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Tel-Aviv - Tourist Useful Information

Frequently Asked Questions:

star For an Overview, a guided tour of Tel-Aviv see This page.

What is the weather in Tel-Aviv ?

Here are the average temperatures and precipitations:

Month
 Max (C)
 Min (C)
 Rain (mm)
January
 18
 10
 127
February
 18
 10
 90
March
 19
 12
 61
April
 23
 14
 18
May
 25
 17
 2.3
June
 28
 21
 0
July
 29
 23
 0
August
 30
 24
 0.7
September
 29
 23
 0.4
October
 27
 19
 26
November
 23
 15
 79
December
 19
 11
 126

As you can see from the chart, it is quite hot in Tel-Aviv. If you don't like cold weather the only months to avoid are December, January and February but even during these months, there are many sunny days.
Tel-Aviv has more than 300 sunny days a year.
July and August are very hot and humid but all places in Israel have air-conditioning (not the beach).

What is the best time to visit Tel-Aviv ?

Regarding the weather:
Probably during autumn and spring when it is not too hot but you can still go to the beach (September, October, May, June). November is usually also fine, the lifeguard at the beach is still working, which means people are still entering into the water, and the sea is usually very smooth in October and November, no waves.
Regarding hotel prices:
July, August is the hot season. Kids are on vacation. prices are high
Regarding feasts:
You should know that Kippur day (In October) is a very special day in Israel. There is no car traffic so wherever you happen to be on the eve of the feast, there you will stay for the next 24 hours. I still recommend to be on that day in Tel-Aviv because it is very special. (Many cities in the world would like to have a day without cars, Israel did it somehow)
Pessah (April) is a feast in which during one week, most grocery stores are not selling bread and its subproducts (Pasta...), same with many restaurants. Again, this is not a reason to avoid Tel-Aviv, you can still find bread in many places or eat the traditional "Matza".

When is school vacation in Israel ?

July, August and during national feasts.

When are the feasts in Israel ?

Feasts in Israel run according to the Jewish calendar so each year they fall on other specific dates.
Note 1: Feasts that are non labour days (National holiday) are colored green in the following table.
Note 2: Feasts in Israel, like the day of Shabat, begin one day before, at sunset.
Note 3: Children at school have more "National holidays".
Here are the dates for 2012 and 2013:


 2013
 2014
Feast
 Date
 Date
Purim
 24 Feb 16 Mar
Pesah
 26 Mar, 1 Apr 15 Apr, 21 Apr
Holocaust memorial
 8 Apr 28 Apr
Wars memorial
15 Apr 5 May
Independence day
 16 Apr 6 May
Lag Baomer
 28 Apr 18 May
Shavuot
 15 May 4 Jun
Rosh ashana
5, 6 Sep 25, 26 Sep
Kippur
 14 Sep 4 Oct
Sukkot
 19 Sep 9 Oct
Simhat Tora
 26 Sep 16 Oct
Hanuka
 28 Nov 17 Dec

Where is Tel-Aviv ?

Tel-Aviv is quite in the center of Israel and It lies on the Mediterranean coast (many  beaches...). Tel-Aviv is just 120 Km from Lebanon, 55 Km from the Gaza strip, 74 Km from Jordan and just 20 Km from the West Bank (straight line distances). See here distances from Tel-Aviv to major cities in Israel.
tlvmap4

How big is Tel-Aviv ?

To get an idea: If you walk from the port area in the north, to Jaffa in the south it will be 5 Km. From the sea to the Ayalon highway 2.5 Km. So Tel-Aviv is not that big, you can walk to most central places, ride a bike or take a short bus ride. Tel-Aviv itself has around 400,000 inhabitants but with its surrounding towns (Gush Dan area) it gets to more than 3,000,000 which is more than 40% of all the inhabitants of Israel.
tlvmap3

How much does it cost to visit Tel-Aviv ?

