Tel Aviv, often called The City That Never Sleeps, has slowly evolved over the past few years into an enthralling and engaging city, a city that will amaze, delight, and have you begging for more!

We’ve done our best to condense the very best Tel Aviv attractions into a list of TEN essential things we feel you have to see and do, but just be aware these are the tip of the iceberg. With ten miles of glorious sandy beaches, 300 days of sunshine a year, and locals ever more hungry for more culture, art, and good times, there’s just so many more things to see and do in Tel Aviv for those ready to explore further!

In no particular order, here are the TEN things you really have to see and do in Tel Aviv…

Explore the gorgeous neighborhood of Neve Tzedek

Probably Tel Aviv’s prettiest neighborhood, it regularly attracts swarms of visitors, all keen to stroll the many narrow streets and marvel at the amazing architecture of the area. There’s also some great little galleries and shops, and cute little cafes and restaurants to check out.

Definitely one place not to forget your camera! Read our full guide to Neve Tzedek here.

Haggle, haggle, and haggle some more at Carmel Market

There’s nothing quite like a visit to a local market to mix it up with the locals, and Carmel Market is THE one to see. It’s an amazing place, what with the astounding array of sights, sounds and smells that assault your senses! And the colors, oh boy…!

You won’t ever forget your visit to Carmel Market – and you might also learn to haggle like a pro! Read more here.

Catch some rays on one of Tel Aviv’s gorgeous beaches

The place to be in the summer (and the summers are long in Israel!), the beaches of Tel Aviv are hard not to fall in love with! Just a step away from the noise and hustle of the city, it’s always a pleasure to find yourself  opposite the blue, sparkling Med.

With 10km of fine, sandy beaches, it’s really just a matter of picking your favorite spot! Read our full guide to Tel Aviv beaches here.

Step back in time to the alleyways of Old Jaffa

The delights of Old Jaffa are located at the southern end of Tel Aviv, and those very picturesque alleyways are a must stroll down! They are a complete contrast to the modern bustle of Tel Aviv, and simply ooze with charm…

And while in Jaffa, we’d highly recommend a visit to the legendary nearby Flea Market where you can get your haggling hat on once again! Read more about Jaffa here.

Eat out at one of Tel Aviv’s amazing restaurants

Tel Aviv has over the last few years turned itself into a food connoisseur’s delight, with anything and everything on offer! Forget felafel and hummus, we’re talking about some awesome restaurants, host to some of the most talented and adventurous chefs in the world.

Check out our guide to the very best bars, cafes and restaurants in Tel Aviv!

Spend some time in charming Tel Aviv Port

This charming port has been transformed over the last few years from a derelict, rundown old thing into a site alive with culture, leisure, shopping and entertainment options.

Usually packed at the weekend, it’s a place for ALL: from families out with the kids or grandparents during the day, to party revelers at night – the place is buzzing! Read more here.

Get an overdose of culture at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Israeli art in the world. Here you can find the work of many Israeli artists who have made it big internationally, as well as the works of masters such as Van Gogh, Monet, Chagall, and Modigliani. With activities for the kids too, you could easily spend all day here!

Read more about the Tel Aviv Art Museum here.

Browse the delights of the Nachalat Binyamin art market

The Nachalat Binyamin market is one of Israel’s biggest arts and crafts markets and a superb place to browse for original Tel Aviv souvenirs (think ceramics, toys, paintings, framed photos and Judaical pieces); all handmade and sold by their artist creators!

This awesome market also runs parallel to Carmel Market, so makes a perfect day out! Read more here.

Enjoy Tel Aviv’s hub of entertainment and style, HaTachana

HaTachana (The Station), where uber-modern meets bohemian chic, where arty meets practical and where some of the best shops and restaurants ply their trade.

Originally the terminal for the Jaffa-Jerusalem railway, this revitalized space might be the New Kid on the Block, but has already become a huge hit with locals and tourists. Read our full guide here.

