Tel Aviv
From Imakoopedia
Tel Aviv (Hebrew: תל אביב) is the largest city in Israel. Tel Aviv is located on the Mediterranean coast, about 60 km north-west of Jerusalem and some 100 km south of Haifa. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo (תל אביב-יפו), and reflects the fact that the city has grown beside (and absorbed) the ancient port city of Jaffa (Arabic Yafa), to the south of the new city centre, in addition to many other neighbouring settlements.
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Districts
- Yafo - also known as Jaffa and as Joppa, depending on who you're talking to / reading....
Understand
Tel-Aviv was founded in 1909 as a green suburb of the over-crowded, over-dense Jaffa. It didn’t take it much more than a decade, though, to become a real city, a center of Jewish life and economy in then British-ruled Palestine. The name roughly translates to “Hill of Spring”. It is a figurative translation of “old-new country”, the title of one of the books that laid foundations for Zionism; thus it symbols rebirth and renewal.
Tel Aviv-Yafo now represents the heart of a thriving, small-scale Israeli metropolis - the greater metropolitan area of Tel Aviv comprises a number of separate municipalities with approximately 1.1 million people living in a 15 km long sprawl along the Mediterranean coast - and around 365,000 in Tel Aviv-Yafo itself - making it the second largest city in Israel after Jerusalem. Bat Yam, Holon, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Bnei-Brak, Petah Tikva, Rishon LeZion, Ramat Ha-Sharon and Herzliya are the other major cities in the coastal area commonly known as Gush Dan.
While Jerusalem is Israel's capital city, where most government departments are located, Tel Aviv and its satellite cities form the economic and cultural centre. Mirroring New York's appellation as "the Big Apple", Tel Aviv is often nicknamed "the Big Orange" (referring to the world-famous Israeli Jaffa orange variety). It is known as "the city that doesn't stop" and indeed you will find that the nightlife and culture are on around the clock. In summer it is not unusual to see the beach boardwalk bustling with people in 4 am and the clubs and bars usually pick up around midnight until morning, giving Tel Aviv a well deserved reputation of being a party town.
In July 2003 Tel Aviv-Yafo was declared a cultural World Heritage site by UNESCO due to the multiple Bauhaus-style buildings built in the city during the 1930s-50s. As this style emphasized simplicity and the white color, Tel-Aviv is also called the White City [1] (http://www.white-city.co.il/english/index.htm).
Tel Aviv must be included amongst the world's most cosmopolitan cities, boasting a huge variety of languages and cultural backgrounds....
Orientation
The main throughfares in central Tel Aviv are Allenby Road and Hayarkon Street, both of which run north-south parallel to the sea front.
A number of large city squares form an internal reference to the city: Dizengoff Square,
Get in
By plane
Tel Aviv's main airport is also Israel's international airport - [http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion/ Ben-Gurion International Airport (TLV). (NATBAG is the Hebrew acronyms commonly in use), situated about 20 KM away from Tel-Aviv city center.
You can reach the city from the terminal using either the train service, or regular bus service of line 222. Buy a ticket from the driver. Alternatively you can, of course, take a taxi.
Tel Aviv has another airport - Sde Dov (SDV (http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/SdeDov/)). This is a primary domestic airport. Frequent flights mainly to Eilat (ETH (http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/Eilat/)) and Rosh Pinna (Galilee) (RPN (http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/RoshPina/)).
By bus
You can arrive to Tel-Aviv's New Central Bus Station ("Tahana Merkazit", the world's biggest!) from virtually anywhere in the country, and go virtually everywhere. The main inter-city bus operator is Israel is Egged (the world second-to-largest bus corporation!), which operates, among others, line 405 from Jerusalem, line 905 from Haifa, and line 390 from Eilat. Buses, faithful followers the 4th commandment (“Remember the Sabbath day”), stop at Friday afternoon, and resume service in Saturday after sunset. Buy a ticket from the driver, or in selling-points in main stations. Call 03-6948888 for information.
The "Dan" bus corporation operates almost exclusively within the "Gush Dan" area (Dan Block - Tel Aviv greater metropolitan), operating routes that can get you around every corner in town.
International Bus Services are available from Cairo (Egypt) and Amman (Jordan). Ask your travel agent.
By train
Though train services in Israel have significantly improved in the last decade or so, buses still are the main inter-city (as well as intra-city) means of transportation. Train services connect Tel-Aviv to Haifa and Beer-Sheva, as well as various smaller towns. They are fast and comfortable, except on Sunday morning, when soldiers return to their bases and students to their universities. Trains, like buses, stop at Friday afternoon, and resume service in Saturday after sunset. Tel-Aviv has 4 train stations, all along the Ayalon highway. For best access to the city center, use either “Tel-Aviv-center” (a.k.a. “arlozerov” and officially named “sobivor”), or “Hashalom”.
More information in the Israel Railways web site (http://www.israrail.org.il/english/index.html), or call 03-5774000;
Get around
By bus
Tel Aviv has a modern, regular and widespread bus network run by a company called Dan (http://www.dan.co.il/english/). Bus services start at 5:00 and stop at midnight, though some of the lines stop earlier, so do check. Single ticket inside the city and the close suburbs costs 5.20 NIS (August 2004). There’s a daily free-pass called “Hofshi-Yomi”, which costs less then 3 rides. Note that it is only available after 9:00. There are also monthly free-passes and 10-rides tickets. Everything is available from the driver.
Train
If you are told in Tel-Aviv, that something will happen “when the underground train is built”, they try to tell you it will never happen. The plans for underground are decades old, a campaign promise of every mayor for the last 30 years. Nobody has ever seen anything of it come true - yet!. In the meantime, take a bus.
