Israel Explorers
לסייר, להכיר להנות!
Welcome Back to Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv remains the cultural and economic heartbeat of Israel, continually evolving while staying true to its dynamic, Zionist spirit. While many first-time visitors assume that history and culture are found only in Jerusalem, returning travelers like you know that Tel Aviv has plenty to offer beyond its beautiful beaches. This time around, let’s go deeper—exploring new sights, rediscovering old favorites, and uncovering the city’s ever-changing energy.
. If this is your first visit, check out Tel Aviv - 101 at the following link:
🔗 Tel Aviv - 101
The Origins of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv was founded on sand dunes in 1909 through a famous seashell lottery, an event captured in historical photographs. Originally named Ahuzat Bayit, the city's name was later changed to Tel Aviv, a translation of Theodor Herzl’s book Altneuland (Old-New Land). The name "Tel" symbolizes the old (an ancient archaeological mound), while "Aviv" (spring) represents the new.
Exploring Tel Aviv
🏛️ Tel Aviv Municipality Tours
Excellent tours for both tourists and locals, available for free or at a symbolic price, covering topics such as urban nature, history, food tasting, running, and yoga. Reservations are usually required in advance.
🔗 Book a Tour
🏛️ Old Municipality Museum
Located near the Dizengoff House (Rothschild Blvd & Nachalat Binyamin St.), this historic building housed the first municipal council from 1925 to 1952. Today, it serves as Tel Aviv’s City Museum, showcasing multimedia exhibits on the pioneering spirit and Zionist ethos of Tel Aviv.
🔗 Visit the Museum
🏛️ ANU - Museum of the Jewish People
Located on Tel Aviv University’s campus, this vast museum opened in 2021, covering Jewish identity across three floors:
Upper Floor: Jewish identity in the 21st century, contributions to cinema, theater, and music.
Middle Floor: Historical narratives.
Lower Floor: Contemporary Jewish art.
The museum offers guided tours and an excellent audio guide.
🔗 Explore ANU Museum
🏛️ Gutman Museum
A small but charming museum dedicated to Nahum Gutman, the "painter of Tel Aviv." Gutman, a founding family member of Tel Aviv, captured the city's development from its early days. His colorful, childlike style provides a nostalgic look at Tel Aviv’s growth. A true gem for art lovers.
🔗 Visit Gutman Museum
🏛️ Peres Center for Peace & Innovation
Israel, known as the "Startup Nation," has contributed inventions like drip irrigation, Waze, cybersecurity solutions, and the USB flash drive. The Peres Center showcases Israel’s technological achievements and examines why a small country has produced so many innovations. The tour lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes. Advance booking required.
🔗 Book a Tour
Final Thoughts
Tel Aviv is not just about beaches and nightlife—it's a dynamic city with deep historical roots, vibrant cultural attractions, and exciting outdoor activities. Whether you're an art lover, history buff, foodie, or adventure seeker, Tel Aviv has something for everyone.
🚀 Ready to explore? Let’s dive into Tel Aviv!
Local Markets & Neighborhoods
🛍️ Levinsky Market (Friday Noon Visit)
For a less touristy market experience than Carmel Market, head to Levinsky Market, founded in the 1920s in the Neve Sha'anan neighbourhood. Recently transformed into a pedestrian zone, it offers a rich variety of eateries reflecting Tel Aviv’s diverse immigrant waves. Located in South Tel Aviv, it has a distinctly different atmosphere from Carmel Market.
🎨 Graffiti Tour in Florentin
Florentin is Tel Aviv’s graffiti hub, where street art is embraced rather than removed. As the neighbourhood undergoes gentrification, its old buildings serve as canvases for diverse artistic expressions—an excellent way to understand Israeli society.
🔗 Join a Graffiti Tour
Bauhaus Architecture & White City
In 2003, UNESCO officially recognized Tel Aviv as a World Heritage Site, honoring its vast collection of Bauhaus-style buildings, which constitute the largest concentration of this architectural style anywhere in the world. Known as the "White City," this historic designation highlights Tel Aviv's unique blend of cultural heritage and modernist design. The Bauhaus movement, originally founded in Germany, was brought to Tel Aviv by German Jewish immigrants fleeing the rise of the Nazi regime in the 1930s. They carried with them the principles of functionality, simplicity, and minimalism that define the style, but they made key adaptations to suit the local Mediterranean climate.
For instance, the flat roofs typical of Bauhaus architecture were repurposed as communal spaces and were ideal for a sunny climate like Tel Aviv’s. Overhangs, balconies, and long horizontal windows were incorporated to ensure shade and allow for natural ventilation, addressing the city's hot and humid conditions. The buildings also reflect the egalitarian and socialist values of the young Jewish community at the time, focusing on affordable, functional housing rather than ornate or extravagant designs.
Today, the White City spans approximately 4,000 Bauhaus-inspired structures across central Tel Aviv, particularly in areas like Rothschild Boulevard, Bialik Street, and Dizengoff Square. It remains a living testament to the city's architectural innovation and cultural resilience. Several guided tours and museums, such as the Bauhaus Center, offer deeper insights into this heritage, allowing visitors to appreciate the aesthetic and historical significance of these iconic buildings. The city's ongoing efforts to preserve these structures ensure that the architectural legacy of Tel Aviv continues to inspire generations to come.
In the photo Museum of Bauhaus Tel-Aviv taken by Yair Talmor
Outdoor Activities in Tel Aviv
🚴 Bike Riding in Yarkon Park
Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv’s version of Central Park, is a vast green space stretching from east to west, ending at the Mediterranean. It features rock climbing, trampolines, baseball fields, pedal boat rides, soccer and basketball courts, a small zoo, and bike rentals. The park is mostly flat, making cycling easy.
🔗 Bike Rental
🔗 Yarkon Park Cycling Trail
🧗 Rock Climbing & Trampoline Park
Located in Yarkon Park near Rokach Blvd., this climbing facility offers 40 different routes for climbers aged 4 and above, with trained instructors on-site.
🔗 Book a Climbing Session
🌉 Extreme Rope Park (SkyTown)
A multi-level rope adventure park, with breathtaking views of Yarkon Park and Tel Aviv from the upper platforms. Entry is based on height restrictions (minimum 1 meter).
🔗 Visit SkyTown
🎈 Hot Air Balloon Ride
Experience aerial views of Tel Aviv and the entire Gush Dan area from a tethered hot air balloon. Keep in mind that flights depend on wind conditions.
🔗 Hot Air Balloon Info
