Looking for the top Tel Aviv sights? Then you’ve come to the right place! Hardly any other city has captivated us as much as Tel Aviv in Israel. It was probably the stark contrast to the rest of the country that fascinated us so much, as well as the people and the unique atmosphere. Tel Aviv is incomparable to any other city in the country, especially not to Jerusalem. While one moment you might be observing the Orthodox Jews at the Western Wall or strolling through the bustling markets in the Muslim Quarter, things are completely different over in Tel Aviv.

We felt like we were on the California coast, as we saw palm trees everywhere, beautiful sandy beaches, a long beach promenade, countless bars, and young people half-naked on the beach, exercising or playing beach soccer. While Jerusalem is a very conservative and religious city, Tel Aviv captivates us above all with its colorful, vibrant, and hip atmosphere. We would have loved to stay longer, but our Israel tour took us further through the country.

In the following article, we would like to introduce you to our top highlights of the city so that you can get a first impression and be prepared for your first trip. In a separate article, we have also written down our best tips for Tel Aviv with information on parking, food, accommodation, airport transfers, and much more. Have fun browsing!

What you should also know:

  • What else you should know:
  • Tel Aviv Sights
  • Tayelet Beach Promenade
  • Old Jaffa and flea market
  • HaYarkon Park (Yarkon Afek National Park)
  • Neve Zedek & Florentin districts
  • Carmel & Sarona Market
  • Tel Aviv beaches
  • Art at the Museum of Art
  • Rothschild Boulevard
  • Trip to Jerusalem
  • Tel Aviv Sights – Conclusion

Tel Aviv Sights

There’s a lot to see in Tel Aviv, yet you’re not overwhelmed like in many other cities in the world. It’s manageable, and that’s precisely what we liked so much. We never felt like we were missing out on anything, and we didn’t feel rushed. Go with the flow and take your time getting to know the different faces of the city. Enjoy the delicious food, the cool cafés and galleries, stroll along the beach, and treat yourself to a nightcap in a bar at sunset. Tel Aviv may not be the prettiest city visually, but somehow it’s its very special flair that appeals to us so much.

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Tayelet Beach Promenade

Let’s start with one of the most beautiful sights in Tel Aviv: The kilometer-long beach promenade. While we spent a long time in Israel “only” driving through dry, stone deserts, it was a wonderful change to finally be by the sea again. Between the Clock Tower in Jaffa and Hayarkon Park in the north of the city lie almost 5 kilometers of coastline (although it’s almost 14 km in total), which is best explored on foot or by rental bike.

A host of bars, restaurants, and leisure activities await you here, such as volleyball, beach soccer, surfing, SUP, and open-air fitness. We grabbed some snacks and drinks in the evening and settled down on the beach to watch the sunset. The unique atmosphere here by the sea is truly special! For a nightcap on the beach, the Blue Surf Beach Bar at Tupim Beach is a great option. Click here for the 3-hour, easy-going bike tour*.

Tel Aviv Sights Beach Promenade

Old Jaffa and Flea Market

Old Jaffa and the flea market are probably THE top sight in Tel Aviv. We also visited the district and explored the colorful, wonderful flea market. The old town consists of numerous winding alleys with countless craft and designer shops, art galleries, and plenty of restaurants. The flea market takes place near the historic clock tower every Sunday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Fridays only until 2 p.m.).

It was incredibly fun exploring the various stalls, sampling the many delicacies, and simply letting ourselves go. A variety of street artists and musicians created a cozy atmosphere, even though it was and still is very touristy. Other sights: St. Peter’s Church, the Ilana Goor Museum, Jaffa Port, and the hanging orange tree in the Old City.

tel-aviv-tipps-musik-kuenstler

Yarkon Park (Yarkon Afek National Park)

In the north of the city lies the lush green Yarkon Park and the Yarkon River. We took a leisurely ride through the park on our rental bikes and later settled down on the lawn. The park is a popular meeting place for families and is perfect for a picnic or a stroll. The park has playgrounds, huge lawns, an artificial lake, bike paths, and an amphitheater for shows and concerts. You can enjoy a beautiful view of the park from the so-called “Palm Viewpoint” near the amphitheater.

If you’re a cactus lover, you should also visit the HaKaktusim Garden in the park. How about a 3-hour bike ride through the park, the Rosh Tzipor forest, and along the promenade to the harbor? You’ll learn many interesting facts about the sights and get some fresh air. Click here for the tour*.

Tel-Aviv-Tipps-Hayarkon-Park

Neve Zedek & Florentin Districts

The coolest neighborhoods in the city, in our opinion, are definitely Neve Zedek and Florentin. Neve Zedek (which means “Oasis of Justice”) was originally a Jewish settlement before it developed into an artists’ quarter with great galleries, boutiques, and cool cafés. You’ll find these mainly around Shabazi Street. Also visit the renovated historic Hatachana Station with its many restaurants, shops, and cafés.