At a Worldwide Cost of Living survey 2012 - City rankings (Mercer Consulting), Tel-Aviv was found to be in position 31. Nearby positions: London is ranked 25, Paris 37 and New York 33. So if you know one of these cities you can have an idea about the prices in Tel-Aviv.
Some prices of products in Tel-Aviv in the year 2013:
Bus ticket in Tel-Aviv: 6.60 shekels
Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem by bus, one way: 18 shekels
Sandwich Falafel: 16 shekels
A drink with the Falafel: 8 shekels
Mac Donalds Big Mac meal: 30 shekels
A movie at a cinema: 38 shekels (don't buy the popcorn, too expensive)
One night in a private room in a hostel: 200 shekels
One night in a standard room at the Hilton hotel: 1500 shekels
Use this Currency Converter to get the prices in your local currency.

Are Israeli girls beautiful ? (Asked Only by Males)

Yes, but usually they want to have a minimum of 3 kids in their family.

How safe is it to visit Tel-Aviv ?

Personal safety:
Much safer than major big cities in the world. The murder rate in Israel is 2.1 per 100,000 people compared to 5.0 in the U.S (source Wikipedia). Road accidents are like in Europe and the U.S (source Wikipedia)
For Women:
Girls are going to party at night with very short clothes. In cities like Paris or London it is less safe to do so.
Terrorist attacks:
There have been periods with terrorist attacks on Tel-Aviv and of course it makes a big psychological impact but statistically you have much more probability to get hurt in a car accident than from a terrorist attack. (And anyway, a terrorist may reach you also on a peaceful island in Norway as occurred in 2011)
At War time or when there is an earthquake:
Avoid Israel when it is at war (You know, nuclear missiles flying in all directions). We will try to win the war as fast as possible so that you can come back to visit.
Note:  Life expectancy in Israel is one of the highest in the world. In 2010 Israel was in third position with an average of 82 years (80 for men and 84 for women). (source Wikipedia)

What are the distances from Tel-Aviv to other cities in Israel ?

Jerusalem
 65 km
Haifa
 100 km
Airport
 21 km
Eilat
 350 km
Tiberias
 135 km
Natania
 33 km
Beer Sheva
 103 km
Ashdod
 42 km
Natzereth
 106 km

As you see, Israel is a small country. Eilat in the south is a little bit far, you can take a bus for 4 hours or a flight of 50 minutes.

Why Visit Tel-Aviv ?

Many tourists are skipping Tel-Aviv, thinking that the city is just a residential area and that they better concentrate on famous tourist destinations like Jerusalem. Here are two good reasons why you shouldn’t miss Tel-Aviv:
  1. Tel-Aviv is the center of Israel in many aspects. How can you understand a country without visiting its economic and cultural center? Tel-Aviv is where movies are filmed, the place were politicians, students and celebrities choose to live and the place where protests are held.
  2. Tel-Aviv is fun: it has beaches and it has a joyful atmosphere. Tel-Aviv was chosen by Lonely Planet in 2012 as one of the most vibrant cities and beach cities and it was chosen in 2013 as one of the most innovative cities.
So, let the other tourists go for the holy places and just come to enjoy Tel-Aviv.

What is the Flight time to Tel-Aviv ?

From Europe: Around 4 hours
From the U.S: Around 10 hours

How can I reserve a flight ticket to Tel-Aviv ?

You can reserve a flight ticket here, on TripAdvisor.

How can I get from the Airport to Tel-Aviv ?

The International Ben-Gurion airport is situated between Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem at about 20 km from Tel-Aviv and 45 km from Jerusalem.
(See on Map) In order to arrive to Tel-Aviv you can use the train, it operates also at night and the trip takes about 20 minutes. See the train schedule in this Train Company Internet Site.
You can also take Taxi. There are no shared taxis to Tel-Aviv (Sherut service).

How many days should I stay in Tel-Aviv ?

Tel-Aviv is not big and it doesn't have famous monuments that are a "must see" for tourists. On the other hand, Tel-Aviv is a pleasant city to stay with nice beaches, parks, cafés, people and nightlife. I would say that 2 days is a minimum to get the spirit of Tel-Aviv. In 2 days you can do some of these activities during the day and go to the nightlife spots during the nights.

Do I need a Visa in order to visit Israel ?

