Tel Aviv, Israel

What to do on Shabbath in Tel Aviv

By Menno de Vries, independent tour guide in Israel

Shabbath is a day of rest for Jewish people and in most of the country all public and commercial services stop. From Friday afternoon until Saturday evening.
Tel Aviv is different, even though you wont find public transportation, you will find he smaller “sherut” taxi buses working and most bars and restaurants stay open.
The following area’s are interesting to visit on Shabbath.

Rothschild Boulevard
The chicest street in Tel Aviv, located in the heart of the city, in this beautiful boulevard you will find a variety of cafes, quality restaurants, bars and vibrant cultural life. Along the boulevard are impressive Bauhaus buildings that tell the story of the beginnings of Tel Aviv and its first neighborhood, Ahuzat Bayit.
Most cafes and restaurants are open on Saturdays.

Neve Tzedek
The first Jewish neighborhood outside the walls of Jaffa has become a must tourist destination, located on the edge of Rothschild Boulevard on one side and the sea on the other.
On the main street of Neve Tzedek, “Shabazi” Street, you will find many restaurants, cafes, shops and gourmet ice cream parlors.
The neighborhood is full with narrow and crowded streets with unique and enchanting buildings.
The Suzanne Dellal Center – one of the most well-known sites in Neve Tzedek. Today serves as the dance and theater center of the “Batsheva” dance Ensemble and the “Inbal” Dance Company. Every year there are many festivals and music performances held in the Suzanne Dellal Center.
Most cafes and restaurants are open on Saturdays

The Old Train Station (Ha Tachana)
Tel Aviv’s Renovated Old Train Stationcombines a bit of everything – history, art galleries, boutiques and specialty stores, restaurants and activities for kids and families.
Every Saturday, you can enjoy free circus performances in the Center Stage at the Station.
Each performance runs 30 – 45 minutes. The shows including acrobatics, fire dancing, clowns, jugglers, street musicians and living statues.
During the summer performances take place Saturdays between 5 and 8 PM.
From mid October until April) – performances take place every Saturday from 1 PM until mid-afternoon.

Old Jaffa
Jaffa Israel with its unique, old-world atmosphere is completely different than the rest of Tel Aviv. It’s a wonderful place to visit, during the day.
You will love wandering around Jaffa’s winding alleyways interspersed with art galleries, historic stone buildings, mosques and churches and the Jaffa Port.

Sarona
A 45 dunam plot located next to the Shalom Train Station (between Kaplan Street and Ha’arba’a Street). It is a recreation and culinary area with a variety of Templar structures that have been renovated and restored in recent years.
The well-preserved houses tell the story of the Templars, Christian Germans who settled in Israel in the 19th century.
The Sarona complex has a variety of cafes, bars, restaurants, playgrounds for children and shops.
The Sarona complex is home to a large gourmet market: Sarona Market, which was inspired by the world’s largest markets. The culinary market is the center of dozens of restaurants and delicacies from the best culinary chefs in Israel.

The Sarona market is open on Saturday 9am – 23pm.
Most restaurants and shops in the complex are open on Saturdays

Yarkon Park
The Yarkon Park is undoubtedly the green lung of Tel Aviv – the Yarkon River passes through it, alongside pleasant grassy areas, hiking trails and bicycle paths. You can watch ducks swimming peacefully in the Yarkon River or simply rest on the grass, but you can also rent a bike for a pleasant ride in the park.
When you feel that you have exhausted all this nature, you can cycle to the port of Tel Aviv and from there to the beach promenade.

Port of Tel Aviv (Namal)
The Tel Aviv Port is located at the northern promenade of Tel Aviv, and is considered to be one of the most exciting family attractions in Tel Aviv.
The Tel Aviv Port is full of cafes, restaurants, and family activities all along the boardwalk, and on the other side of the promenade you can feel the wonderful breeze of the sea and hear the waves Crashing on the beach. The sea is the real attraction of the Tel Aviv Port, and the sea view makes the complex a very pleasant place to go.
On Saturday, in the middle of Tel Aviv Port, you will find an art fair near the hangar. The Artists’ Fair at the Port is full of stands with beautiful objects of all kinds, pictures, jewelry, bags and various objects of art.
After you have crossed the artists’ fair, which opens every Saturday in the middle of the port, you can continue on the Tel Aviv port, many other restaurants and cafes and a selection of interesting shops await you on the way.
The Tel Aviv Port is especially suitable for a trip with children. There you will find a great many people, especially families. Along the way there are many attractions such as clowns, acrobats and even street shows such as attractive circus shows or musical performances for children.
The restaurants in Tel Aviv harbor are very good and the biggest attraction in restaurants is that they overlook the sea,

 

 


 

About Menno de Vries, independent tour guide in Israel.

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