Taxi
You can waive for a taxi in the street or call one (with extra surcharge). Insist on the driver using the meter (“MONEH”, in Hebrew). Hakastel taxi service, phone 03-6993322
See
- Eretz-Israel (Land of Israel) Museum [2] (http://www.eimuseum.co.il/english/main.html) - history, archaeology and culture - includes the archaeological site of Tel Qasile, the remains of an early Philistine settlement
- Beit HaTefutsot - Museum of the Diaspora [3] (http://www.bh.org.il/) - this multimedia museum tells the story of the 2000 years of Jewish life throughout the entire world. It’s less about history and more about people: how the lived, worked, celebrated or prayed. A must-see if you like to know more about Jewish heritage. Tel-Aviv university campus, Gate 2, Klausner St. Open Sunday-Thursday, 10-16. Entrance fee 34NIS, reduced 24NIS, including audio guide; English (and other languages) guided tours available; address; bus lines 7 and 25 from the city center. The museum is situated inside Tel-Aviv University (http://www.tau.ac.il/) campus, so you can walk around a bit to see how the Israeli student looks like. The university gallery (http://www.tau.ac.il/~gallery/) sometimes features interesting exhibitions. The newly built Smolarsh Auditorium is nicknamed The Atomic Reactor, due to its strange shape; the red-brick synagogue is referred to as The Petrol Distillery because its resemblance to the country main distilleries north of Haifa.
- Tel-Aviv Museum of Art [4] (http://www.tamuseum.com/museum/) 27 Shaul Hamelech Boulevard, open Mon, Wed, Sat 10-16, Tues, Thurs 10-22, Fri 10-14. Bus 9,18 - This main municipal art museum focuses on modern and contemporary art. Check for the changing exhibitions – they sometimes are very interesting. The children wing is fun, not just for kids. The museum also hosts chamber music and Jazz performances
In the museums square you will find also the municipal library, with books in Hebrew, English and other languages, and Hebrew newspapers and magazines collection. You can read there, but you’ll need a subscription to borrow. Follow the trail north of the library to get to “Golda Meir Center of Performing Arts” (or simply: Golda Center). This complex, newly-built, is the home of the Israeli Opera (http://www.israel-opera.co.il/) and the Cameri Municipal Theater. Ballet performances and classical music concerts are also held here from time to time.
- Old Yafo
Do
- Dip into Tel Aviv's fantastic beach scene - at its best in summer (of course), especially during Friday afternoons, as Shabbat comes in..... crowds of beachgoers and partymakers, the smell of barbecues, the 'thwock, thwock' of beach tennis, massed Brazilian drums and dancers....
- A craft fair is held in the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian zone every Tuesday and Friday (every day during the summer and other holidays). In addition to the truly original crafts (which can make good gifts), that are presented by their creators, you can enjoy good atmosphere and street shows.
- For seeing Tel-Aviv and the area from above, head to Azrieli (“Hahsalom”) center. This relatively new complex, with its three sky-scrappers, one circular, one triangular, and one (not yet built) square, is quickly becoming the graphical symbol of the city. It contains and American-style mall with a theater that shows latest Hollywood hits. But we’ve come here in order to climb to the 49th floor of the circular tower, from which, they say, you can see on a good day the snow-cupped Mount Hermon. There’s also a restaurant upstairs, which naturally charges extra for the location – but, well, the romantic view at twilight or in the dark might actually worth it.
Entertainment
Billiards (Pool): Gypsy - Kikar Atarim (Atarim plaza), located in Hayarkon St. Lincoln - located in Lincoln St
Eat
Drink
Tel Aviv has a huge variety of pubs, bars, cafes and nightclubs.
One of the best pubs in the Tel-Aviv area is the "Molly Bloom's Irish pub", it's located at 2 Mendele St. The pub has a great atmosphere and reasonable prices, and is quite busy on weekends. Also, it's close to the hotels.
The "Gordon Inn", 17 Gordon St, is an intimate, Irish-oriented pub with a local crowd. It offers a calm atmosphere, mellow music and a pool table. There is a guesthouse next door by the same name.
There are many popular bars on Allenby St, including The Goodbar and Joey's Bar.
Sleep
Tel Aviv has a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and backpacker hostels, right up to luxury 5-star hotels.
Many of the best hotels are associated though the Tel Aviv Hotel Association (http://www.telavivhotels.org.il/eng/intro.php).
Budget
- IYHA Tel Aviv (Israel Youth Hostel Association) [5] (http://www.youth-hostels.org.il/english.html), 36 Bnei Dan St, po Box 22078, Tel Aviv 62260, Telephone 03-5441748, Fax 03-5441030, email: telaviv@iyha.org.il. The hostel is located near Hayarkon Park, offering easy access - by foot or a short bus ride- to the city's main cultural and tourist attractions.
- HaYarkon 48 Hostel [6] (http://www.inisrael.com/hayarkon48/), 48 HaYarkon Street, tel 03 5168989 - located in the heart of Tel Aviv about one minute's walk from the beach, double room from USD$42, dormitory USD$10.50 with good discounts for booking ahead
Stay safe
The usual warnings regarding being alert for bomb threats also pertain to Tel Aviv - beware of suspicious packages in public places and suspicious behaviour on the part of people around you - if in doubt, report it!
Do not go swimming in the Yarkon River or in the sea near its mouth - the river is highly polluted, toxic and was responsible for the death of 4 Australian competitors in the Macabee games in 1997 when a bridge over the river collapsed, plunging them into the waters.
When going to the beach, stick to the patrolled areas with lifeguards - every year people drown off Tel Aviv when strong currents get them into difficulty.
External links
- Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality (http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/english/) - official website
- the White City (http://www.white-city.co.il/english/index.htm) - the municipality's official website documenting the World Heritage listing as a centre of Bauhaus design and application