Citizens of many countries will be issued tourist visas free of charge at every port or entrance terminal to Israel. You can see the list of countries in this Israeli Tourism Ministry site. You can also look at the ministry of foreign affairs Site for information about more types of visas.

How can I reserve an hotel for Tel-Aviv ?

You can reserve an hotel for Tel-Aviv here, on TripAdvisor.
You can reserve an hostel for Tel-Aviv here, on HostelWorld.

Where are the main areas for nightlife, bars and dancing clubs in Tel-Aviv ?

For bars and nightclubs:
  1. The Tel-Aviv port area in the north of the city.
  2. Around Florentin street.
  3. Lilenblum and Rothschild streets, close to Hertzel street.
  4. Alenby street, close to the sea.
For cafés and bars:
  1. Neve Tzedek, the main street Shabazi
  2. The Station complex (Atahana), close to Jaffa on the shore.
There are also many places to go out all over the city, not in the main entertainment areas.

What can I do in Tel-Aviv during the day ?

The obvious thing to do during summer time is to lay on the beach till the night comes and then go to party. If you insist you can do these:

Do Israelis speak English ?

The main language in Israel is Hebrew but most Israelis have a good level of English. Street signs are everywhere in English, menus in restaurants etc... You may find in Tel-Aviv people speaking also: Arabic(specially in Yaffo), Russian, French and Spanish.

How can I find a good Restaurant in Tel-Aviv ?

Look this Timeout magazine, page 100. You can also look at this TripAdvisor Restaurant guide.

Is there public transportation on the Shabat day (Saturday) ?

Basically No, but there are some minibuses (Sherut service) operating in Tel-Aviv. There are taxis. The train to the airport is not working. International flights yes but not El-Al company.
Restaurants, spectacles and entertainment areas are very active on Shabat. Shops and businesses are closed but you can find grocery products in some places.
The day of the Shabat starts on Friday at sunset and ends on Saturday at sunset.

To where can I go with the train from Tel Aviv and where are the stations ?

The national trains pass through Tel-Aviv and stop in 3 stations:(See on Map) Merkaz Savidor(Main train station and northern central Bus station), Ashalom (Azrieli towers), Aagana (Central Bus station). The train doesn't always stop at all these stations. With the train you can go to Haifa, Naariya, Ashdod, Beer-Sheva and many other suburban destinations. To go to Jerusalem it is better to take the bus from one of the two central Bus stations(faster)and to go to Eilat a bus or a flight. Train Company Internet Site.

Where are the Central Bus Stations in Tel Aviv ?

The main one is at the south of the city inside a big mall. (The train has a connection there called "Aagana") In hebrew you should ask for: "tahana merkazit"(central station). The second which is much smaller and doesn't serve all destinations is at the north of the city at the main train station, "Merkaz, Savidor". (See on Map)

How can I know Bus schedules and Itineraries at Tel-Aviv ?

The main company for national routes is Egged.
The main company for Tel-Aviv lines is Dan.
You can also use this bus itinerary planner site.
Ask people around you, most Israelis like to talk, it is the best way to get information.

How to go from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, Haifa and Eilat ?

Jerusalem is at just 65 Km from Tel-Aviv with the highway number one. The fastest way to arrive to Jerusalem with public transport (as for 2013) is by taking the Bus from one of the two bus central stations of Tel-Aviv. The journey takes about 50 minutes. Once you arrive to the central station of Jerusalem you can use the light train to get to the city center and the old city (about 15 minutes).
By Train - In these days a new railway is being built between Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem but it will take a few years to be operational, for now there is an old railway with nice scenery but the journey takes almost 2 hours and you arrive to another part of Jerusalem (Malka mall).
Haifa is at 100 Km from Tel-Aviv and the best way to get there is by train, it takes one hour. The train stops at several stations in Tel-Aviv. Once you arrive to Haifa by train (Haifa Center Station), you can take the funicular (Carmelit) to climb the mountain. There are also buses from Tel-Aviv to Haifa, of course.
Eilat is at 350 Km from Tel-Aviv. There is not a train to Eilat. You can take a bus for about 5 hours (also at night) or you can take a short flight.

