Tel Aviv Orientation BACK

Tel Aviv, on the Mediterranean coast 95 km south of Haifa and 62 km northwest of Jerusalem, is a sprawling city with several centres of attraction.

Many of the city's luxury hotels are located on Hayarkon St., along the Seashore Promenade, which also features a pleasant walkway, a marina and a number of cafeterias and restaurants. Following the curve of the coast south is Jaffa, still full of old-world charm, with its meandering cobbled streets of galleries, quaint shops and markets, which includes a flea market.

Dizengoff is the principal shopping, strolling and people-watching street, and a pause at one of its many pavement cafes to enjoy the passing show, particularly on Friday afternoons, is not to be missed. At the south end of Dizengoff lies Dizengoff Circle with its flamboyant and controversial revolving statue by sculptor Agam. In recent years, the action has moved further north. Many of Israel's glossy fashion boutiques and popular restaurants now lie around the Dizengoff-Yirmiyahu area.

Two other main shopping streets are Ben-Yehuda, between Dizengoff and Hayarkon, worth exploring for its art galleries and souvenir shops, and Ibn Gvirol, with its new glossy shopping centre, Gan Ha'ir, next to city hall. At the end of Ben Yehuda lies Allenby Street, once the centre of Tel Aviv shopping and now older and shabbier, but still interesting. Many historical areas lie off Allenby, as do the bustling Carmel and Bezalel Markets, and the Nahalat Binyamin mall leading up to them. All areas can be reached by bus from the New Central Bus Terminal. This area comprises a gaggle of Mid-Eastern style small streets crowded with bargain merchandise, fast food and produce stalls.