The vibrant bustling metropolis of Tel Aviv is an anomaly within the conservative religious state of Israel. In contrast to the ancient backdrop which surrounds everything around it, Tel Aviv is less than 100 years old, making it the first Jewish city of modern times. There are no holy sites in the city and much less of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish mentality that pervades other places like Jerusalem. But that’s what makes Tel Aviv so interesting. It’s like Israel’s specially designated fun zone.
Tel Aviv has gone through two major waves of development. In the 1930s, the Bauhaus architectural movement arrived in this small town resulting in thousands of white modernist buildings, which marked the city’s first rise to artistic prominence. The second wave started in the 1980s with the urban renewal of the city’s beaches and tourist infrastructure. Today, Tel Aviv is Israel’s largest metropolis and biggest commercial centre.
Stretching along the glorious Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv exudes a unique atmosphere of entertainment with its chic shopping, active nightlife, exotic markets, beautiful beaches and great food. The subtropical weather provides pleasant weather year round and very little rain, although summer can be a bit hot and muggy. If you’re really interested in Jewish history, there are several museums and art galleries which give a comprehensive understanding of the unique plight of the Jewish Diaspora.
Shopping and dining are both excellent, as the city has a rich blend of Arab, Turkish, North African and Jewish influences. The many outdoor bazaars are fascinating places to see the local life in action and try your hand at haggling. There are also a few high end shopping malls which cater to the fashion conscious. Unlike other parts of Israel, Tel Aviv has a thriving nightlife. It sometimes seems as if the city never takes a break, except on Shabbat of course, when everything Jewish closes up for 24 hours. But that’s part of the experience which is totally unique to Israel.
Apart from its urban attractions, Tel Aviv is blessed to be situated right on some of the nicest beaches in the country. You can walk to the sand from downtown, stroll along the promenade or take a swim in the clear waters of the Mediterranean.
There are plenty of hotels here and the numbers keep growing as more and more tourists ignore the reputation of suicide bombings and conflict to come and enjoy this city. Most of the nicer hotels are along Hayarkon Street, which runs along the beach and includes a lot of the five-star places. The Dan Tel Aviv, SheratonTowers and Crowne Plaza are the best choices for luxury. There are reasonably priced rooms in the city, but most of them are not facing the beach. Check out some of the side streets running away from the sea for a budget hotel. Tel Aviv is a very noisy city, especially at night. So if you want peace and quiet, choose a room at the back and not right on a main street. Summer months can be quite busy, so book your room ahead of time.
Israeli culture may come off as a bit intrusive, or even aggressive at first sight, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Israelis love a good raucous conversation and have no qualms about expressing their opinions on any subject matter. Don’t let their argumentative and probing nature put you off. It’s a great way to learn about their culture and feel the hospitality they are known for. But always respect the importance of Jewish traditions, which can sometimes seem rather conservative. Women in particular should dress appropriately and not show off too much skin and be prepared to be flexible with the Shabbat system of business hours.
History
Tel Aviv is the tale of a modern phoenix rising from the ashes of an ancient port town. Less than 100 years ago, this city did not even exist. Tel Aviv, founded in 1909, was the first Hebrew city of modern times. It was built in the sand dunes next to the ancient port city of Jaffa and quickly turned into a refuge for Jews fleeing the chaos of war torn Europe.
The 1930s brought a burst of construction as Sir Patrick Geddes planned and built around 4,000 buildings in the International Style, also known as Bauhaus. This incredible collage of architecture gave Tel Aviv its name ‘The White City’. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Tel Aviv was the capital of Israel. Once Jerusalem was captured by Israel a year later, the capital moved there and Tel Aviv fell into a long period of neglect. Its lovely beach piled up with garbage, the modern buildings of the 30s and 40s began to crumble and there was little in the way of cultural activity.
Over the past 25 years, however, ‘The White City’ has experience a rebirth. Tel Aviv is now incorporated with Jaffa, a fascinating city with a history stretching back 4,000 years, and glass skyscrapers and new hotels dot the landscape. In the 1980s, the city’s beaches were beautifully restored, and the 1990s saw the construction of an opera house, performing arts centres and world class restaurants. In 2003, UNESCO designated ‘The White City’ with its unique blend of the urban and ancient in Tel Aviv-Jaffa as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
Yet this vibrant diverse city has its share of misery. Since the 1990s, Tel Aviv has been a favored target for Palestinian terrorists. A sad state which continues even today, as 10 people were killed in a suicide bombing attack in April 2006.
Weather
Tel Aviv has a subtropical climate, which means hot summers and relatively mild winters. Average summer temperatures hover around 25C and during the winter rarely drop below 14C. With its coastal location, the city has high humidity all year round which makes life rather uncomfortable during the summer months. The winter months from November until April see the most rain, while May through September have sunshine almost every day.
There’s really no bad time to visit Tel Aviv, but during the school holidays in July and August lodging and attractions become extremely crowded and room rates often increase. The Passover and Sukkoth holiday periods, in early April and late September, respectively, also see massive crowds and price hikes. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are perfect times to visit, as the weather is generally good and there aren’t many tourists. March and April see the lush countryside explode with wildflowers and if you don’t mind a little rain, the winter season is much less expensive and delightfully quiet.
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