How can I call a Taxi in Tel-Aviv ?

Here are some big taxi companies:

Kastel taxi Tel: 03-6994242 or *3242 from mobile phone
New-York taxi Tel: 03-5237722 or *227 from mobile phone

Is there a Tourist Bus in Tel-Aviv ?

Yes. Panoramic Touristic Bus Internet Site

Is there a guided Walking Tour in Tel-Aviv ?

Yes. Walking tours in Tel-Aviv

A Segway tour is also an interesting way to explore Tel-Aviv.

Is it easy to exchange Money in Tel-Aviv ?

Yes. There are offices all over the city with no commissions, there are banks which sometimes do take commissions. At the airport the money exchange is open 24 hours a day. There are also plenty ATMs from which you can withdraw money and you can pay by credit card in most places.

Can I pay in Tel-Aviv in foreign currency like with the dollar ?

Not really. Maybe at the hotel but anywhere else the expected currency is the Israeli shekel. You can also pay by credit card. Use this Currency Converter to know the rates.

What is the cheapest way to make International phone calls ?

The cheapest way to make International calls will be using a free Wi-Fi network in a café and by using a software like Skype. The second cheapest option is to buy a local SIM from one of the cell phone operators. (Orange, Cellcom). If you use your mobile phone with the tariff plan you have in your country, check out the International call prices, they may be quite high.

Are there Museums in Tel-Aviv ?

Yes. The biggest two are:
Tel-Aviv Museum of Art
Eretz Israel Museum (Ancient cultures of Israel)
See this site for the complete list of museums.

Where are the Commercial Centers in Tel-Aviv ?

The first mall to visit is Dizengoff Center, it is big and right in the center of town (On Fridays there are stands selling home made food and it is very animated). The second largest mall in Tel-Aviv is Azrieli Center, right at the base of the Azrieli towers, you can’t miss them, they are the tallest buildings in town. There are some local, smaller malls: Gan-Ahir near the City hall building and the Opera building on the beach. There is an Arts & Crafts bazaar in Nahalat Binyamin street (on Tuesdays and Fridays). On Fridays you can visit the Flea market in Jaffa, it is recently very animated with new cafés. You can find commercial streets a little bit everywhere in town, Dizengoff street is one of them. You can find more big malls a little bit outside of town: Arena Center in Herzelia Pituah (it is on the beach and there is a Marina there with many cafés), Ramat-Aviv Mall in Ramat-Aviv, and Ayalon Mall in Ramat-Gan.
(See Map with all the Commercial Centers in town).

Where can I rent a bike in Tel-Aviv ?

In case you haven't heard yet : Tel-Aviv has a public bike rental system with stations called Tel-O-fun. You can take a bike in one station and bring it back in another. You can pay for this service with an international credit card at the stations. There are also private shops for renting bikes in Tel-Aviv, some are located close to the beaches. Also some hotels give that service.

Is it possible to rent a motorbike in Tel-Aviv ?

Yes, there are many scooters in the streets of Tel-Aviv and MotoGo is doing rentals per days.

Where can I find gyms in Tel-Aviv ?

If you don't want to use one of the many outdoor gyms which are spread all over the city, you can go to a regular gym, some of them are quite fashionable with music playing as loud as in a dancing club, some include a swimming pool.
Here are some gyms located in the center:
  • Gordon swimming pool and gym, right on the Gordon beach. The swimming pool is an Olympic size and is in open-air.
  • Holmes place: They have two branches in the center, one in the Azrieli towers (with a swimming pool) and the other in Dizengoff center.
  • Great Shape - Near the municipality at 68 Even Gvirol street.

To which neighbouring countries can I pass from Israel ? (open borders)

Israel has 4 borders: You can pass by land or take a flight to Egypt and Jordan. You can't pass from Israel to Syria and Lebanon.

Which Electric Plug is used in Israel ?

The voltage in Israel is 220 Volt and the plug is usually a 3 rounded socket but the best is to be equipped with an International plug adapter. Just remember that the adapter will not convert the voltage, so make sure your electronic device is suitable also to 220 Voltage.

