Tel Aviv tips or All you wanted to know about Tel Aviv and never cared :-) to ask ? Tel Aviv is a colorful cosmopolitan city which you either love or hate... Tel Aviv is not characteristic of Israel as New York is not characteristic of America ... Tel Aviv overview The city can be divided into 2 main parts. The northern part of the city is more "posh" and elegant while the southern part looks less western and more like a poor middle eastern style neighborhood - "downtown Tel Aviv". It is easy to get oriented in Tel Aviv since on the west its always the sea. Alongside the seashore is a beautiful promenade that takes you all the way from the port of TA in the north to the Port of Old Jaffa in the south. The pros: What is so great about Tel Aviv? the atmosphere of intense life - day and night the sunshine, the beaches, the cafés (sometimes it seems there are more cafés than inhabitants :-) the gourmet restaurants, the hummus places, the sea that is within walking distance from anywhere in the city , bars, clubs, restaurants convenience shops (which are open around the clock ) "a city that never sleeps"... Everybody here speaks English, on different levels, in any case enough to give you directions if you are lost. Of course it helps to have a detailed a map of the city:-) People are very friendly to tourists... Maybe because there aren't too many yet :-) Personal safety - in spite of the impression that people might get from TV news channels, TA is very safe: you can walk around alone at all hours of the day and the night even if you are a woman - children walk by themselves from school - young girls return at night alone .... also terror acts are not IN at the moment ...(thanks god) Freedom - you can wear whatever you like - the least the better - formal dress is seldom required Smoking policy – in Tel Aviv the law and custom is that you can smoke at the tables outside but not in the interior of public places, including cafes, restaurants and bars. However, unfortunately in many bars and clubs this law is not hold strictly and you can come out completely "smoked" after a few drinks or a show. The cons: What I don't like very much about Tel Aviv It is hot and humid during summer months July - September it is not very clean in the streets people can be sometimes too straightforward, noisy and rude Sorry I can't find more cons at the moment - the truth is I love the city so I am a little prejudiced. Practicalities Currency - the Israeli money is called Shekel (shekalim in plural) and NIS is its international sign but nobody says "new Israeli shekel" just shekel. Money change There are plenty of CHANGE shops in Tel Aviv center - it is safe to change money and they don't charge commission - you can also change money in the bank or post office but there you might have to stand in line. To get the best rates you can check and compare shops. I can recommend Money-Net which I used a few times and which had fair rates: 114 Eben Gvirol (not far from Gan Hayir) and 22 Gordon Street (Corner of Ben Yehuda) the website is only in Hebrew but you can understand the rates even if you don' t read Hebrew. Banks are open for limited hours so if you need a bank make sure you go in the morning Sunday to Thursday only. .Another Change Chain that is popular is the International Exchange Money Gram that has many branches in Tel Aviv. Internet Wi Fi There are some Internet shops on Ben Yehuda Street one of them is Private Link on 78 Ben Yehuda (Mapu street corner) Tel 03 5299889 another one is Log In on 21 Ben Yehuda Street Tel 035168689 and Webstop on 28 Bugrashov Street (near Ben Yehuda) Tel 03 6202692. If you have your laptop or other device you can enjoy free WI FI in most of the cafés and sometime even on the streets... like I know that in my street Shlomo Hamelech I see people sitting with their computer on public benches and surfing the Internet .. could be WI FI or maybe cellular connection (I never checked Yet) If you need to repair something like clothes or shoes or duplicate a key try One Stop Shop 112 Eben Gvirol Street , shoemaker, tailor , keys maker etc. And if you need to repair yourself :-)) there are some nice and friendly English speaking doctors that give services to tourists check the Tel Aviv Doctors website Post office on Eben Gvirol very near on the same side of the street. Other Post offices you can find on Mendely Street, a little street near the Dan Hotel, on Zamenhoff street right in Dizengoff Square and also on North Dizengoff not far from Nordau Blvd. Post office near the hotels area there are 2 small branches open mostly in the mornings: 61 Hayarkon Street, 3 Mendeley Street, Post Offices are usually open from 9 AM to 6 PM for further information check the website Telephone for local calls information you can call 144 directory - and 188 for international calls. If you need a local SIm Card for your phone you can purchase it on the website from local companies here is a website I found that offers deals for that matter. Sorry I have no personal knowledge about this. Automatic Laundries - There are several in the center of Tel Aviv and they are open 24 hours. Hamahbesa - 102 Ben Yehuda, 95 Yehuda Halevi Street, 109 Eben Gvirol, 88 Frishman Street, 6 Dizengoff square, Habesna - 127 Ben Yehuda Laundrey Cafe - 10 Shefer street (near Nahalat Binyamin pedestrian walk) Self Wash 59 Eben Gvirol Tel Aviv guides - I recommend Time Out Tel Aviv in English that comes out monthly and is available for free at most hotels reception desks It is a very accurate and brings the best of Tel Aviv spots. Newspapers in English Jerusalem Post is a daily Israeli newspaper in English, Haaretz which is considered the best newspaper in Israel has also an English Version . You can also find International Newspapers in some bookshops or in the hotel shops. Radio Stations - Try this website with links to some Israeli radio stations You can try 88FMthat broadcast good music and not so many commercials and Hebrew bla bla Also 99 Ecco (99FM) is a trendy station where you can listen to hip hop and MTV hits all day. The Army Music Station Galgalaz (91.8 FM) is also good for music and has less commercials. Israel Radio Tool bar a site that you can download for free and enjoy Israeli Radio Station on your computer wherever you are. Tourist Information Tourist Information Office Municipality Hall on Rabin Square Tel 5218500 If you need to find your embassy try Foreign embassies list Local Customs Shabat means Saturday, the Sunday of Israel - This is the formal day of rest , shops are closed and there are no buses or trains from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening - but you don't have to worry - In central Tel Aviv cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars are open. Food products or cigarettes can be purchased in AM-PM Supermarkets or Tiv Taam and in kiosks called "pitzutzia" that are open 24 hours a day including Saturday and Holidays (except Yom Kipur and Memorial Days).
Tel Aviv is the never closing city (almost) and bars, cafés and even restaurants are open until late hours or even around the clock. That is why Tel Aviv is called "the city that never stops". However during the year there are 3 nights when everything is closed including cafés and restaurants. One is in April or May before the Holocaust Remembrance Day the second is a week later, one day before the Independence day for the Memorial day for the soldiers that died in action. During these days the a local custom is to stand up for 2 or three minutes when the sirens heard wherever you are. Like if you are in a bus it will stop and everybody will stand up and the driver too.. etc. Also sometime in August (see the Israel Calendar) is another mourning day, something to do with the fall of the old Temple it is called Tisha Baav and it is more a religious thing. On top of all this there is YOM KIPUR when really everything is closed night before and the whole day and even cars don't go.
usually they are not painful :-) On major sites such as Central station of train or buses their is a screening device like in the airport so the security check is quick and efficient. Suspicious objects (Chefetz Chashud) Sometimes the police stops the traffic because of some parcel or other unattended stuff found Not to worry usually they don't explode if you can find an alternative way just out and if not wait and it is soon over and you can continue your route.
Tips in cafés, restaurants, bars: the more the better :-) at least 12 % |
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Emergency calls numbers: Police 100 Magen David 101 (for medical emergency) Fire Emergency 102 Hospital Ichilov Tel: 6974444 Dental Clinic opened 24 hours on 18 Reines street 5239241 |
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