18 civilians. Оn June 1, 2001, a suicide bomber exploded in a line for a discotheque and 32 were killed and more than 100 were injured. On January 25, 2002, 20 were killed in a suicide attack. On January 5, 2003, in two nearly simultaneous attacks, 23 were killed. On 17 April, 2006, 10 people were killed and dozens wounded in a suicide attack near the old Central bus station.

Today, Tel Aviv-Yafo represents the heart of a thriving Israeli metropolis - the greater metropolitan area comprises a number of separate municipalities with approximately 1.1 million people living in a 15 km long sprawl along the Mediterranean coast - with around 360,400 in Tel Aviv-Yafo itself making it the second largest city in Israel after Jerusalem. Bat Yam, Holon, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Bnei-Brak, Petah Tikva, Rishon LeZion, Ramat Ha-Sharon and Herzliya are the other major cities in the coastal area commonly known as Gush Dan.

Whilst Jerusalem is Israel's capital city where most government departments are located, Tel Aviv and its satellite cities form the economic and cultural center. It is known as "the city that doesn't stop" and indeed you will find that the nightlife and culture are on around the clock. In summer it is not unusual to see the beach boardwalk bustling with people at 4am and the clubs and bars usually pick up around midnight until morning, giving Tel Aviv a well deserved reputation of being a party town. It is the pinnacle of secular life in Israel.

In July 2003 Tel Aviv-Yafo was declared a cultural UNESCO World Heritage site for the many "International" style (also known as Bauhaus after the German school it originated from) buildings built in the city during the 1930s-50s. As this style emphasized simplicity and the white color, Tel Aviv is also called the White City.

Geography

Tel Aviv is located around on the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain. Located immediately north of the old city it stemmed out of, Jaffa, Tel Aviv 'proper' is situated on land which used to be sand dunes, and as such has relatively poor soil fertility. In modern times, due to the urban sprawl of Tel Aviv and the Gush Dan region in general, drawing absolute borders between Tel Aviv and Jaffa is incredibly hard, as it is to draw borders between the city's neighbourhoods. The city is located some 60 kilometers (37 mi) north west of Jerusalem, Israel's capital city, and some 90 kilometers south of the northern port city of Haifa. Tel Aviv municipality has a jurisdiction of 50,553 dunams (50.6 km² or 19.5 sq mi).

Climate

Tel Aviv has a mediterranean climate with hot summers, pleasant spring and autumn, and cool, rainy winters. Humidity tends to be high all year round and October to April is the wet season. In winter, temperatures rarely drop below 5°C and are more likely to be in the region of 12° to 15°C, while in summer the average is 26°C. The average annual rainfall is 530 millimetres.

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Demographics

The city itself has a population of 382,500 over an area covering 50,553 dunams (50.6 km² or 19.5 sq mi) giving a population density of 7,445 people per km². According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), as of June 2006, Tel Aviv's population is growing at an annual rate of 0.9%. It consists of 91.8% Jews, 4.2% Arabs and 4.0% "other". According to some estimates, about 50,000 unregistered foreign workers live in Tel Aviv.

According to December 2001 statistics, Tel Aviv's socio-economic status was classified as high (8 out of 10) and 63.1% percent of twelfth grade students received graduation certificates in 2000. In 2000, the average monthly wage stood at 6,773 NIS, which is roughly equal to the national average. In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% aged under 20, 18.5% aged 20-29, 24% aged 30-44, and 16.2% aged between 45 and 59. 19.1% of the city's population is aged over 60.

Culture

Arts and theatre
Many see Tel Aviv as Israel's cultural capital. There are many cultural centers in Tel Aviv, including the Opera House where Plácido Domingo was the house tenor between 1962 and 1965, as well as the Culture Hall (with 3,000 seats). Tel Aviv also has many theatre companies and theatre halls. The Israeli National Theater, Habima Theater ("The Stage") is the most recognized, but the Tel Aviv Municipal Cameri Theater, the Jaffa-based Gesher Theater, and Beit Lessin Theater are also well-konwn. Tzavta and Tmuna are smaller theaters used mainly for musical and fringe productions. In Jaffa, the Simta and Notzar theaters also specialize in fringe.

