57 Best Sights in Tel Aviv, Israel

The northern half of the Carmel Market (commonly referred to as the shuk) consists of cheap clothing and housewares, but continue farther down to the fruit and vegetable section, where the real show begins. Vendors loudly hawk their fresh produce, and the crowded aisles reveal Israel's incredible ethnic mix. Don't pass by the small side streets filled with unusual treats. The market is busiest on Tuesday and Friday, when it can be combined with a visit to the Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall's crafts fair. If you don't like crowds, though, avoid Friday, when shoppers preparing for Shabbat pack the market.

In front of the hotel of the same name, Hilton Beach is very popular, especially with enthusiastic matkot players. The northern end of the beach is a gay-friendly area known as Gay Beach, which can get packed on sunny summer afternoons, especially during Tel Aviv Pride. Here you'll also find Dog Beach, which got its name because pampered pooches are let off their leashes to play. There is no car access, so walk or bike down the promenade to reach this stretch of sand. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This small, intimate-feeling marina (one of the most ancient ports in the world) is home to bobbing wooden fishing boats and a waterfront of restaurants, cafés, and a small number of art galleries. Some of its warehouses have been converted into public spaces for rotating art exhibits. From here, enjoy a fish lunch or a snack from one of the food stalls, and then hop on a boat for a cruise along the city's coastline.

Everything from plastic trinkets to handmade silver jewelry can be found at this bustling artisans street market, open on Tuesday and Friday along this pedestrian mall. A profusion of buskers compete to entertain you. For a finishing touch of local color, cafés serving cakes and light meals line the street. At the end of the market is a large Bedouin tent, where you can treat yourself to a laffa with labaneh and za'atar (large pita bread with tangy sour cream, sprinkled with hyssop, an oregano-like herb).

Half a century ago, this magnificent tree-lined boulevard was one of the most exclusive streets in the city. Today it's once again what visionaries at the beginning of the 20th century meant it to be—a place for people to meet, stroll, and relax. Along the street are some of the city's best restaurants and bars, and many Bauhaus gems are on or just off the street.

A pair of whitewashed buildings—one built in 1892, the other in 1908—make up this attractive complex. The square, designed by noted landscape architect Shlomo Aronson, has hints of a medieval Middle Eastern courtyard in its scattering of orange trees connected by water channels. One side of the square is decorated with a tile triptych that illustrates the neighborhood's history and famous people who lived here in the early years, including S. Y. Agnon, who went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. There's a café--bar on the premises and a number of great restaurants nearby for pre- or post-performance meals. It's worth a stroll here even if you aren't seeing a performance.

This museum houses a fine collection of Israeli and international art, including changing exhibits as well as a permanent section with works by prominent Jewish artists like Marc Chagall and Roy Lichtenstein. There's also an impressive French impressionist collection and many sculptures by Aleksandr Archipenko. The Herta and Paul Amir Building, designed by Preston Scott Cohen, is a dramatic, light-filled modern addition to the 1971 main building. The gift shop sells unique pieces of jewelry and other items that make memorable souvenirs. Visiting on Saturday is a great option, as many other places are closed for the Sabbath.

Commonly known as Manta Ray Beach (for the outstanding restaurant that sits right on the beachfront), Alma Beach is one of those under-the-radar spots that attracts more locals than tourists. Smaller than the sprawling beaches in the city center, Alma Beach is within easy walking distance of the charming Neve Tzedek and Jaffa neighborhoods, enticing residents to pop down for a quick swim before or after work. For those with more time to spare, modern conveniences are available, from sun loungers to umbrellas and public toilets. If you get peckish, Manta Ray's deliciously fresh seafood dishes are literally steps away. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

From Kedumim Square, a number of large boulders can be seen out at sea not far from shore. Greek mythology says one of these (pick your own, everyone does) is where the people of Jaffa tied the virgin Andromeda in sacrifice to a sea monster to appease Poseidon, god of the sea. But the hero Perseus, riding the winged horse Pegasus, soared down from the sky to behead the monster, rescue Andromeda, and promptly marry her.

A spectacular 360-degree view of Tel Aviv and beyond awaits on the 49th-floor observation deck of the circular building in this office complex, which consists of one triangular, one circular, and one square tower. Call ahead, as the observation deck sometimes closes early for special events.

A good stop for those who love architecture, this one-room museum on historic Bialik Street occupies the ground floor of an original Bauhaus building, built in 1934. You'll discover that the pristine lines and basic geometric forms typical of the Bauhaus school extend to everyday objects as well, from furniture to light fixtures to glazed stoneware. There's even a door handle designed by Walter Gropius (1883–1969), founder and first director of the Bauhaus in Germany.

To learn more about the history of the state of Israel, visit the modest house where its first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, lived from 1931 to 1953. Historical material and curious snippets of information give insight into both his personal and public life. Don't miss the statue of him doing a headstand in a pair of blue briefs on Frishman Beach. It turns out this hardened political strategist was also an early adopter of yoga, and rumor has it he could often be spotted standing on his head in his garden or on the beach—even during his time as Prime Minister.