Is it easy to travel alone (Single) in Israel and in Tel-Aviv ?

Tel-Aviv is THE city for singles in Israel. About 75% of the adults under 30 years old are not married in Tel-Aviv, so if you are single, you will feel in good company. If you are a woman, the nightclubs will be happy to let you enter alone, for a man it may be trickier, so try to arrive early to the club. A good way to meet people could be by going to dance in a Salsa club, most of the people arrive alone to the Salsa clubs and there is the pre-party class which is great to make friends. As for women safety, there is not a particular difference between Tel-Aviv and major big cities in the world, Tel-Aviv is quite safe for women and so is the rest of Israel. If you need orientation, most people in Israel speak English. There are single rooms in hotels and hostels.

Where can I dance Salsa in Tel-Aviv ?

The main clubs are: Panorama club at the very south of Tel-Aviv (Ben Tzvi street, 84) and Havana club near the Azrieli towers (Dereh Ashalom, 5).
Start from there and ask the people for the other places to dance (it changes).
In Tel-Aviv you can dance Salsa almost every day of the week. The evening usually begins around 22:00 with a lesson of one hour in many levels and just after comes the party. Going to Salsa in Israel is a good way to meet people and if you can't dance Salsa, simply join the beginner level group.

What can I do with Kids in Tel-Aviv ?

First you should realize that Israel is a country with many children and babies (the fertility rate in Israel is higher than in western countries). So, if you are travelling with kids, you will not feel different, and you can enter with your kids in restaurants and cafés without inconvenience. To keep your kids busy and happy in Tel-Aviv you can take them to:
  • The beach and swimming pools.
  • Water parks - the most central one is the Meymadion in the Yarkon park (Yeushua park). Another is Shfayim, in a kibutz north of Tel-Aviv and there is Yamit 2000, south of Tel-Aviv in the city of Hulon.
  • Tel-Aviv Malls, they are air-conditioned and some of them have special playgrounds for kids.
  • The Azrieli towers have an observatory deck at the top floor and a 3D movie.
  • The Yarkon park - you can rent there a boat on the river, visit the Tzapari (a small zoo) and a botanical garden.
  • Rent bikes, there is Tel-O-fun, the public service and there are also private shops.
  • Visit the Safari (big Zoological park) in Ramat-gan (a short bus ride), there are organized tours with a "kid train" for those who don't come with a car.
  • In the port of Jaffa, there are short boat tours.
  • If you are willing to go out of town : Mini Israel is an attraction with replica models of Israeli sites and regions.
  • Travel to Jerusalem by train - with the old rails it takes almost two hours but the scenery is nice between Bet-Shemesh and Jerusalem.

Do I need any vaccination before visiting Israel ?

No. Israel has modern health and hygiene standards.

Can I drink tap water in Israel ?

Yes.

How long does Tel-Aviv exist ?

100 years. You can read more about the history of Tel-Aviv here.

How can I see a Map of Tel-Aviv ?

Look here.

Where can I see Videos with Tel-Aviv scenery ?

Video: Neve Tzedek and Atahana
Video: Rothschild Boulevard
Video: Sheinkin, Nahalat Binyamin, Dizengoff Center
Video: Rikudei-Am at Gordon Beach
Video: Rabin Square - A Demonstration
Video: Dog Beach
Video: Matkot Game at the Beach
Video: Kippur Day in Tel-Aviv

Live Webcam: If you want to see Tel-Aviv in live enter the Ayalon highway site. If you choose camera number 7, you see the Azrieli towers.

Where can I get more Information about Tel-Aviv and Israel ?

Israeli Tourism official Site
Tel-Aviv municipality official Site
Wikipedia Tel-Aviv
Timout magazine Tel-Aviv
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star Don't forget to visit the pages Tel-Aviv - Only the Important Stuff, to get a taste of Tel-Aviv atmosphere and more information.

star If you have specific questions about Tel-Aviv or Israel, you can ask them in this TripAdvisor Forum.

star If you liked this tour of Tel-Aviv, see also the tours of Bangkok and Barcelona.