Tel Aviv - A Middle Eastern metropolis

"Enigmatic, energetic and extrovert – Tel Aviv is the city that never stops.”

Get ready for an experience like no other, because Tel Aviv is bursting in on the holiday scene. It may have been in the limelight for reasons other than sunshine and sightseeing in the past, but this buzzing beach city is set to become the talk of the travel industry. Those in the know have been flocking to this cosmopolitan city for some time, in the smug knowledge they’re onto something special. But they won’t be able to hide it under their sunhats for much longer. Sassy, sophisticated and with an infectious energy, Tel Aviv is more hip than historic. And that’s because it’s not yet a hundred years old. It doesn’t even bother trying to compete with its ancient counterparts. Instead, you’ll find a fun-filled slice of Eastern promise that’s much more at home in the ‘city that never sleeps’ stakes. There’s round-the-clock entertainment - from enticing eateries to bubbly bars. There’s superb shopping – with chic boutiques and oodles of exotic markets. And there are gorgeous bleached-white sands, too. If you want to cram some culture in while you’re here though, it’s not all shiny new. Head for the atmospheric quarter of Old Jaffa and wind your way through the cobbled alleyways laced with arty shops and cafés. And there’s plenty for the sightseeing tick list too, from fascinating museums to leafy parks. Of course, you don’t have to stay put. It’s easy enough to hotfoot it to the ancient Holy lands for the day. With so much on your doorstep, the only difficulty you’ll have here is what first? Decisions, decisions…

Beaches

There aren’t many cosmopolitan cities in the world where you can step straight onto a dazzling white-sand beach. So Tel Aviv is pretty special on this score. Mother Nature certainly worked her magic here, blessing the coastline with 14km of cashmere-soft sands. You can spend your mornings browsing the chic boutiques or seeing the sights and then pad down here for the afternoon with your beach towel and sunnies. No doubt the crystal-clear seas will be a welcome relief from the heat of the city. Of course, you could give the city thing a miss completely and while away all your days on these shimmering shores. And who could blame you. With miles and miles to choose from, you can always find your own little piece of paradise. Or if you’re after some action, there are oodles of watersports to have a go at, from kayaking to windsurfing. And when you need to refresh and refuel, simply take your pick from the beach bars, cafés and restaurants that lace the promenade. This is the life.

Shopping

You don’t have to come with a fully charged credit card to enjoy shopping in Tel Aviv. It’s a delight to simply stroll along and just soak up the exotic, Middle Eastern atmosphere. And whatever gets your wallet tingling with excitement, you’re bound to find it here. So, where to start? Well, if you like a little bit of everything, Alenby Street is crammed full of all sorts of curios from bakeries to bookshops. Then again, the Bohemian Shenkin Street might be more your style with its unique arty stores. If you do want to splash some serious cash though, the huge Kikar Hamedina square is chock-a-block with chic boutiques and designer names. And of course, you’ll find plenty of sleek air-conditioned malls where you can meander, such as swish ‘Gan Hair’ near Rabin Square. Whatever you do – don’t leave without wandering around one of the atmospheric markets here. Have a rummage around the Nachlat Benyamim market with its colourful bazaar stall, conjurers and fortune tellers. Or listen to the traders shouting ‘hamesh shekel kilo’ at the Shook Hakarmel. It’s an experience and a half.

Eating out

You can dine out on cuisine from just about any corner of the globe in Tel Aviv and whether you’re mouth is watering for Thai, Japanese or Italian, you’ll find it here. But it would be a shame to leave without tucking in to all the delicious Israeli cuisine on offer. A melting pot of cultures have left their culinary influences here, from the Arabs and Bedouins to the Moroccans and Persians. There’s an old Jewish proverb here ‘Eat and drink for tomorrow you may die’ - so for somewhere that’s so obsessed by food, you know you’re in for something of a treat. Look out for a ‘Chafla’ meal on the menu, which is a feast of salads, spit roasted meats such as lamb and assorted rice. Other must-try specialities include ‘labane’ a sour cheese, ‘tahina’ a sesame seed sauce and ‘baklava’ a sticky cake made from nuts that’s just heaven. Oh, and don’t leave without ordering Israel’s unofficial national dish ‘falafel’, spiced balls made from chickpeas or fava beans, usually served in pita bread with hummus.

Nightlife

Nicknamed ‘the city that never stops’, Tel Aviv’s nightlife is everything you’d expect – and then some. It’s big. It’s bright. It’s buzzing. And, you guessed it – it never stops. You’ll find every sort of bar under the sun here, from classy cocktail lounges to noisy jam-packed places, all of which don’t get going until around 11pm. Then, if you have the stamina, you can follow the crowds to one of the glitzy clubs during the early hours and party ‘til sunrise. If you want to join the trend setters, head for the Port area, or nightlife central as it should be re-named, which has oodles of after-dark hotspots. Don’t worry if you were hoping for a less hedonistic evening though. Simply stroll down to the promenade, pull up a chair at a waterfront café and enjoy a drink to the sound of the waves washing the shores. Cheers!

Sightseeing

Yehoshua Gardens - Hayarkon Park
Escape the city heat and head for the lush green grounds of Yehoshua Gardens. Set around an artificial-but-you’d-never-know-it lake, you can chill out here among the manicured lawns and stroll through the tropical gardens and Zapari Bird Park. And if you’re traveling with children, they’ll love the miniature train and playgrounds.

Azrieli Observatory
If you’ve got a head for heights, don’t miss a trip up the Azrieli Observatory, the highest observatory in the Middle East. Located on the 49th floor of the Azrieli Centre, the views from here are jaw dropping. Peer through one of the telescopes and you can not only see the breathtaking city skyline, but the twinkling coastline, to boot.

Luna Park
Fancy some fast thrills while you’re here? Then come and scream-if-you-want-to-go-faster at Luna Park – Israel’s largest funfair. Whether you’re six or sixty, you’ll find something here, from heart-stopping rides to scintillating shows.

Bauhaus - 'The White City'
Something that you probably won’t expect to see in Tel Aviv is a 1920s architectural UNESCO site. Well, head for the area around Rothschild Boulevard and you’ll clap eyes on over 3,500 ‘Bauhaus’ buildings. These distinctive art-deco-style whitewashed buildings are the world’s finest surviving collection and so have earned their place as a World Cultural Heritage site. Don’t miss ‘em - take a tour.

Holy Lands
Travel out of Tel Aviv and the holy sights come thick and fast. Prepare to be moved in the awe-inspiring cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem where you can clap eyes on some of the world’s most impressive shrines and monuments. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and then stroll through the quaint cobbled streets that make up the Arab souk. And if you drop in on Bethlehem, don’t miss the Church of the Nativity, which is built on the spot where Jesus was born.

Useful links

http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/english/home.asp
http://www.white-city.co.il
http://amusementpark.co.il/english.htm