Tel Aviv & Herzliya Attractions

Tel Aviv, the city that never sleeps, is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world, and as a result, it often stars on many tourist websites with a connection to this. Lines of parties, pubs with impressive attendance by gays, beaches and a municipal center for the gay community, under the sponsorship of the city administration. During the month around the gay-pride parade, the city gets into high gear: more parties, more tourists and many more activities and attractions directed at this community.

Tel Aviv Gay-Pride Parade – a “Must Attraction” for the Whole Community!

As already mentioned, there are not a few attractions in Tel Aviv that are directed at the gay community, but the cherry on the pie is, without a doubt, the Tel Aviv Gay-Pride Parade, which is at its peak, includes more than 100,000 participants. The parade takes place every year at the beginning of June, and though it is not the only parade in Israel, it is beyond a doubt the largest, most colorful and best known of them all, and not only on a local scale. In addition to the parade itself, the whole city is decked out in rainbow colors, and many businesses fly the gay flag in solidarity with the community. So what will you find in the Tel Aviv parade? Trailer trucks with dancers, insane music, drag-queens in their full glory and not a few children. At the starting line of the 2018 Gay-Pride Parade, there was even a playground for the community’s children.

The parade starts from Ben-Zion Boulevard and ends at Charles Clore Park: it begins with performances and stands and ends with an enormous party with top artists. The parade date is not random, it marks the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, out of which grew the Gay Rights organizations around the world. This date is important, but the sun doesn’t take this into account. June in Tel Aviv is hot – really hot! Among all the tourists, the parties and the parade itself, the sun also makes a contribution and since the parade starts at noon, it is very important to be well supplied with sun-screen, lots of water and a hat is also recommended. Fans and water pistols are also very welcome.

A variety of unique lines and parties in Gay Tel Aviv

There are many giant parties and bars in Tel Aviv where you can meet new people and find out what is happening in the city. We will note three outstanding examples among them: in 2019 the Inta Lounge bar in Yaffo was opened, DTM (Don’t Tell Mom) which recently opened in the Florentine neighborhood, and Shpagat on Nachalat Binyamin, which except for Wednesdays, is meant mainly for men. If you are looking for an entertaining evening in an oriental Yaffo atmosphere, the Inta Lounge could be the ideal place for you.

In addition, there is no lack of parties for women in Tel Aviv, and there are several outstanding lines: the Kit-Kat in Florentine puts on a lively dance party every Thursday, and at Saban Alban, next to Nahalat Binyamin, there is a party every Monday. Saban Alban is the largest and most crowded line of parties. The place opens at 20:00, but to really see and be seen, you should arrive starting at 23:00 or even later. If you are more interested in talking and less about dancing, you should visit the Shpagat Bar, where Wednesdays are devoted to women.

Several places in the city are identified with the gay community, and perhaps the most central location, where you can receive information concerning coming activities, is the Gay Center in the heart of Gan Meir. Come and get information and enjoy a little quiet from all the hustle and bustle at the café. Take a breath, since the best parties end in the early hours of the morning!

Tel Aviv Beaches – the Leading Attraction among the Gay Community

All the Tel Aviv beaches are a special attraction among many tourists and Israelis alike, but some beaches are especially liked by the gay community. The Hilton Beach is considered to be Tel Aviv’s Gay Beach and is definitely the best-liked among the LGBTQ community in Tel Aviv. This beach has earned an international reputation and was recently ranked first among the best gay beaches in the world (!) by Newsweek. The Hilton Beach is located close to the center of what is happening in Tel Aviv, and there, you can find all the Who’s-Who of the gay community. Weekends during the hot seasons are incredibly crowded, and for those who prefer more relaxed entertainment, it is recommended to go on weekdays.

At the northern end of Hilton Beach, you can find the “Dogs Beach,” which is meant to provide a solution for those that want to spend free time with their dogs at the seaside. This beach attracts many singles, both straight and gay. The part of the Hilton Beach that is more identified with the gay community is located north of the breakwater.

Although hard to believe, Israel has a winter, and the temperature in Tel Aviv has become bearable. From approximately December to February, you might find that most Israelis have packed away the shorts and vests and are wearing jackets or long sleeves, but with so many Tel Aviv attractions, the city still sizzles with things to do in the winter.

Ten Must-Do Winter Activities in Tel Aviv:

1. Close to the Dan Tel Aviv, the city’s huge urban Hayarkon Park is far quieter in winter but come, relax and watch the joggers, runners, Tai Chi fanatics, rock wall climbers, and yoga-lovers as the world goes by. For kids, the park comprises six different gardens, including one of the largest rock gardens in the world, with more than 3,500 species of plants, and a tropical garden, home to swans, fish and an array of orchids.

2. There is more wildlife at the wide-open Ramat Gan Safari. Considered to be the biggest and one of the most impressive collections of protected wildlife in the Middle East, today, this 250-acre offers a modern, spacious and open-air zoo and a drive-through African safari area, home to more than 100 species of birds, 80 species of mammals and 25 species of reptiles.

3. While the Mediterranean isn’t known for large waves in the summer, during the winter, they get bigger, and it’s a perfect time to take a surfing or SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) lesson down at the beach. Put on your wetsuits and take one of the many lessons available to wannabe surfers of all ages.

4. One of Tel Aviv’s other nicknames is the “White City,” honoring the city’s heritage and reputation as a home of Bauhaus architecture. Visit the Bauhaus Center and take self-guided audio tours. Check the hours to see the Covid times update. Learn how the architectural style fits like a glove to the socialist movement that arrived in Israel and how it was skilfully adapted to a very different landscape.

