Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and the largest metropolitan area. It is on the Mediterranean coast, about 60 km north-west of Jerusalem and some 100 km south of Haifa. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo (Jaffa), and reflects the fact that the city has grown beside (and absorbed) the ancient port city of Yafo, to the south of the new city center, in addition to many other neighboring cities. Tel Aviv is home to most foreign embassies.
The Unesco-listed Bauhaus-era buildings that give the place its popular title of ‘White City’ are a major draw, as is the historic port of Yafo , which has a fascinating Arab heritage. But the city’s real attraction is the local lifestyle. Visitors tend to get into the Tel Avivi swing of things straight away, flitting between contemporary art galleries and chic cafes one day, artisan boutiques and blissfully balmy beaches the next. A few days here is fun, but a week can be a revelation – don’t miss it.
