- Urban romance
- Museum life of the city
- Family holiday
- Note for gourmets
- Shopping in Tel Aviv
Mysterious Tel Aviv is one of the most beautiful cities in Israel and surprises tourists with its authenticity. Despite the fact that there are few attractions in it, visitors always find interesting places to go. The highlight of Tel Aviv is the combination of the spirit of antiquity with an abundance of modern buildings and culturally significant objects.
Urban romance
The first thing every traveler starts his acquaintance with Tel Aviv is a walk through its Jaffa district. In the distant past, it was a developed port city, where ships called daily, bringing goods from all over the world.
According to legend, in Jaffa, Noah began the construction of the ark and here he lowered it into the water. Residents of Tel Aviv believe that the evidence of this sacred event is the stone on which the grooves left from the bottom of the ship are carved.
Today, tourists come to Jaffa to enjoy the evening sunset, walk along the cozy streets, take pictures against the background of the unusual doors of houses painted in blue, and taste national cuisine.
For lovers of handmade souvenirs and antiques, Jaffa offers a huge variety of workshops, shops, art salons, where products of local craftsmen are on sale.
Going down the labyrinth of streets, you will find yourself in the port of Namal - the central embankment of the city. The port has long ceased to function as a transport hub, but ideal conditions for tourists have been created on its territory. Israeli designers have equipped former hangars and warehouses for restaurants, recreation areas, playgrounds and exhibition spaces.
In the evening in the port, everyone finds entertainment to their liking: young people gather in bars and listen to music, couples with children stroll along the embankment, music lovers meet on the playgrounds near the sea to listen to the performances of street musicians.
Museum life of the city
There are many museums in Tel Aviv and they all differ in themes, as well as rich collections of relics from different eras. If you want to see the city from the other side, then you should go to one of the following museums:
The Museum of Fine Arts opened its doors to its first visitors in 1932 and was subsequently actively replenished with new exhibits. The exposition includes several departments: painting (drawing, portrait, still life, landscape), contemporary art and architecture, design projects, photography and graphics. The treasury of the museum contains more than 800 works by such eminent masters as P. Picasso, A. Matisse, C. Monet, J. Miró, P. Bonnard and others
Also in the building near the museum there is a sculpture garden, Elena Rubinstein's pavilion and an educational center.
On Haim Levanon Street, there is a key museum of the city called Eretz Yisrael. The concept of the leadership was based on the creation of a unique space where expositions of archaeological and anthropological artifacts will be exhibited
In the Nehushtan hall, everything is stylized as a mine, in which visitors are shown smelting furnaces and tools used during the periods of the Eneolithic and Bronze Age.
The glass pavilion is famous for its ancient products made using the blowing technology. Among the extensive collection, the horn-shaped wine vessel and the blue jug with the "autograph" of the glassblower Ennion, who lived in the 1st century AD, stand out.
The exhibition hall, which houses the philatelic exposition, is very interesting. Rare stamps, samples of letters, postage stamps and boxes, photographs, envelopes, the first telephones - all this has been carefully collected by the museum staff since the middle of the 19th century.
The Bible Museum is an integral part of Israeli culture, as this country is riddled with Christian artifacts. After trips to Jerusalem or Nazareth, there is a natural desire to get acquainted with the history of the book of all times, which had a significant impact on the formation of the religious worldview of contemporaries
In the museum you will see collections of bibles in different languages, ancient apocrypha, candles, scrolls, maps.
Family holiday
There are few places in Tel Aviv to go with children, but you can find them if you want. At the same time, the industry of children's recreation is well developed in the city.
First, buy a ticket to Luna Park in advance online. This will provide your child with an unforgettable weekend and a lot of pleasant experiences. The park contains amusement rides that meet international safety standards. For the youngest visitors, there are several playgrounds equipped with professional animators. Those who are not afraid of the thrill are invited to ride the Ferris wheel and roller coaster. Tired of active pastime, you can dine in a cafe or just sit in the shade on a bench.