5. Home to one of the oldest museums in Israel, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (“TAMA”) is also one of the country’s most diverse and a perfect way to spend an afternoon this winter. Located close to the Link Hotel and Hub, TAMA houses a vast permanent collection of classic and contemporary art and also features diverse temporary exhibitions, currently renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama for her first major exhibition in Israel.
 
6. Winter sunset in Jaffa is just the tonic you’ve been waiting for. The beach is a popular place to watch the sun go down, but we recommend finding a spot closer to Old Jaffa. The sight of the orange sky behind Jaffa’s old Clock Tower is a painting, and enjoy the winding alleyways and a Crusader-era square decorated with twinkling Christmas lights.

7. One of the most recognizable Tel Aviv attractions is the iconic open-air Carmel Market. Before heading down the market’s alleys in the Yemenite Quarter, be sure to ask for a ‘sachlav,’ a Middle Eastern drink that hits the spot more than any hot chocolate can. Its base is made up of warm milk thickened with ground sahlab orchid bulbs and is the ideal drink to warm up with on a cool winter day.

8. Head down to the hip Florentine hood in south Tel Aviv, a short walk from the spice-laden Levinsky market and iconic Carmel markets. Admire the street art on a tour of Florentine, hang out at trendy coffee shops here, such as Levinsky 41 and Cafelix, and those civilized venues, such as Nina Cafe in nearby Neve Tzedek, close to the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv.

9. Starting on November 28, the Jewish festival of light or Hanukkah is celebrated each year with eight days of candle-lighting ceremonies. But for most Tel Avivians, even those who aren’t religious, this festival is about one thing only – doughnuts or ‘sufganiyot’ in Hebrew. Among the many bakeries to choose from, make sure you try one of the many luxurious varieties at the bakery chain, Roladin.

10. A must-see is the city’s Sarona Market, part of the new wave of food markets that have popped up worldwide. With an abundance of culinary excellence, the indoor market houses around 100 businesses, from local producers of spices, cheeses, meats, and other goods,

Winter may have a different flavor, but there are so many things to do during winter in Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv, Israel’s urban and vibrant city, is also known for its many cultural centers. Indeed, there are quite a few attractions in Tel Aviv, including enrichment, culture and art. You can pop over to the Museum of Plastic Arts and be impressed by various exhibitions, go to the house where a local artist lived and worked and which today serves as a museum for his creations, or visit one of the museums that tell the history of the Israeli people and the military organizations that operated in Israel over the years, or to the Museum of Nature that glorifies flora and fauna. The Eretz Israel Museum, which includes various exhibitions on a wide range of topics, is also among the list of museums in Tel Aviv that are worthwhile visiting when you have a few hours to spare.

The Tel Aviv Art Museum

When talking about museums in Tel Aviv, the two most prominent are the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Eretz Israel Museum. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art has permanent and changing exhibitions: paintings, sculptures, photographs, performance art, drawings, architecture and more. The focus is on contemporary art. Among the permanent collections is a selection of works by leading artists such as Mark Chagall, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Nahum Gutman, Jackson Pollock and more. The Tel Aviv Museum plaza contains environmental sculptures and is an attraction by itself.

The Eretz Israel Museum

Muz”a, or the Eretz Israel Museum, is located north of the city, north of the Yarkon River. Like many Tel Aviv museums, it is a museum not just about plastic art but a multidisciplinary museum that exhibits Israeli culture from the past and present. The Eretz Israel Museum is one of the three most prominent museums in Israel, spread out over an area of approximately ​​200 dunams. Spread out through the heart of the museum are ancient artifacts, including mosaics, winepresses, flour mills and millstones for olive-oil production, along with a planetarium offering performances that reach for the stars. Among the permanent exhibitions in the museum can be found collections of glass and copper vessels, as well as pavilions showing handicrafts from the past, folklore and coins. The changing exhibitions are varied: from proud Israeli art to the history of sandals, tattoos, picnics, and even dinosaurs and escape rooms.

ANU - Museum of the Jewish People

Tel Aviv’s museums don't just revolve around plastic art. Like the Eretz Israel Museum, Beit Hatfutsot, or by its full name the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot revolves around the people and cultures that make up the Israeli mosaic. If the Eretz Israel Museum focuses primarily on the geographical area of ​​Israel, Beit Hatfutsot encompasses the Jewish people from all its various diasporas and cultures: the connection between Jews and other peoples in the different diasporas and the development of Jewish identity. Information is transmitted by various means: music, surnames, family trees, pictures, and videos.

Nahum Gutman Museum

In one of the houses in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood, the first Jewish neighborhood outside the walls of Jaffa, lived three roommates: Yosef Aharonovich, Deborah Baron and Yosef Haim Brenner – an editor and two writers. At that time, the house was used as the editorial offices of the "Hapoel Hatzair" newspaper. After the marriage of Aharonovich and Baron, the house became known as the authors’ house, being used as a meeting place for many Tel Aviv writers. Years later the house was neglected and a demolition order was almost issued for it, but then it was decided to preserve it. The building that underwent renovation and preservation, was joined by a collection of the works of Tel Aviv artist Nahum Gutman. These were donated by his family and the Nahum Gutman Museum was opened there. Here there are permanent exhibitions of Nahum Gutman's works and changing exhibitions by other artists, who conduct together with the artist's works a complex dialogue between different times and perspectives.