Stroll the streets and see amazing Bauhaus buildings

Tel Aviv has some amazing architecture to see, and in particular, watch out for the many white Bauhaus buildings which dominate the Tel Aviv landscape, and which have led Tel Aviv to be known as The White City.

Take a stroll down Rothschild Blvd, and Dizengoff and Bialik streets for the best of the White City! Read our full guide here.

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There are great additions to this list that we just couldn’t squeeze in to a Top 10, including a walk down the famous Shenkin Street (now being pedestrianized and upgraded as we speak), Tel Aviv’s amazing and world-renowned nightlife, and even the Luna Park, the amusement park your kids will love you for! There’s just so much to see in one of the world’s most happening cities…

And to add yet another reason to visit this cool city, and to give you an idea of how open, accepting and liberal Tel Aviv is, it was recently voted the Top Gay City in the world by a leading gay website.

Come on, what are you waiting for – Tel Aviv is waiting for YOU!

Housed in a bright and airy complex in a convenient location situated in central Tel Aviv, the museum has a somewhat modern history, dating back to the 1930s. However, once inside the museums tells quite a different story with an eclectic mix of works from contemporary art to pieces by the Old Masters.

Don’t miss these five awesome Tel Aviv art galleries if you’re in the mood for some more art!

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Israeli art in the world. The museum features the work of many Israeli artists who have become present on the international art scene. There are also many interesting and reflective works dealing with the history, culture and conflicts of the country.

The Old Masters collection of art ranges between the 16th to 19th century and includes 130 items from paintings to sculptures with 46 pieces on loan. Amongst the museum’s collection is the works of masters such as Van Gogh, Monet, Chagall, Modigliani and Cezanne. There is also an impressive collection of the works by world famous Edvard Munch, with over 150 prints by this Norwegian artist. Other well-known names featured at the museum include Wassily Kandinsky, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Pablo Picasso.

But the Tel Aviv Museum of Art isn’t simply a collection of works on canvas. It exhibits pieces across a range of genres from painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, photography and video to architecture and design with the department of drawings and prints alone having over 25,000 works on paper. Photography lovers in particular will be delighted with Ephraim Moshe Lilien’s unique glass negatives works on display whilst the cutting edge works of James Ensor, Lesser Ury and Alexander Archipenko also feature.

As well as art, the museum hosts regular musical and dance performances, film showings and has an impressive series of lectures on art and philosophy.

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art complex is expansive comprising the museum and gallery spaces, the Helena Rubenstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, and the new Herta and Paul Amir building, which opens tomorrow (November 2nd). This extension, which was originally conceived in 2002, adds nearly 20,000 square meters of additional space to the museum. Described as a complex array of space with a vertical “light fall” draining the building’s vertical dimensions, the new structure is bound to impress and expected to draw even greater crowds to this popular Tel Aviv tourist attraction (Tel Aviv citizens get in FREE for the first month).

The museum also has an ever changing range of temporary exhibitions and many works that have been gifted to the museum by benefactors or entrusted to the museum for display.

In short, there is plenty to see and experience in this wonderful museum. In fact, no two visits to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art are ever likely to be the same.

With late night opening on Tuesdays and Thursdays (until 22:00) you can even make the museum a perfect and cultural end to a wonderful day of sight-seeing in this vibrant city.

Address: 27 Shaul Hamelech Blvd, Tel Aviv
Telephone: +972 (0)3 6077020
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tamuseum

For more info, see the museum’s official website.

Our Tip: Jerusalem does, of course, have it all for the history fan, what with the amazing Old City a must-see on many visitors’ lists. The Israel Museum really should be added to that must-see list; there really are very few experiences in Israel that can compare to the sheer grandeur of the Israel Museum.

Following a major face-lift in 2010, the Israel Museum has again been wowing visitors. The biggest target of the refurbishing process has been the Shrine of the Book, the dome-shaped monument that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls, found in Qumran in 1946, remain to this date one of the best-preserved examples of Judeo-Christian literature and are revered by the millions who come each year for a spiritual pilgrimage.

