Tel Aviv is one of our favorite cities for a city trip. Here you will experience the perfect combination of rich culture, city life, and the beach. The city is authentic and alive, the best word to summarize this city is definitely soulful!
Things to do in Tel Aviv, Israel, we know a thing or two (actually 10) about that. We’ve been to this authentic and very soulful city and we know exactly where you need to go. Follow our lead and your trip to Tel Aviv will be unforgettable!
Visit the colorful Carmel Market/Shuk Ha'Carmel
The Carmel Market is a local market with fresh fruit and vegetables, colorful spices, the most delicious pastry in the Middle East, several food stalls with authentic Israeli food, and all kinds of souvenirs and trinkets are there available. The Carmel Market is located on a long street with several alleys and side streets. Do not forget to walk into these side streets, because there you will also find the fascinating meat market and you can see the local people at work.
Protip: Eat at one of the small restaurants in the middle of the Carmel Market to enjoy this authentic market atmosphere and people watch. Our recommendation; try the pita's at Boca Boca, it's the number one restaurant in Tel Aviv on Tripadvisor. This little diner is not easy to find, it's hidden a bit, but if you look carefully at every crossroads on the market, you'll find it!
Stroll through the Jaffa Flea market
The flea market is located in Jaffa, the oldest part of Tel Aviv. The market is partly covered and there are generally mainly old and second-hand items for sale. But there are also a lot of shops around the market with new or homemade stuff which is very nice to see.
The streets in Jaffa are old, very dusty, very rusty, and lived through this together makes it a photogenic part of Tel Aviv and therefore definitely worth a stroll through.
Nothing exciting happens staring at screens all day, book a flight and hotel today, and live a little!
Relax at Jerusalem Beach
Jerusalem Beach is thé most beautiful beach in Tel Aviv. There are several beach clubs and restaurants on the beach that all have a very relaxed vibe. You can sit on the beach at these clubs or you can rent beach beds and a parasol. The seawater is fine for swimming if you are an experienced swimmer. The water is shallow at first and slowly deepens. The beach is very clean. Toilets and showers are also available and you can use them for free.
The beach is quite long in length and therefore very suitable for a long walk on the beach. There is a whole outdoor sports culture in Tel Aviv anyway. So if you find walking a too light workout, you can expand your workout in one of the free outdoor gyms on the beach. Locals use this a lot and everywhere you see fit people running on or along the beach. Thus plan a wonderful day at the beach when you are in Tel Aviv, there is plenty to do to entertain or relax for a whole day.
Pita's
Bread lovers… Fasten your seatbelt! It’s pita-time!
Tel Aviv is known for its delicious dishes with very well baked pita bread. The city is covered with places to get your order, we have highlighted the 3 best pita shops/restaurants in Tel Aviv. So on your next trip to Tel Aviv make sure you have scheduled your pit(a) stop! (pun intended ?)
(get a 40 dollar discount with your first Airbnb reservation!)
Visit the Rothschild Boulevard
Rothschild Boulevard is one of the best known and most important streets in Tel Aviv. It is a long boulevard of about 1.5 kilometers with a wide walking path and cycle path in the middle. Here and there there are also parks and green areas. Many families and friends gather in these parks, creating a fun friendly atmosphere. There is a lot of Bauhaus architecture on both sides of the road. Very nice area to explore on foot or by bicycle or electric scooter. Pay attention to the crowds, there can be a lot of traffic on the weekend.
Eat, sleep and repeat
Tel Aviv has, in our opinion, the best cuisine in all of Israel. Everywhere where you go there are restaurants or food stands from small to large. And the food is one of the tastiest cuisines in the world for me. I am a vegetarian and I love bread and fresh vegetables. There are vegetarian or even vegan options everywhere, everything is super fresh and the vegetables are grown locally under the Israeli sun which makes them super very tasty.
So I could indulge myself with the tastiest meals in this city for foodies!
Make a day trip to Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a sacred place to many different religions like the Abrahamic religions Judaism and Christianity, and also Islam. These religions consider it thé holy city and it truly feels like that when visiting this unique city. More than 4.8 million visitors visited Jeruzalem in 2019, making it the most visited city in Israel.
It is very easy to visit Jerusalem for a day or a day with an overnight stay from Tel Aviv. It's only half an hour by train from the main station. In another article, we tell you the must-sees in Jerusalem.
Inspired to also see this bucket list location? Book a flight and hotel and turn dreams into memories!
See all kinds of different architecture throughout Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is full of old buildings, but also has a rich history of special buildings with unique architecture. The difference in year of construction and architectural style gives Tel Aviv a varying character and is interesting to observe during your walks through the city!
Visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Whether you like painting, sculpture, or photography. There is something for everyone here. The permanent collection is impressive and consists of Chagall, Soutine, Van Gogh, Picasso. You can wander around for hours and be surprised by the beauty that you see. We liked the unique video installation by William Kentridge: More Sweetly Play the Dance the most!
Wander through the soulful streets
You have many colorful neighborhoods in Tel Aviv, each with their atmosphere, history, and therefore character. Enjoy this unique city with authentic culture by wandering the streets. There are many photogenic spots or nice restaurants to enjoy the atmosphere. so allow yourself enough days to explore and take in this characteristic and very soulful city.
Protip: go to the neighborhoods of Neve Tzedek, Mehmani, and Jaffa. You will love the atmosphere, architecture, and food here! 🙂
Did we inspire you to also see this bucket list location? Awesome! But before you go, always check if you have the best travel insurance!
More Travel Inspiration: The best time to visit Israel – An overview per season