Secondly, be sure to go to the safari park, located 5 kilometers from Tel Aviv. This zoo is considered the largest in the Middle East and pleases visitors not only with its amusing inhabitants, but also with well-groomed green areas.
It should be noted that pets are kept in conditions close to their natural habitat. Visitors to the zoo move on foot or in miniature trailers, which offer a good view of all the enclosures. A "contact room" has been opened for children on the basis of the park, where chinchillas, rabbits, turtles, and dwarf monkeys live. If desired, employees are allowed to take pictures with the animal, pet and feed it.
Thirdly, it is recommended to go to the Yarkon Botanical Garden. This place has a distinct advantage - free admission all year round. The landscape design of the garden is made in such a way that every visitor has the opportunity to spend time in a calm atmosphere. For decades, rare species of exotic plants and trees have been planted in the garden, which envelop their guests with their fragrance. In addition, a rock garden, a bird corner, artificial lakes, sports grounds and a water park are located in Yarkon.
Note for gourmets
Oddly enough, the visiting card of the city is cafes and restaurants, the menu of which contains numerous names of dishes of European and national cuisine. Culinary traditions in Tel Aviv are preserved for centuries, and the recipe is carefully passed on from generation to generation. Modern catering facilities are divided into budget places and fashionable ones. At the same time, the quality of food and the size of the portion differ slightly.
Residents of the city prefer to eat in small street cafes, where they cook quickly and the dishes are inexpensive. For example, the Khamiznon cafe, located on Ibn-Gebirol Avenue, does not know the end of the visitors. This establishment was founded by the chief chef of Israel for ordinary people who cannot afford expensive restaurants. At Hamiznon you can taste the famous hummus or Israeli shawarma.
Another cafe "Vitrina" attracts with delicious falafel, affordable prices and a convenient location near the waterfront. It is better to book a table in advance, as there are always a lot of people in the cafe who want to eat. If all tables are occupied, you can ask the waiters to pack food with you.
For wealthy tourists in Tel Aviv, lunch or dinner turns into a separate ceremony. The Segev Express restaurant is a large chain of high-level catering establishments. The restaurant impresses, first of all, with its interior decoration, completely stylized as Rothschild Boulevard. Artificial oaks covered with white foliage are set among the tables and hanging lanterns. This atmosphere initially sets you up for pleasant relaxation. Segev Express is known for its delicious Middle Eastern pizza with salted cheese, chicken breast with peanut sauce and gourmet desserts.
Do not forget to drop by the Old Man and the Sea restaurant, which specializes in the preparation of fish dishes. Here you will be greeted by friendly waiters and chefs who are able to create a real culinary masterpiece from fresh seafood. You will be allowed to choose fresh seafood yourself directly in the aquariums of the restaurant.
Shopping in Tel Aviv
On weekends and holidays, Tel Aviv turns into a bustling marketplace with a variety of products for all tastes. Tourists primarily go to flea markets and fairs. Among them are popular:
- Nahalat Binyamin is a spontaneous bazaar that unfolds on the streets of downtown on Friday. Works of artists, metal, paper, plastic, stone, wood and glass products are exhibited for sale at 250 author's stands. All products are handmade, which distinguishes them from ordinary souvenirs. Having bought the thing you like on Nahalat Binyamin, you can be sure that it will be in a single copy.
- Every Tel Aviv resident knows the colorful flea market in Jaffa. Here you can wander for hours, choosing antiques. Along with cheap dummies, the market sells items dating from the early 20th century. If you want to buy something worthwhile, then it is better to go there accompanied by a connoisseur of antiquity. Otherwise, there is a chance to run into a fake.
- Thousands of Israelis visit the Carmel food market every day. This fact is explained by the fact that the assortment here is always fresh and relatively cheap. Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, cereals, cheeses, alcoholic beverages are only a small part of what is sold in Carmel. Convenient signs with the image of a particular product help tourists navigate among the intricate rows of products.
