Despite the regional conflicts that surround the country, Israel’s tourism has been steadily increasing over the past few years. This fact is most obvious in one of the country’s famous tourist destinations – the city of Tel Aviv. This city is like the country’s cultural and commercial centre, with many grand hotels and resorts and high end boutiques popping everywhere. Coupled with the scenic shoreline and exciting nightlife, it is no wonder that Tel Aviv has made it to the list of many popular travel magazines and websites.
The most famous attraction of the city would easily be their beaches. There are various resorts scattered along the eight mile long stretch of sand and water in Tel Aviv, one of such is Banana Beach. This beach is great for those looking for a relaxing day by the sea. There is a small café with the same name, and serves simple yet scrumptious dishes for a reasonable price. At Friday evenings, the beach is filled with throngs of people wanting to join the partying and dancing. Other beaches in the area like Gordon Beach and Metzizim Beach are also worth visiting.
Old Jaffa is also another part of the trip that you shouldn’t miss. Old Jaffa is considered to be one of the world’s oldest cities. This is also where you can find the oldest seaport in the world. The city may be old, but the place has a lot to offer visitors to the place. There are designers and artists that opened up shops in the area, along with many restaurants and even museums. Also, if you want to taste authentic Israeli street food, then this is the place to be.
Other great attractions of Tel Aviv are the various markets scattered in the city. There is the farmer’s market in the Tel Aviv Port which you can enjoy while walking in the promenade and watching the beach. There is also the Levinsky Market which specializes in selling spices including dried fruits and nuts. You can also find traditional pastries and pickled produce here. Lastly is the Carmel Market, where you can find almost anything that you may be looking for, from food to clothing and more.
There are also various walking tours of the city. You can choose to join one particular tour, or if you can head on out on your own. Some of the notable places worth visiting includes the famous Clock Square with its famous clock tower which is over a hundred years old now, and the Rabin Square just outside the City Hall constructed in memory of Minister Yitzhak Rabin who was assassinated in this square. Of course, you definitely must see the White City, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, which boasts of modern Bauhaus architecture from the 1930s.
There are more things to do, see and enjoy in Tel Aviv. Just keep your eyes and minds open and you will surely have a blast in this city by the Mediterranean Sea.
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Photo by dweinberger on Flickr