Choose from 10 Fun Things to Do in Tel Aviv
Sheinken Street
Notorious for being one of the swankiest, hippest streets in all of Tel Aviv, Sheinken Street (שיינקין) is home to some of the best shops and restaurants in town. Elegance and culture reign in this bustling district, and if you're looking for a great shopping experience, this is the place to be.
Speciality stores and boutiques for every visitor line the streets along with delicious restaurants and charming cafes. If you're looking for a calmer experience, people-watching on Nafha Street (רחוב נפחא) is the prime location, with beautiful al fresco cafes. Whatever you're looking for, Sheinken Street is sure to have something for you.
Practical Info
Sheinken Street is located in the heart of Tel Aviv, and is incredibly easy to access by any mode of transportation. Be sure to check out all of the connecting and side streets in order to get the full Sheinken experience.
Masada
- The Snake route is the most popular and easily accessible hiking route to Masada and takes around 45 minutes, but it’s a steep uphill climb with many steps.
- Wear comfortable shoes, and bring sunscreen and plenty of water, especially if you plan on hiking; temperatures can reach 100°F (38°C) in the summer months.
- The cable car and viewpoints at Masada are fully wheelchair accessible, although some of the ruins may be tricky to reach.
Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek (נְוֵה צֶדֶק) is one of the most charming neighborhoods in all of Tel Aviv. The first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside of the ancient Jaffa walls, it enjoyed a prosperous beginning as the first modern city in the Hebrew world. Today, it is stylish and full of life. Galleries and restaurants dominate the area's streets, and the small cafes and artist studios make the colorful streets look like a sort of Bohemian haven. For great shopping, be sure to visit Shabazi Street (ברחוב שבזי) for lovely boutiques and specialty stores.
Be sure to visit the Nachum Gutman Museum (נחום גוטמן במוזיאון), devoted to the famous Israeli artist, as well as the Suzanne Dellal Center for Dance and Theatre (מרכז סוזן דלל למחול ותיאטרון), an incredible cultural center surrounded by beautiful gardens. Neve Tzedek is one of the most enthralling, beautiful, and culturally blooming area in Tel Aviv, and is certainly not to be missed.
Practical Info
Located in the southwestern part of the city, just south of the Yemenite Quarter, Neve Tzedek is very easily accessed from the heart of Tel Aviv by foot, bus, or car. There is also a light rail that is rumored to go into central Tel Aviv very shortly.
Some of the best restaurants in the entire city are in the neighborhood, so be sure to sample some of the local fare.
Palmach Museum
Practical Info
Golan Heights
Other top attractions of the Golan Heights region include the Hammat Gader hot springs, located on the Syrian and Jordanian border; the ancient Jewish town of Katzrin, where the extensive ruins include a synagogue dating back to the 6th century; Israel’s largest Byzantine monastery in Kursi; and the extinct volcano of Mount Bental, which offers magnificent views over the Golan plateau and the Syrian Quneitra Valley.
Acre
Frequently referred to as 'Akko,' Acre is situated in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel. Populated with beautiful ancient buildings, Old Akko, a subset of Acre, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cultural vibrancy makes it a prime place for visitors. Hosting festivals and markets year-round, the port of Acre is lively and beautiful.
Steeped in history, you can visit the ancient walls and fortresses of the city that tell the complicated story of the area.
Further afield are the Baha'i Gardens, which are meticulously designed and gorgeously preserved. The gardens surround the Bahji mansion northeast of Acre where the Bahaullah is buried (not to be confused with the Bahai gardens on the slope of Mount Carmel in Haifa).
Be sure to visit the astounding Knights' Halls, which are comprised of 6 different joined halls that have been recently excavated from the time of the Knights Hospitallers.
Practical Info
The best way to access Acre is via bus, operated out of any major city in Israel. There are also inner-city buses that run frequently to many of the main destinations and tourist attractions.
Nazareth
- Nazareth is a must-see for history buffs and culture lovers.
- Remember to dress modestly if you plan to visit churches or mosques—you should cover up from your shoulders to below your knees.
- Because this is a predominantly Arab city, most stores and restaurants are open during Shabbat on Fridays and Saturdays.
Museum of the Jewish People (Beit Hatfutsot)
Practical Info
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
- There is an entrance fee to enter the reserve, and tickets include a map of the park’s hiking trails and attractions.
- Wear comfortable shoes, and bring sunscreen and plenty of water, especially if you plan on hiking; temperatures can reach 100°F (38°C) in the summer months.
- The uneven and often gravelly tracks mean that Ein Gedi is mostly inaccessible to wheelchair users.
- Visitor facilities include restrooms, a kiosk, and a gift shop at the reserve entrance.
Rosh Hanikra
There are a number of ways to take in the highlights of Rosh Hanikra and visitors can ascend by cable car to the cliff top, where the views expand along the coastline; take a train or bike ride along the scenic seafront promenade; or follow the dimly-lit walking trail through the labyrinth of caves, among them the remains of a manmade railway tunnel dug out in 1943 by the British to connect the Cairo-Haifa rail line to Beirut. Along with its unique geology, Rosh Hanikra also has another claim to fame – the border station was also the location for the signing of the 1949 armistice between Lebanon and the State of Israel.