Israel Hotels

Enjoy Israel

Tel Aviv Beaches – The religious beach

The religious beach is the only beach in Tel Aviv that has separate bathing days for men and women, and is a great option for those who prefer a more restrained beach atmosphere.

There is one beach in Tel Aviv that has separate bathing days for men and women, in order to respond to the needs of the religious community. It is named “the religious beach” (Hof Hadatiyim), sometimes referred to as “The Separate Beach” as well, and is surrounded by a high wall which isolates it from the neighboring beaches. This is a good option for those who prefer single sex bathing or restrained beach atmosphere.

Not only religious people take advantage of this unique and usually not too crowded beach. Women’s days tend to attract many of Tel Aviv’s non religious females as well, who sometime prefer to enjoy their sunbath uninterrupted by male company.

Shalom Howard Johnson (216 Hayarkon St., ), a modern five-story building with balconies towards the Mediterranean and Independence Park, is the nearest hotel. It is pretty basic but has a restaurant and a pub, which offers live music almost every evening. The Marina hotel is pretty close as well, located on top of Kikar Atarim square, which is a popular hangout place for tourists during the summer months. The Marina (167 Hayarkon St., ) is located in the center of Tel Aviv’s luxury hotel strip, and offers a combination of convenient location and comfortable lodging. The rooms at the Marina were recently renovated and its guests enjoy an underground parking lot, which is a rare and helpful feature for guests in the city.

The religious beach area is a central location for a Tel Aviv visit. Even if you choose to stay elsewhere, try to visit there once. Your chances to witness a similar beach elsewhere are pretty scarce.

Israel's favorite Tel Aviv - More options:

Azrieli Observatory on top of the Azrieli center

Tel Aviv's views from above are outstanding. For those who wish to enjoy this spectacular landscape, there is a great Tel Aviv observatory on top of one of its highest buildings - the Azrieli observatory at 132 Menachem Begin Street. Azrieli Observatory is situated on top of the Azrieli center, the biggest commercial center in the Middle East and one of the most popular shopping malls of the city. The center consists of 3 buildings - the Square, the Triangle and the Round - and on the 49th floor of the round building the highest observatory in the Middle East is open for visitors. The amazing panoramic views of Azrieli Observatory stretch from Ashkelon in the south to Haifa in the north. The entrance to Azrieli Observatory is via the third floor inside the Azrieli mall. Admission is paid at the reception desk, from which visitors are taken up in a fast-speed elevator to the 49th floor. In Azrieli Observatory you can rent a telescopes and audio equipment to intensify your experience. Up there you will also find a 3D film about Tel-Aviv, an audio guide describing major landmarks, temporary art exhibitions.

Rabin Square Tel Aviv

Rabin Square is the main open public square of Tel Aviv, and is typically used for art exhibitions, independence-day celebrations and large rallies and demonstrations. The most famous of which was the peace rally on the night of November 5th 1995, at the end of which Yitzhak Rabin, the Prime Minister of Israel, was assassinated. Shortly afterwords, the square was renamed, and a monument was built on the north-eastern corner, where Rabin was shot. At the top of the stairs leading to the city hall entrance, Rabin's last speech from the rally is engraved in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Until today, a small group called "the peace guards" gathers there every Friday at noontime to pay respect to the late much missed leader. On the southern part of Rabin Square you'll find a sculpture designed by Yigal Tumerkin, a famous Israeli artist, in memory of the Holocaust victims. On the northern part of the square you'll find the city hall building, next to the "Gan Hair" shopping mall. The street bordering the eastern side of Rabin Square is Ibn Gvirol, which is one of the main streets of the city. This street is a popular Tel Aviv landmark, crowded with many outdoor cafes, which remain lively until late at night. There are many places to sit and have a drink around Rabin Square, most famous of which is the Brasserie at 70 Ibn Gvirol Street. Brasserie was opened a couple of years ago and soon became one of the most successful restaurants in Tel Aviv. It is open 24 hours, and offers a French Bistro cuisine in Middle Eastern surroundings. There are special menus for every hour of the day and night, and the service is friendly.

Ahad Haam & Nahmani streets

Ahad Haam & Nahmani streets are located in the heart of Tel Aviv, and you should make note of them as part of your "getting to know Tel Aviv" tour, either fitting them into your Rothschild Blvd excursion or dedicating them some time of their own. Ahad Haam (a.k.a Ehad Ha'am or Echad Ha'am) means "one of the people" and is the pen name of Asher Ginzberg, a Jewish Russian who was one of the founders of Zionism. The street named after him runs parallel to the famous Rothschild Blvd, and hosts a mix of restaurants, cafes, art galleries and more. It meets with Nahmani Street half way through, and continues towards north with similar offering of typical Tel Aviv Bauhaus buildings and great atmosphere. Some of the recommendations for this heart of Tel Aviv neighborhood include: Sightseeing Some of the nicer Bauhaus buildings of the city are located on Ahad Haam and Nahmani streets, so when you walk around the neighborhood, don't forget to look up and enjoy the wide porches, small windows and smooth lines of the International architectural design, which gave the city of Tel Aviv its "white city" UNESCO World Heritage site title. A landmark attraction for every walking tour is the Pagoda House on the corner of Nahmani and Montefiore streets, designed by architect Alexander Levy in 1925. Inspired by a cafe in the United States, the Pagoda House merges Oriental and Western styles. Since it's privately owned you won't be able to see it from the inside, but sitting on the lovely King Albert Square, just across the street, will allow you to appreciate it just the same. Coffee Shops The famous Café Tamar, which has been serving stale coffee to a mix of Israel's top politicians, journalists and artists for over 40 years, is located in the corner of Shenkin and Ahad Ha'am streets. A popular kosher coffee shop, Cafe Ginzburg, can be found at 55 Ahad H'aam St., and a small library-café, popular with local writers and artists is Café Noah, at 93 Ahad Ha’am St., where you can enjoy the small garden when the weather permits (which is almost all the time). Another great place to enjoy the morning sun is Café-bakery Ben Ami, at King Albert Square, 22 Nahmani St. Restaurants One of the best Italian restaurants in Tel Aviv is Pronto, at 26 Nahmani St., a "Trattoria Italiana" serving great seafood and typical dishes for two decades. Just around the corner is Café Noir at 43 Ahad Ha'am with huge breakfasts and large bistro food throughout the day. If you happen to be vegetarian, Mezze at 51 Ahad Ha'am is a small neighborhood joint just for you. Art Galleries Noga Gallery at 60 Ahad Ha'am St., Gallery 39 at 39 Nahmani St.

Israel's favorite Tel Aviv - More options

Israel Hotels - best hotel deals in Israel