Tourism and recreation
Israel should be noted for having the highest number of museums per capita of any country and its fair to say that Tel Aviv has a fair percentage of these. Among the most notable are the Eretz Israel Museum which is known for its rich collection of archaeology and history exhibits and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art which is one of the major art museums in Israel. Also, the campus of TAU houses the Jewish Diaspora Museum, dedicated to Jewish history throughout the world. Carrying both historical documents and art, the museum tells the story of Jewish prosperity and persecution throughout the centuries of exile. Batey Haosef Museum is a museum for the military history of the Israel Defense Forces which is regarded by many experts and arms collectors as a real jewel, containing rare exhibits and authentic pieces from Israel's history as well as a wide variety of firearms and pictures. Meanwhile, the Palmach Museum near Tel Aviv University offers a unique multimedia experience, as well as vast archives, depicting the lives of young self-trained Jewish soldiers who eventually became the first defenders of Israel. Near Charles Clore's garden in north Jaffa, Israel, there is a small museum of the Etzel Jewish militant organization, one of whose achievements was conquering Jaffa for Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. the Tel Aviv Exhibition Centre which is located in one of the northern sides of the city, hosts over 60 major events every year. Many, more offbeat museums, are located in the city including the Tel Aviv Raw Art contemporary art gallery which is located in the old bus station. Exhibits contemporary art of Israeli and international upcoming artists.

Tel Aviv is a major tourist destination, combining a mediterranean feel with culture and complexity. The city has several public parks and gardens, the biggest being the Yarkon Park. Gan Meir, named after first mayor Meir Dizengoff, is located on King George Street. It should also be noted that Tel Aviv hosts the largest Gay Pride Parade in Israel followed by Jerusalem (the only country to do so in the Middle East), drawing upwards of 100,000 people. Tel Aviv is known for its openness as well as its thriving night life. It also holds many malls, such as Dizengoff Center (which was Israel's first mall) and the Azrieli Center which also has a mall inside the the three tower building (one building reaching 51 1/2 stories high). Tel-Aviv has many hotels such as the Tel-Aviv King David Hotel, Sheraton, Four Seasons, Dan, Hilton and many more. There are also buildings such as the Opera Tower where inside there is also a mall. Tel-Aviv has been known in Israel as the city that never sleeps.

Education
Tel Aviv is home to two of Israel's top universities. Tel Aviv University was founded in 1953 and is now the largest university in Israel with an excellent reputation internationally, mostly famous for its physics, computer science, chemistry and linguistics departments, and is located in the Ramat Aviv neighbourhood. Bar-Ilan University was founded in 1955 and is located in the suburb of Ramat Gan.

Sports
Tel Aviv is home to some of the top sports teams in Israel, including a world-class basketball team. Tel Aviv is the only city with three teams in the Israeli football premier league. Maccabi Tel Aviv Sports Club was founded in 1906 and competes in over 10 sports including Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club which has 46 Israeli titles, won 36 editions of the Israel cup, and has 5 European Championships and Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club which has 18 Israeli league titles, won 22 editions of the Israel cup, two Israel Toto cup and two Asia cups. Maccabi's Judo club athlete Yael Arad won a silver medal in the 1992 Olympic Games.

Hapoel Tel Aviv Sports Club was founded in 1923, and over the years has included over 11 sports, including the Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball Club (5 Israeli championships, 4 Israeli cups) and the Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club (13 Israeli championships, 11 Israeli cups, one Toto cup and once Asia champion), kayaking Club, women's basketball club and more that have always been amongst the top Israeli clubs.

Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv's football club (once Israeli champion, twice Israeli cup holder and twice Israeli Toto cup holder) is the only Israeli football team in the top division (Ligat Ha'al) that represents a neighbourhood - Shechunat Hatikva ("The Hope Neighbourhood") in Tel Aviv - and not a city.

Other football clubs which used to play in the top division were Shimshon Tel Aviv and Beitar Tel Aviv, which are now merged into one team (Beitar/Shimshon Tel Aviv that plays in the 3rd division (Liga Artzit). Maccabi Jaffa is another former 1st division team that currently plays in the lower divisions.

