Tel Aviv: an itinerary
I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to travel to Tel Aviv on a business trip and I jumped at the chance. As a Pakistani, Israeli visas or reasons to travel to Tel Aviv are hard to come by. I’ll talk about the visa process as well but here is a quick guide to Tel Aviv and nearby day trips!
*Note: Things I researched but didn’t end up doing are denoted with a `` (asterisk)*
Visas and misc
As a Paksitani the Israeli visa was surprisingly easy to get. The only thing worth noting is that it does take longer to process!
Please note that most places are closed all of Saturday for Shabbat and close early on Fridays for the same reason - plan your day accordingly!
Accommodation
I stayed at the Renaissance Tel Aviv at Gordon beach. While I loved the area, I was extremely disappointed in the hotel itself and wouldn’t recommend! Coworkers of mine have stayed at the Rothschild 22* and have loved the area and the hotel.
Activities
I have split up the activities by area to make it easy to plan your day.
Rothschild - walk along Rothschild avenue and hit the following spots
Engel house
Independence hall
Habima Square
Dizengoff square
Shop at ATA* for cool Israeli street wear
Tel Aviv Museum of Art contains both contemporary and Israeli artists - its a small museum so you can definitely go with friends or family members who aren’t tempted by museums.
Gordon Beach
Spend some time at any of the beaches and make sure to hit up Tel Aviv port as well.
Old Jaffa area - you can spend an entire day shopping and sightseeing here. So do!
Old Jaffa
Make a walking tour through the following points:
The Clock Tower
Abrasha Park
Wishing Bridge
Andromeda’s Rock
Al-Bahr Mosque
Jaffa port
Visit Iris Eshet cohen gallery for art
Go to Hilweh market* for some souvenir shopping
Hit the Flea Market
Shop at Adi Nissani in Old Jaffa for ceramics, I got some beautiful ceramic gifts from here for friends and some for myself too!
Stop by Zielinski & Rozen for all things perfumed, scented - I got a room spray, soap and a perfume!
Carmel market for some souvenir shopping - bring cash!
Nachalat Binyamin Art Fair - we got lots of puzzles and handcrafted things here as souvenirs!
Bauhaus museum and walking tour* Bauhaus architecture can be found at every corner in Tel Aviv and I wish I had done a tour - so here is me insisting that you do it instead!
Givon Vintage Market
Bob studio vintage - I got the cutest clutch here that I cherish daily!
Clubs:
Radio E.P.G.B.*
Sputnik*
Mondo 2000*
Breakfast Club*
Kuli alma - This is the club I ended up going to and I loved every minute of it. Each room had a very different vibe and there was something for everyone!
Food
Meals
Port Sa’id for all the best Israeli food - I had their dip platter with challah and people watched! 10/10 would recommend!
Dr. Shakshuka - for the famous Israeli Shakshuka
Hummus Abu Hassan for hummus than you can imagine eating!
Hit up Sarona Market a food hall for delicious Halwa and wraps!
Lehamim bakery for all your snacks and Challa needs.
Falafel and sabich Frishman for the infavmous falafel or sabich!
Shlomo and Doron for more hummus
Prozdor for loud American burgers made by Israelis!
Coffee and snacks
Europa Kiosk on Rothschild avenue for a coffee and a cake
Tours
Take a walking tour of Tel Aviv*
Go on a day trip to Jerusalem
When in Jerusalem make sure to visit Mahaneh Yehudah Market
Visit Dead Sea and see the sunrise on Masada
Tel Aviv Research
Below are some random links and sites that I didn’t visit but my coworkers did recommend
Park Hayarkon
Neve Tzedek
Suzanne Dellal center
Dallal bakery
Anita
Numero 13
Hatachana conpound
The twins
Rokach street
White City Tour at 11 am from 11 Rothschild Boulevard
Meals:
The Old Man And The Sea
Beit Romano
Opa
Burek
Florentin
Geula Beach
Design Museum of Holon
Go on a graffiti tour of Tel Aviv
