Getting Oriented in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv's compact size and flat landscape make it easy to get around on foot. The city's main north–south thoroughfares of Hayarkon, Ben Yehuda (which becomes Allenby), Dizengoff, and Ibn Gvirol Streets run more or less parallel to the Mediterranean shoreline. Closest to the water is Hayarkon and the beachfront Tayelet. At the northern end of Hayarkon is the Tel Aviv Port. Most hotels are on the beachfront along Hayarkon.

• Center City. Most of Tel Aviv's major sites can be found in this warren of small side streets and hidden parks. Look for Rothschild Boulevard brimming with Bauhaus buildings, Carmel Market, and the Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall.
• Neve Tzedek. Restoration has meant a renaissance for this neighborhood of narrow roads lined with boutiques, galleries, and cafés. The Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre, with its orange tree-studded square, is magical.
• Florentine. Those seeking reasonable rents have brought a youthful, hipster vibe to this rough-around-the-edges part of town south of Neve Tzedek. Bars and restaurants make it lively at night.
• Jaffa. This port—where a certain whale is said to have swallowed Jonah—is one of the oldest in the world. Here you'll find a flea market crammed with antique furniture and a growing number of trendy boutiques and restaurants.
• North Tel Aviv. The abandoned warehouses of the Tel Aviv Port have been transformed into upscale restaurants, cafés, and clubs. Cyclists and strolling families pack the undulating boardwalk.