How To Make The Most Of 48 Hours In Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is as beautiful as Paris or New York – there is always something to do and you’d need a lifetime to do it in. As tourists, a lifetime to explore a city is usually limited to a short time, maybe even 48 hours. Here is our sample itinerary of all the must-do’s when visiting Tel Aviv.

Boker Tov: Breakfast at the Port

Market

When you first arrive, it’s imperative to start the day with a typical Israeli breakfast. The Port of Tel Aviv is buzzing all day and night, filled with trendy café’s, restaurants and bars, designer clothing shops, market places and night clubs, sitting pretty right on the Mediterranean sea it’s a leisurely stroll through the best of Tel Aviv. With all the vibrancy that the port has to offer, it’s the tranquility in the early morning hours that make it a must-see. Enjoy either a sit-down meal at one of the many restaurants along the water, or the Indoor Port Market (located at Hangar 12) – a great place with awesome food, including some of Israel’s finest cheeses, wines and meats. Prices aren’t as cheap as somewhere like the Carmel Market but definitely worth a browse at least for the atmosphere.

Jewelry at the Shuk : © Leeor Cohen

Shopping: From Vintage Markets to Luxury Labels

There is nothing more culturally charming than the street shopping of Tel Aviv. Starting from the cheapest of items on King George and Allenby, items go up a notch on Burgashov Street with vintage clothes and Sheinken’s retail outlets, while on the northern part of Dizengoff and on Florentin streets, you can find designer shops selling fairly priced clothes and accessories. If swanky high-end shopping is your thing, don’t waste another minute and head straight to Kikar Hamedina where you will find a huge plaza with nothing but the most expensive brands. If you’re not afraid to get down and dirty, Tel Aviv’s markets like Carmel and HaTikva sell the cheapest clothing items, knockoff jewelry, and food – but the real gem is the Second Hand Market on Tuesdays and Fridays right in the heart of Tel Aviv on Dizengoff Square, which specializes in second hand items where you can find timeless, unique hand-me-down pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Lunch: Serene Sarona

After all the hustle and bustle of trekking the lively streets of Tel Aviv, there is only one place to go for some peace, quite and delicious food: The newly reconstructed village of Sarona is the perfect place for a casual afternoon lunch or even dinner. There are plenty of café’s and restaurants to choose from though nothing comes close to the picnic concept of Little Italy’s restaurant. They provide a fully equipped picnic basket and an assortment of Italian wine, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas and salads that they sell in their market to choose from. From there, find just the right spot on the grass, open up the provided picnic blanket, and enjoy the afternoon delight.

David Elazar, Tel Aviv, Israel

Banana Beach at Sunset

Natural Feature

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It’s no news that Tel Aviv is among the most beautiful beach cities in the world. Due to the fact that life here basically revolves around the sea, it’s crucial to pay this Mediterranean beauty a visit in order to experience the true essence of the Tel Aviv culture. Whether the visit is for a few days, 48 hours, or even a couple of minutes – drop everything and head straight to the West flank of Tel Aviv, which is an entire shoreline of beaches. The most fascinating part about Tel Aviv’s beaches is that each one has it’s own unique quality about it. Banana Beach, located at the edge near Jaffa, is a great place to end a long day of city exploring; this beach is always full of young, hip, people all gathered around singing and dancing to the sunset. There is no entrance fee to this beach and during the day there is also opportunity for surf lessons and renting of water sport equipment.

Re-energize: Tamara Juice Bar

Bar, Juice Bar, Israeli

Few things taste better than a cool, freshly squeezed fruit shake in the Israeli heat. Located strategically at the corner of Dizengoff and Ben Gurion Boulevard, Tamara is the most enticing fruit stand in Tel Aviv. Not only is their menu packed with over hundreds of different fruit and vegetable combinations, Tamara itself stands out from the rest of the fruit shacks in Tel Aviv because it has become a part of the local’s culture, it’s the hang out spot of the summer, and everyone knows that there simply is no better.

Drinks.

Famous for its thriving nightlife, Tel Aviv is flooded with all different types of bars. It feels as though every two seconds a new bar is popping up somewhere around town with the latest, most modern and unique concept to it. With so many different options, choosing the best is not an easy decision. Located in the heart of the Carmel Shuk, on Nahalat Binyamin, The Little Prince truly has it all – a perfect location, excellent food and drink menu, chill vibes, cool people, with an amazing view, this bar is matchless.

18 Nahalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv, Israel

One option is never enough, so if top of the line cocktails sound alluring then look no further than the notorious Imperial cocktail bar. Recently voted the best cocktail bar in the Middle East and the 56th best in the World, this bar is essential to your short vacation in Tel Aviv. Their cocktails are amazing and the ambiance is even better. They also have a great half-price happy hour deal between 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – just make sure to reserve a place.

66 Hayarkon, Tel Aviv, Israel

Dance the Night Away

What better way to top off the ultimate Tel Aviv experience than to let loose and dance the night away? Known as the ‘city that never sleeps,’ the underground club scene in Tel Aviv validates the essence of this non-stop city. There are a variety of options to choose from but the top three must are definitely: The Block, Bootleg, or The Breakfast Club. Frequented by Tel Aviv nightlife goers, these three spots host prominent local and international DJs that play all sorts of music that come from varied musical backgrounds. Choose any of these three clubs and experience a typical Tel Aviv night.