Tel Aviv is a lively, vibrant city. They call it “the city that never sleeps” for a reason. The nightlife is amazing, the food culture is fantastic, people are out till the early hours and there’s always something to do.

It certainly helps that the weather is lovely all year round. Tel Aviv is a wonderful place for foodies, art lovers, party people and anyone who wants to catch some sun on its beautiful beaches.

There are many reasons to visit Tel Aviv; here are the top five.

Tel Aviv is first and foremost a beach city. It has no less than 16 beaches, and as it’s sunny most of the time, even in winter, you can always go for a swim and play some water sports or volleyball.  

The beach is also your place to relax from the buzz of the city. Get a tan, people watch and enjoy the lazy Mediterranean vibe.

The most popular beaches in Tel Aviv are Gordon Beach and Frishman Beach in the centre and Banana Beach in the south.

You can expect weekends (Friday and Saturday) to be pretty crowded days at the beach. You can walk along the promenade and find the perfect spot.

Markets are very trendy in Tel Aviv right now. The city has some traditional food markets that have been around for years, and some more upscale, flashy ones that have been popping up lately.

If you’re looking for a Middle Eastern feel, head straight to the Carmel Market. It is right in the city centre and pretty much an essential part of any visit to Tel Aviv. Enjoy the fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods, spices and sweets. This is the place for you to try all sorts of local delicacies.

For a different, more urban experience, try some of Tel Aviv’s new covered food markets, full of restaurants and food stalls of any kind you can imagine. The main ones are Sarona market, the food market at Tel Aviv port and the Allenby.

Tel Aviv is a party city. Tel Avivians like to go out late and stay out late into the night. On a typical night (even in the middle of the week), the bars are full and you can always find a party and lots of live music gigs going on.

The current nightlife hubs include the area around Rothschild Boulevard and Allenby Street and the Flea Market in Jaffa.

Check out some international DJs and the wonderful sound system at the Block Nightclub, or the Pasáž for some alternative parties and gigs by local talents.

A word of advice on going out: alcohol is pretty expensive in Tel Aviv, so when you go out make use of happy hours, which normally run until around 9pm and enjoy half price drinks.

Tel Aviv is a cultural centre and attracts a lot of artists who live and work in the city. It is full of creativity.

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is a must for any visitor, where you can see works by many Israeli artists and well known international artists. The collection includes paintings, photography, sculptures, drawings and installations.

Lovers of street art will find some pleasant surprises around the city, especially on the streets of Florentin neighbourhood.

Local artists sell their art and crafts twice a week at the Artists’ Market on Nahalat Binyamin Street. It’s a colourful market that runs every Tuesday and Friday and a good place to get some locally made souvenirs.

Tel Aviv’s architecture is a mix of old and new, though its old buildings only date back to the 1930s.

The city is known for its Bauhaus or International Style buildings. These are gorgeous modernists houses painted white, with curving lines and big balconies and windows.

Tel Aviv was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for having the largest collection of Bauhaus buildings in the world, which gave it the name “The White City”. Many of these buildings and are now being beautifully restored and preserved.

At the same time, Tel Aviv is full of modern glass skyscrapers, as a stunning contrast to the old, humble Bauhaus buildings.

Thanks Tal from Bright Nomad – For more info, check out these tips for first time visitors to Tel Aviv and the guide to how to save money when you visit Tel Aviv.

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