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Tel Aviv

Things to know

Lo que debes saber

First things first! Make sure your passport meets Israel’s entry requirements and is valid for the required period.

If you need an entry visa: Passport must be valid for 6 months beyond arrival date.

If you are visa-exempt and need an ETA: Passport must be valid for 3 months beyond arrival date.

You can check if you need a Visa or and ETA here →

If you need a visa, make sure you take care of that well in advance

If you’re from a visa exempt country, you’ll need an ETA-IL before traveling to Israel. The application is very easy, it costs 25 ILS, and you’ll usually receive it the same day. Still, don’t risk leaving it until the last minute and apply as soon as you book your flight.

You can apply for an ETA here →
Keep your accommodation details, return flight information and anything else related to your trip somewhere easy to access.

Security checks are taken seriously in Israel, especially if it’s your first time visiting.

And they might even start before you board your flight to Israel.

They will ask A LOT of questions; why you are visiting, where you are staying, how long you’ll be here and if you are bringing anything for someone else.

You may also be asked to have your bags checked.

Don’t take it personally, it’s just part of the process!
You’ll arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).

Once you land, you’ll go through passport control and collect your luggage before heading out of the airport.

Israel doesn't stamp passport, you will get an entry card. Keep it!

Its a small paper but you may need it during your stay.
Public transportation in Israel is really good and safe. Just keep in mind that buses and trains stop from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening because of Shabbat.

From Ben Gurion Airport, the train is one of the easiest ways to get to Tel Aviv. There are several stations in the city, but depending on where you’re staying, you might need to take a bus or taxi from the station to your accommodation. Moovit app makes figuring out buses and trains easier and will be your best friends when getting around Israel!

→ Download Moovit before you arrive

If you’d rather take a taxi, use an official Gett taxi or order one through the app. Don’t accept a ride from someone who approaches you outside the airport, they will try to charge you a lot more. A taxi usually costs around 140–190 shekels, depending on where you’re staying in Tel Aviv. If you take one during Shabbat, prepare to pay quite a bit more.

→ Download Gett app

And when taking any taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter (called "moneh" in Hebrew).
Tel Aviv is pretty small, so you can pretty much walk everywhere, especially if you’re staying in the central areas.

For getting around the city, I’d stick to walking, buses, light rail, taxis, bikes and scooters.

You can pay for public transportation with a credit card or through the Moovit app. Just make sure you actually pay! There are inspectors checking tickets, and you can get a 250 shekel fine if you don’t have one. Also, buses don’t take cash!

If you use a scooter, wear a helmet! There are cameras around the city, and they do fine people, fines can be as high as 1,000 shekels.

Thinking about renting a car?

You can, but honestly, I wouldn’t bother if you’re just staying in Tel Aviv. Traffic can be REALLY bad, and parking is even worse. Finding a parking spot can be a nightmare and expensive.

A car becomes much more useful if you’re planning to leave Tel Aviv and explore other parts of Israel.
Tel Aviv is small so don’t stress too much about picking the right neighborhood. We made a map of Tel Aviv to help you choose where to stay.

Staying in one area doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on the others, you can pretty much walk between all of them. Choose based on what’s most convenient for you and what you want to be closest to.

Tayelet (Beachfront): If you want the beach right outside your door. Usually a safe choice, especially for families, but nightlife can be a bit of a walk.

Dizengoff: If you want restaurants, cafés, shopping and a lively local vibe. Dizengoff is very central.

Neve Tzedek: If you want cute boutiques, restaurants and cafés. Quiet and charming but still walking distance from everything.

Rothschild: If you want to be in the middle of the restaurants, bars and nightlife. Great location but it can get loud.

Sheinkin: If you want something more local and central. Lots of cafés and shops and you can basically walk everywhere.

Nahalat Binyamin: If you want to be right in the heart of the nightlife. Very loud at night, so great if you’re staying out late but not if you want to sleep.

Shuk (Carmel Market): If you love the market vibe, you’ll love it but it can feel a little chaotic, also keep in ming there is construction on Allenby street.

North Jaffa:If you want something different and multicultural, with Arab and Jewish communities, old streets, great restaurants and a more Mediterranean feel.

Florentin: If you want the edgier, artsy side of Tel Aviv. Street art, bars, cafés and a younger, more hipster vibe.

Old North: If you want peace and quiet. It’s more residential and further from the main action, but perfect if you want quite.

You don’t necessarily need a fancy hotel. Israel has everything from hotels and boutique hotels to hostels and Airbnbs.

If you’re thinking about renting a sublet from a local, let us know!

Sadly, we’ve been hearing about scams and we really don’t mind going to check the place out for you before you send any money.