Right next door, the Florentin district continues, a former working-class neighborhood that didn’t exactly have the best reputation. Today, it’s a hip bohemian neighborhood with trendy cafés, cool bars, artists’ shops, and plenty of street art. You can easily create your own street art tour. Grab the information and maps from the “Tourist Israel website” and get going. You’ll find many pictures in Florentin, but also at Jaffa Port and in the Beit Ha’am district. Alternatively, you can of course also take a guided tour: Street Art Tour Tel Aviv*.

Here’s a little food tip: Really delicious burgers are available at “Benz Brothers” and great coffee creations at “poc cafe”.

Tel Aviv Sights Florentin Street Art

Carmel & Sarona Market

Fortunately, the sights in Tel Aviv are not far apart, so you can get a good first impression of the city in just one day. We were there for three days and could have stayed longer. We really enjoyed the various markets in Tel Aviv, such as the Carmel Market and the Sarona Market. At the Carmel Market you’ll find Israel’s culinary diversity. Whether it’s fruit, vegetables, bread, spices, cheese, juices, sweets, hummus, falafel, flatbread, or other pastries—on this day, you really don’t need to go anywhere else to eat. Just try everything and let yourself be carried from stall to stall. Except Saturdays, the Carmel Market is open every day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Sarona Market in Tel Aviv is comparable to La Boqueria in Barcelona or Borough Market in London. Here you’ll find a huge culinary food market with over 100 shops and 40 restaurants, offering spices, cheese, meat, delicacies, specialties, and other goods from all over the world. This wonderful market is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., including Shabbat (Fridays only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.). From Rothschild Boulevard, Sarona Market is just a 10-minute walk away. Other markets include the Jaffa Flea Market, Nahalat Binyamin Street, and the Lewinsky Market. By the way, there’s a cool culinary food tour here*.

tel-aviv-tipps-essen-maerkte-fruechte-obst

Beaches of Tel Aviv

The beaches in Tel Aviv are definitely among the top attractions for us and shouldn’t be missing from your list. Along the 14-kilometer-long Tayelet promenade, the beaches are lined up next to each other like pearls on a string. In the water, you can watch surfers and kitesurfers, and on the beach, joggers, walkers, yogis, and sunbathers. The 14 kilometers are divided into different sections and each has its own specific names. You can swim very well at Hilton Beach, as there is a breakwater there that protects the area well. At the Gordon Swimming Pool, you can swim laps in the cool salt water with a view of the sea.

Gordon Beach is beautifully clean and well-maintained. It’s packed with tourists, so the prices in the restaurant and bar are quite high. We also thought it was really cool that you can find free exercise equipment along the promenade. Not only Israelis train here, like at Venice Beach/Muscle Beach, but also vacationers and guests. Locals also recommended Frishman Beach, which they named the most beautiful beach in Tel Aviv.

  • Surfing: Charles Clore Beach, on the Homat HaYam promenade
  • Kitesurfing: Go to the beaches in the area (Bat Yam, etc.)
  • Swimming: Possible along almost the entire coast
  • Relaxing: You can relax and end the day anywhere on the beaches
  • Stand-Up Paddling: Providers SupAway and TopSea

tel-aviv-tipps-strand-mittelmeer

Art in the Museum of Art

Now it’s time for A little culture and art. Visit the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv and browse the collection of classical and contemporary art. The most important styles of the 20th century are exhibited here, including Fauvism, Impressionism, Futurism, Surrealism, and Expressionism. Among the artists, you’ll find big names such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Peggy Guggenheim, Max Pechstein, and Max Ernst. Admission costs almost €13 per person; the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. You can find the opening hours here.

Rothschild Boulevard

Continue with our top 10 Tel Aviv attractions. One of the most important, trendiest, and most beautiful streets in Tel Aviv is Rothschild Boulevard. Here, major financial institutions meet top restaurants and chic cafés. This street was built over 100 years ago and is therefore one of the city’s first streets. Here you’ll find numerous Bauhaus buildings (e.g., the Rubinsky House), which have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites. Many of these buildings have been beautifully restored and now house luxury apartments, cafés, restaurants, creative studios, and financial institutions.

Rothschild Boulevard is also home to the city’s tallest skyscraper, the Independence Hall, the Habima Theater, the National Theater, and the Fredric Mann Auditorium. Here, you’ll enjoy sitting under the shady trees, in one of the many cafés and restaurants, or turning onto Sheinkin Street, which is also worth a visit. By the way: They offer cool architecture tours*.

Trip to Jerusalem

And while you’re in Tel Aviv, you should DEFINITELY head over to Jerusalem. This historic and religious city simply blew us away. We’ve never been as fascinated by a city as we were by Jerusalem. It’s a stark contrast to Tel Aviv. Jerusalem is very conservative and “well-behaved.” But the city has an incredible amount to offer. Since several religions are at home here, there are correspondingly many great sights. Starting with the fascinating Old City, where you can marvel at the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the colorful souks, churches, bazaars, and much more. You can read a detailed report here: Our top highlights in Jerusalem.

jerusalem-urlaub-reise-erloeser-kirche-turm-aussicht

Tel Aviv Sights – Conclusion

Oh Tel Aviv, you are such a fascinating and beautiful city and, alongside Cape Town,