Antigua ciudad de Jaffa y playa: bella combinación

Tel Aviv in 2 Days: What to Do & Where to Go

Wondering what to do in Tel Aviv in 2 days? For this post, we go with a suggestion on what you can do in two days, divided into Day 1 and Day 2 as a suggested itinerary for your trip. As shown in the map below, you can start to explore Tel Aviv either nearby the beaches or nearby the Bauhaus architecture around the Rothschild Boulevard. Tel Aviv is a cosmopolitan and vibrant city as much as Berlin and Barcelona when it comes to events, cultural life, and nightlife. So there are many things happening in the city every day and is a popular destination for gay travelers. Israelis are in general open-minded, no comments in Tel Aviv, it’s not something you can compare to other Middle Eastern countries where even talking about sex is a big taboo…

If you don’t have too much time: Tel Aviv in 1 day

 

Day 1

Suggested itinerary for a frist day in Tel Aviv
Suggested itinerary for the first day in Tel Aviv

Visit Old Jaffa

A suggestion to start your day in Tel Aviv, as the Old Jaffa is nearby the beaches and the central areas of the city. It’s one of the oldest ports in the world, the place associated with the biblical story of Jonah. One of the best views of Tel Aviv is the contrast between the Mediterranean Sea and the old stone constructions, and locals gather daily around Jaffa in the sunset.

A famous restaurant in Jaffa is Abu Hassan, known for making one of the best hummus in Tel Aviv. This restaurant opens in the morning until the early afternoon. There is also a flea market in Jaffa, open from Sunday to Fridays (from morning till early evenings), where you can used and new local products.

Old Jaffa and beach, not a bad combination
Old Jaffa and beach, not a bad combination

Go to the Beaches

A visit to Tel Aviv without the beaches is incomplete. The weather is good for the whole year – except in winter from December to February –  and in front of the Mediterranean Sea, what else is necessary? The beaches get crowded in the late afternoon when locals go for a run or relax under the sunset, the time for taking the most beautiful pictures in that part of the city. And Tel Aviv has beaches for all tastes: for surfers, for those who are religious, for gays, and so on.

Pass the Time at a Café

Cafés in Tel Aviv there are everywhere! It’s where locals go to spend time, get together, or relax from long working hours. So why not relax at a café after a long walk around the city?

Nightlife

Tel Aviv is worldwide famous for its vibrant nightlife, with bars and nightclubs for all tastes and budgets. Parties and festivals happen during the whole year, new bars and clubs open every day but the peak for a night out is on Friday night.

Day 2

Suggested itinerary for a second day in Tel Aviv
Suggested itinerary for the second day in Tel Aviv

Walk by Neve Tzedek

Neve Tzedek was the first Jewish neighborhood to expand outside Jaffa. Nowadays, it’s one of the most expensive areas in Tel Aviv and a beautiful area to walk by. Concentrates boutiques, art galleries, cafés, restaurants in the middle of old charming houses. This area is perfect for a walking tour or by bicycle as you prefer to explore its picturesque streets.

Getting lost around the beautiful streets of Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv.
Getting lost around the beautiful streets of Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv.

Visit Local Markets

Also part of local daily life and the place for budget travelers buy the groceries to cook. A good time to visit the markets in the morning, to buy fresh fruits and candies. At least the Carmel Market you have to visit, where you can delight yourself with some candies, fruits, and juice. The Tasting Card is a convenient way to enjoy tasting while exploring the market and this 2-hour tour in English takes travelers to immerse yourself in the history of the market, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Carmel Market, Tel Aviv.
Carmel Market, Tel Aviv.

Museums and Bauhaus Architecture

Bauhaus architecture is one of the landmarks of Tel Aviv, featured by the 4.000 buildings built by Jews who had migrated from Germany during the Nazi regime from the 1930s. For Bauhaus architecture, the best place to visit is the Bauhaus Center in Tel Aviv. If you want to visit museums, more details on the post Museums in Tel Aviv and Art galleries in Tel Aviv. And to immerse in the local art scene history, there are the Architecture Walking Tour for Bauhaus and for the street art fans, this grafitti tour in the coolest neighborhoods.

Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv. Picture from bauhaus-center.com.
Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv. Picture from bauhaus-center.com

Events

Events in Tel Aviv happen every day, from parties to startup and tech events, so as art exhibitions. The best source of information on what events may interest you is the website and Facebook group Secret Tel Aviv, which covers everything happening in the city.

Two are not enough for Tel Aviv since this city offers abundant options of what to do when it comes to events, museums, and art galleries, let alone nightlife. I recommend a minimum of 4 or 5 days to explore it spontaneously on your own way.

Originally posted 2018-04-10 18:13:06.