This area has been more successful than many other Tel Aviv neighborhoods in maintaining its older buildings. Bialik has long been a popular address with many of the city's artists and literati, so it's not surprising that some of the houses have been converted into small museums, including Beit Ha'ir, Beit Bialik, the Rubin Museum, and the Bauhaus Foundation Museum.

Completed in 1906, in time to mark the 30th anniversary of the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, this eye-catching limestone spire marks the entrance of Jaffa. The stained-glass windows from 1965 depict events in Jaffa's history. The centuries-old buildings around the square have been carefully restored, preserving their ornate facades. Since Jaffa was a major port in Turkish times, it's not surprising to find the Turkish Cultural Center here.

Israeli-born architect Ron Arad designed this striking, much-acclaimed structure made of rounded ribbons of orange-and-red steel that rises off a drab street like a modernist mirage. Inside is a two-story space with changing exhibits on contemporary design, including fashion, jewelry, and textiles. English-language recorded tours are available for free. A good café known for tasty pastries and cakes is located at the entrance. The museum is in Holon, a suburb south of Tel Aviv that is easily reachable by taxi.

At the southern end of Hayarkon Street, Dolphinarium Beach (sometimes known as Aviv Beach) has a festive atmosphere, especially on Friday around sunset. Young Israelis, many of whom have returned from post-army trips to Asia or South America, gather for drumming circles and other group activities. It's also a popular spot for music festivals and concerts. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset.

Tucked behind the shops along Jaffa's Clock Tower Square is the El-Mahmoudiye Mosque, whose hexagonal minaret and pink-granite-and-marble fountain can be seen from the square. When Turkish governor Muhammed Abu Najat Aja built the fountain in the early 19th century, it had six pillars and an arched roof. The fountain's foundation is still visible in the parking lot west of the minaret. The mosque is closed to the public, though you may be able to sneak a peek through the ornate carved doors on the western side into the spacious restored courtyard. The archway on the south side formed the entrance to the hammam, or old Turkish bath.

This large museum's eight pavilions span 3,000 years of culture and history in Israel, covering everything from ethnography and folklore to ceramics and other handicrafts. In the center is the ancient site of Tel Kassile, where archaeologists have uncovered 12 layers of settlements. There is also a daily sound-and-light show in the adjacent planetarium.

Dedicated in 1949, the Founders' Monument honors those who founded Tel Aviv. This large slab of stone also encapsulates the city's past in three copper bas-relief panels representing the earliest pioneer days of planting and building as well as modern architecture.

Facing a strip of restaurants and cafés on the seaside promenade, Frishman Beach is across from many of the larger hotels and gets its fair share of tourists. The shallow water makes it popular with families. Saturday morning it attracts Israeli dancing circles. Lounge chairs are available for a fee, but there's not much quiet because of the lifeguards constantly screeching over the loudspeaker. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset.

In the midst of crowded, noisy King George Street, you can wander through Meir Park and relax on benches shaded by beautiful old trees. The first trees were planted in 1936 when the city offered to name the park after its first mayor, Meir Dizengoff, in honor of his 70th birthday. The feisty Dizengoff objected, so the park only got its official name in 1944, years after he passed away. There's a large playground that's extremely popular with local kids.

Tel Avivians go to this sprawling park to stretch out on the grass for a picnic or a nap in the shade. For those seeking more activity, a bike ride on one of its paths can be combined with a visit to the tropical garden and the rock garden. Or you can rent a pedal boat, rowboat, or motorboat to ride on the Yarkon Stream. There's even a pleasure boat, which takes up to 80 people for 20-minute rides.

At the end of Gordon Street, this wide beach is popular with local families because of its calm water and tidal pool. Weekends you'll find both sunbathing travelers and youngsters lining the beach with sand castles. Gordon Pool, just north of the beach, is a saltwater pool that's good for swimming laps. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Good for: swimming; walking.

In the 1920s, a number of Tel Aviv's most famous writers lived in this building, whose renovations have somewhat obscured its original look. One of the first houses in Neve Tzedek, the building now displays the art of Nahum Gutman, colorful chronicler of early Tel Aviv. Tours in English are available by appointment.

Here you'll find a number of cultural institutions, including the Habima Theatre, the Charles Bronfman Auditorium, and the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art. A great place for kids to run around, the square also has a relaxation garden with music wafting from the ecologically designed seating.

On the edge of Neve Tzedek, this Ottoman-era train station is where travelers once embarked to Jerusalem on the first piece of railroad in the Middle East. Even Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism, passed through here. Dubbed HaTachana, Hebrew for "the station," the 49-acre complex includes 22 different buildings, among them the former station. A pair of restored train cars tells the story of the station's days as a major travel hub in the region. You'll also find restaurants, cafés, and boutiques peddling handcrafted jewelry and homegrown designer clothes. At the entrance is a tourist information stand. The space hosts events throughout the year, details of which can be found on the website.