Tel Aviv is also the home of many other sports. Two rowing clubs operate in Tel Aviv. The Tel Aviv Rowing Club, which was established as early as 1935 on the banks of the Yarkon River, is the biggest rowing club in Israel. Meanwhile, the beaches of Tel Aviv provide arguably the most vibrant Matkot scene in the world.
The Israel Baseball League begins it's inaugural season in June, with the Tel Aviv Lightning representing the city.

Religion
Tel Aviv has about 500 synagogues, some 350 of them are active.

Architecture

Tel Aviv is a modern city with a large number of skyscrapers as well as many more historic buildings. Perhaps most notable are the Azrieli Center towers. Between the 1930s and 1950s, approximately 2500 structures in the Bauhaus or International Style were built in Tel Aviv. In July 2003, Tel Aviv's White City was declared by the UNESCO council as a World Heritage Site.
Economy

The economy of Tel Aviv has developed dramatically over the past decades, and as well as being Israel's economic capital, the bustling city has now been described as a flourishing technological center by Newsweek and a "miniature Los Angeles" by The Economist. Many computer scientists now live and work in Tel Aviv. Their numbers increased as a result of immigration from the former Soviet Union since the early 1990s. The city is considered by Newsweek to be one of the top ten most technologically influential cities in the world. Actually, it is the metropolitan area (including suburbs such as Herzlia and Petah Tikva) that contains much of Israel's high-tech muscle which has become known as Silicon Wadi. The same applies to Tel Aviv's rank in terms of the cost-of-living for expatriate employees.

Seven out of the nine Israeli billionaires reside in Israel; of them, at least four live in Tel Aviv or its suburbs (according to Forbes). According to Mercer, as of 2007, Tel Aviv is considered the seventeenth most expensive city in the world to live.

Transportation

The main access route to Tel Aviv is the Ayalon Highway (a.k.a. Highway 20), which runs along the eastern side of the city from north to south along the Ayalon River riverbed, divinding for the most part, Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Driving south on the Ayalon gives access to Highway 1, leading to Ben Gurion International Airport and Jerusalem. Within the city, the main routes are King George Street, Allenby Street, Ibn Gabirol Street,Dizengoff Street, Rothschild Boulevard and in Jaffa, Jerusalem Boulevard. Other access routes include Namir Road (which connects to Highway 2, and provides access from the North) and Begin/Jabotinsky Road (which provides access from the east, through Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak and Petach Tiqva).

Tel Aviv has four train stations all located along the Ayalon Highway. The stops are from north to south: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv Merkaz (Tel Aviv Central Train Station), Tel Aviv Hashalom (near Azrieli Center shopping mall) and Tel Aviv Hahaganah (near the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station). It is estimated that over a million people use the train from the surrounding cities to Tel Aviv each month.

The Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, a large central bus station, is located in the south. The main bus network in Tel Aviv is operated by Dan Bus Company whilst the Egged Bus Cooperative, the world's second-largest bus company, provides intercity transportation from Tel Aviv to settlements across the city.

Tel Aviv's airport is Dov Hoz Airport Sde Dov (code: SDV) which is located to the north of the city and serves as a major airport for domestic flights. Ben Gurion International Airport (code: TLV), Israel's main international airport, is located 15km southeast of Tel Aviv close to the city of Lod. Because of its proximity to Tel Aviv and its location within the metropolitan area of Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion International Airport is often referred to as Tel Aviv International Airport despite the fact that the airport is not included in any municipal jurisdiction.

The first phase of the Tel Aviv Subway is planned to be completed by 2012, which is expected to improve public transportation in the city dramatically.

Mayors of Tel Aviv

Meir Dizengoff (1921–1925)

David Bloch (1925–1927)

Meir Dizengoff (1928–1936)

Israel Rokach (1936–1952)

Haim Levanon (1953–1959)

Mordechai Namir (1959–1969)

Yehoshua Rabinowitz (1969–1974)

Shlomo Lahat ("Chich") (1974–1993)

Roni Milo (1993–1998)

Ron Huldai (1998–)

Notable residents

Shmuel Ashkenasi, violinist