Visitors
Visiting Tel Aviv: start here
Tel Aviv-Yafo has 13 official beaches along about 14 km of coast, the UNESCO-listed White City, and the old port city of Jaffa. The city runs three tourist information centers, in Jaffa, Sarona and on Rothschild Boulevard. Most restaurants and cafes stay open on Shabbat, but trains and the light rail stop.
Visitors
Start here
6 steps, in the order most people take them.
- 1
Get a Rav-Kav card
Buy an anonymous Rav-Kav for 5 NIS and load it on the HopOn or Rav-Kav Online apps, at a tourist information center or at a kiosk. Buses also take credit cards and Apple Pay.
Go (opens in a new tab) - 2
Stop at a tourist information center
2 Marzouk and Azar Street in Jaffa, 11 Aluf Albert Mendler Street in Sarona, and 11 Rothschild Boulevard. Open Sunday to Thursday 9:00-17:30, Friday 9:00-16:00, Saturday 10:00-16:00.
Go (opens in a new tab) - 3
Pick your area to stay
The beachfront hotel strip, Rothschild and the center, Kaufman Street near Jaffa, Sarona, or the quieter north.
Go - 4
Plan around Sunday and Shabbat
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Eretz Israel Museum are closed on Sunday and open on Saturday. On Shabbat, trains and the light rail stop, and free weekend buses run instead.
Go - 5
Swim only where there's a lifeguard
Swimming is forbidden without a lifeguard. In winter only some stations are staffed, from 7:00 to 15:00.
Go - 6
Take the free Saturday walking tour
A free tour from Old Tel Aviv to the White City leaves every Saturday at 11:00 from 46 Rothschild Boulevard.
Go
Guides
Read next
- Where to stay in Tel AvivThe main areas for a short stay in Tel Aviv-Yafo, what each is close to, and how to find a hotel with a kosher kitchen.
- Things to do in Tel AvivMuseums with their hours and prices, the White City and free walking tours, Jaffa, Yarkon Park, and what works for kids in Tel Aviv-Yafo.
- Tel Aviv beachesTel Aviv-Yafo's 13 official beaches, lifeguard hours in winter and summer, the separate beach schedule, dog and accessible beaches, and the flags.
- Getting around Tel AvivThe Red Line, buses and Rav-Kav, trains, free weekend buses, bike share and scooter rules, and how resident parking works in Tel Aviv-Yafo.
- Shabbat in Tel AvivCandle lighting, the eruv, shuls that welcome English speakers, Shabbat meals for newcomers, and what is open in Tel Aviv on Friday night and Saturday.
Good to know
Taxis charge 25% more from 11:30pm to 5am, on Shabbat and on holidays. A beach chair costs 10 NIS for visitors. The Carmel Market is closed on Saturday. Independence Hall is closed for renovation.
Community groups
Where people talk
- 126 Ben Yehuda (North Central Synagogue) communityWebsite or forum · The North Central Synagogue
- Chabad on the CoastWebsite or forum · Chabad on the Coast
- Secret Tel AvivFacebook · Secret Tel Aviv
- Tel Aviv Community Kabbalat ShabbatFacebook · Tel Aviv Community Kabbalat Shabbat
- White City ShabbatWebsite or forum · White City Shabbat
From our network
Good people I work with
A few organisations from the Consult With Ari network whose work reaches people in Tel Aviv.
These are not paid listings, and they are separate from the checked directory.
Source
- Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality: public transportation (opens in a new tab)
- Visit Tel Aviv: information centers (opens in a new tab)
- Visit Tel Aviv: Shabbat (opens in a new tab)
- Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality: beaches (opens in a new tab)
- Visit Tel Aviv: getting around (opens in a new tab)
- Bizportal: Independence Hall (Hebrew) (opens in a new tab)
This page was written for Tel Aviv from the sources above.