The Shrine of the Book itself is breathtaking to behold. The building’s architectural design is an abstract representation of the fabled war between the Sons of Light and Darkness. The white wall represents the Son of Light and the black wall the Sons of Darkness. The Shrine is also mostly (two-thirds) submerged below water, as it is surrounded by a small pool.

Also within the Shrine of the Book: don’t miss the less famous but no less fascinating Aleppo Codex, a 10th century Bible that is believed to be the oldest complete Bible ever found.

To really get the maximum out of your stopover in the Shrine, do purchase an audio guide, which comes in multiple languages. Not all of us are experts on the complex history of Israel, but the informative and concise guides give us a better-rounded appreciation of the displays. You should also note that all photography is forbidden in the Shrine of the Book.

Another major visitor attraction is the Second Temple model which reconstructs the city of Jerusalem before the catastrophic Great Revolt against Roman Rule in 66 C.E. Looking at the complex network of alleyways, one cannot help but be overwhelmed by a profound sense of history and a touching poignancy for what was lost in that revolt and can never be truly regained.

While less widely known than the historical exhibitions, the art exhibitions in the Israel Museum are also a must-see attraction. The museum proudly presents the largest collection of Jewish art in the world, ranging from artists such as Abel Pann to traditional Jewish ceremonial art. The latter is particularly fascinating from an art history perspective, with artifacts such as the Kiddush cup, spice box and Hanukkah menorah providing a cultural dimension to the rich history on display.

One other attraction not to miss at the Israel Museum has to be the Billy Rose Art Garden - a magnificent Japanese Zen-like garden that houses pieces from some of the greatest ever artists and sculptors (Rodin, Boudelle, Picasso, Moore…). Enjoyed by many visitors to the Museum and well worth a slow, contemplative walk through.

How do I get to the Israel Museum?

The Israel Museum is located in the heart of Jerusalem, on Ruppin Boulevard in the Givat Ram neighborhood, near the Knesset (Israeli Parliament).

By bus you can catch Egged lines 9, 9a, 17, 17a, 24, and 24a. If you’re coming by car, enter “Avraham Granot Street” on your GPS/or brush up on your map reading skills…

By taxi – ask the driver to put the meter on!

Opening Hours and Tickets

Do take note of the erratic opening hours to avoid disappointment. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 pm to 9 pm on Tuesdays, 10 am to 2 pm on Fridays and eves of public holidays and 10 am to 5 pm on holidays and Saturdays.

Ticket prices range from 24 – 48 shekels, depending on age, beauty and charm. No seriously, check online for latest prices or contact the Israel Museum via the details below. You can also keep tabs on the latest exhibitions at the Museum by joining them on their Facebook page.

Telephone: 02-6708811
Email: info@imj.org.il

Alongside the many familiar photographs featuring celebs mixed with a heavy dose of provocation, the exhibition will also feature some of his personal work, which LaChapelle has been working on recently. And yes, he’ll also be here at the opening.

LaChapelle is known for his wacky combinations, mixing familiar icons with anonymous models, to create images celebrating the beauty of destruction and the glamor of disaster. Among other things, he has photographed Madonna with an angelic halo, and Michael Jackson as the Archangel triumphing over evil (see some more of the images that will be at the exhibition here).

You can check out more details over at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art website: www.tamuseum.com

Ah yes, Tel Aviv born Ron Arad. The man seen by many as the leading light in the design world since the early 80s (when his Rover chair first brought him to the world’s attention), Ron Arad is the man behind the iconic design of the Design Museum Holon. Now largely based in London, he has been the inspiration behind this new museum building, the aim of which is to help transform Holon into the city of culture and education.

Not quite sure Holon will ever be seen as the design center of the world, but you never know. Most Israelis know Holon as the place to take a driving test (and Ron Arad should know: he took his test in the streets of Holon some six times!), and not much else.

