Tel Aviv is arguably one of the best cities in the world! It's a food and cultural hub. We recommend at least a few days to explore the city. Recommendations include walking along the boardwalk on the beach, eating at a chef-restaurant, renting a bike and exploring the Florentin and Neve Tzedek neighborhoods, and walking around Old Jaffa. We've lived in Tel Aviv for 9 years- we'll be happy to share specific recommendations with you. There's really no need to take a tour guide in Tel Aviv, as we, or our parents, will be happy to show you around, but we can recommend taking a food tour in Levinsky Market, and/or a Graffiti tour in the Florentin neighborhood. We'll be happy to set this up for you!
If you're here, taking a visit to Old City Jerusalem is a must. It's home to sites such as the Western Wall, Dome of the Rome, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and an incredible collision of the most holy religions. It's divided into four quarters: Muslim Quarter, Christian Quarter, Armenian Quarter and the Jewish Quarter. The musts are a trip to the Jewish Quarter and the famous market.
There's nothing like the Dead Sea- literally! It's about 25-45 minutes from Jerusalem via car, depending on where you go in the Dead Sea, so we recommend doing both in the same trip. There are several different locations to visit. We recommend Kalia Beach, Biankini Beach or Neve Midbar Beach. There are restaurants and changing facilities in most locations.
One of our favorite spots for an easy and refreshing nature walk that everyone can enjoy is Ein Gedi Nature Reserve - specifically the Nahal David trail, leading to Gav Halon (Window Pool) and the beautiful Dodim Cave. The hike combines desert views, waterfalls, and natural pools, making it the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation.
Food is one of our biggest passions. And although we go to upscale restaurants once in awhile, our true love is street food and hole-in-the-walls, and Aviel knows the best authentic food places. The must-haves in Israel are hummus, falafel, burekas and kebabs. Here are Aviel's favorite suggestions: Hummus: -Abu Hassan (the best in the country!) Falafel: -Falafel Tadmor -Falafel Itzik Shawarma: -Mifgash Rambam -Mutfak Kebab: -Jasmino (a perfect late night spot) Pizza: -Pizza Yoav Ramen: -Koko Neko Mexican: -Taqueria Hamburger: -Meat Bar Meat: -Abu Hillweh (between 7pm-9pm Thursday-Saturday) Burekas: -Burekas Miss These are true authentic places, with very few tourists. Get ready for an Israeli meal you won't forget!
We love going for hikes and day trips to nature, and Israel is one of the best places to see gorgeous nature. You'll also be arriving for the season when flowers are in bloom, so we really recommend visiting a national park. We'll be happy to give you nature recommendations depending on what you're looking for. Tel Aviv is also a really amazing city to bike around. There's a bike path right up the boardwalk on the beach, and many within the city. There are places to rent bikes and we'll be happy to find you a reliable place.