But with some $17million pumped into this project, Holon are determined that this is a museum to be reckoned with, and which will be on the itinerary of anybody and everybody interested in the world of design.

We’ll be popping along at some point (the wife is a graphic designer and she purred when she saw a recent article on TV about the museum) and will give you a more honest account, but until then, you can check out the Design Museum Holon’s official website. Love it that the place will be closed on Sunday; obviously London has worn its magic on Ron Arad and the ridiculous idea of starting the week on Sunday (as is the way in Israel, unfortunately) has been binned…

But it does look like the Design Museum Holon is one to add to our list of Highly Recommended sites in Israel. Go see!

Address: Pinchas Eylon 8, Holon.

Telephone: 03-6520331

Scheduled Opening Hours:
Monday, Wednesday – 10:00-16:00
Tuesday, Thursday – 10:00-20:00
Friday – 10:00-14:00
Saturday – 10:00-16:00
Sunday – Closed

Located in Haifa, the Body Worlds exhibition  – yes, that much-talked about exhibition that uses REAL bodies – holds some 20 displays of bodies plus another 130 human organs. Its purpose: to expose the amazing physical structure of the human body. And it might just help you stop smoking, especially if you’re teetering on the edge of the quitting crevice.

The exhibition has been a hit all over the world and been seen by some 26 million people. As well as the exhibition in Haifa it is also being shown in the US (San Diego and Tampa) and in Europe (London, Heidelberg and Sevilla). Nice to see the Israel National Museum of Science, Technology and Space in Haifa get on the scene for an exhibition of this size and stature.

And yes, the Body Worlds exhibition includes real body parts, which are on public display thanks to the process of Plastination, invented by the colorful physician and anatomist behind the exhibition Dr. Gunther von Hagens. The bodies themselves have been donated to the cause, all above board and checked by the relevant authorities. There is, in fact, a waiting list of 10,000 people willing to give up their bodies and stay eternally in this world in some shape or form.

If you’re a little squeamish, this exhibition probably isn’t for you. There are body parts all over the place, healthy organs compared with nasty looking diseased organs…just bear that in mind if you’re thinking of taking the kids. A straw poll in the car ride home (after a shwarma at Hazan Shwarma – ask the locals in Haifa, they’ll know in which direction to point you!) indicated low votes from those that found some of the exhibits a little too much…

It costs 85 shekels to get in to Body Worlds, though various offers are available through various tour agencies, credit cards and so on. The museum is open from 10am to 10pm every day, apart from Sundays, when it opens at noon. You’ll need at least something like 90 minutes to get the best out of the exhibition.

The exhibition Internet site (in Hebrew): www.bodyworlds.co.il
The international exhibition internet site: www.bodyworlds.com

Some interesting quotes about the Body Worlds exhibition:

The glory of God is found in the human fully alive. The human body is essential to our humanity – to our personhood – and any growth in the understanding and knowledge of our human body leads to a greater appreciation of our dignity as human persons.
Father Richard Benson, C.M., Ph.D., St. John’s Seminary, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

I was very proud that the Science Center board and the professionals involved were willing to take the risk of receiving some flak for the higher gain of educating the public about health and the human body. Moreover, when we see with our own eyes the unbelievable design of the human body in all its fine detail, it helps us understand better the Designer who created and shaped humanity.
Rabbi Morley Feinstein, University Synagogue.

A couple of let-downs in my opinion, though really not biggies:

• Lack of English promotional materials. No leaflets, no little souvenir pamphlet…
• Though all the exhibits were described in English, some of the explanations were badly placed. In a couple of examples I found myself squeezed up against the wall trying to read the text on the back of the Hebrew placard, which had been placed with a little bit more thought and purpose for its Hebrew reading audience.

The Body Worlds exhibition is in Israel until 13th September 2009, so go check it out before it’s too late!