We don’t recommend staying in South Jaffa, South Florentin, Neve Sha’anan, Shapira, Midtown or Yad Eliyahu.
If you’ve never been to Israel before, Shabbat is something you’ll want to understand before you arrive.

It generally starts before sunset on Friday and ends after sunset on Saturday.

During Shabbat, public transportation stops outside Tel Aviv and businesses close.

Tel Aviv is a little different, you’ll still find plenty of coffee shops, restaurants and bars open, although museums, shopping centers and many official places will be closed.

When it comes to transportation, there are Shabbat buses that run on Saturdays and are free but they run less frequently and don’t cover everywhere.

Honestly, we love Shabbat. The city feels different, people are out walking, meeting friends, riding bikes and spending the day at the beach.

If you’re up for a religious experience, go to Kabbalat Shabbat at the Zikhron Ya’akov synagogue. It's a very nice and welcoming community, to everyone, and their singing on Friday night it’s such a beautiful experience. It usually starts around sunset on Friday.
The currency here is the Israeli New Shekel.

You can use your card pretty much everywhere, but it’s still a good idea to have some cash with you.

I wouldn’t exchange a ton of money though, you probably won’t need it.
The weather in Tel Aviv in November is usually really nice.

It’s sunny during the day and cooler in the evening and you can definitely still go to the beach!

In numbers, around 74°F (23°C) during the day and 52°F (11°C) at night.

But don’t assume the weather will be the same everywhere. Jerusalem will be colder, while the Dead Sea and Eilat are usually warmer.

I’d pack for spring weather: a light jacket, something for cooler evenings, a swimsuit and maybe a rain jacket as you can get some rainy days in November.

And if you are planning to visit Jerusalem, definitely bring some warmer clothes, it can get pretty cold there.
One of the fun parts of being here is definitely the food!

Tel Aviv has SO many restaurants, coffee shops and places to eat. And if you’re vegetarian or vegan, get ready you’ll have plenty of options.

For tipping, 10–12% is pretty standard in restaurants. At self-service coffee shops, we don’t usually tip. And always check your bill before paying mistakes do happen!

Now, Tel Aviv is expensive, whether you’re eating out or even buying groceries at the supermarket. But honestly, going out for food and coffee is a huge part of the social life and probably what you will be doing.

At the end of this page you will find the places we love to go!
You’ll probably notice a lot of security checks and soldiers around.

If you’re not used to seeing that, it can definitely feel strange at first, but don’t panic there, it’s part of everyday life here!

You and your bags may be checked when taking the train, entering shopping centers, and at certain restaurants or bars.

You might also come across random checks on buses or trains.

Just keep it in mind and don’t be surprised if someone asks to look inside your bag. It’s usually a quick and routine check.

And while we really hope you never have to deal with this, it’s important to know what to do in case there is a missile alert.

You’ll usually receive a pre-warning alert on your phone. You’ll know it because everyone’s phones around you will start making the same sound. Don’t panic, it’s a warning to give you time to get to a safe place, but don’t ignore it either. The amount of time you get before the siren goes off depends on where the missile is coming from and where you are. In Tel Aviv, it can be anywhere from around 3 to 10 minutes.

Use this time to calmly find the nearest safe space.

You’ll find safe spaces all over. Many buildings have one on the -1 floor and you can enter a building even if you don’t live there, protected spaces are there for everyone.

They can be called a miklat (public shelter) or mamad (a protected room inside a building). If there’s no shelter nearby, find an under ground parking. If you’re unsure where to go, ask someone, people will help you.

Then you will hear the actual siren, which means you need to be in your safe space. Once the siren stops, don’t leave. Stay there until the official instructions say it’s safe to leave or after 10 minutes. There can still be falling debris or shrapnel after the interception.

The biggest thing is simply to stay calm, go to a safe space and if you don't know where to go ask for help!
Israel is pretty casual and informal.

People can also be very direct and can sometimes come across as rude.

Don’t be offended if someone seems blunt, it’s usually just the way people communicate here.

If you’re visiting religious sites or neighborhoods, be respectful and dress modest and appropriately.

Outside of those areas, especially in Tel Aviv, things are very relaxed. I’m talking flip-flops everywhere.

Don’t be surprised if people don’t always respect your personal space in lines, if someone sits right next to you or if a complete stranger just starts chatting with you and asks how much you make. Yes, seriously!

But honestly, that’s also part of what makes Israel special. People are very friendly, curious and welcoming.

They’ll want to know where you’re from, what you’re doing here and hear your story.

It’s not unusual to start talking to a complete stranger and end up being invited to their grandmother’s house for a Shabbat dinner.

Most likely, you’ll end up making a new friend here!
Hopefully you won't need these, but save them just in case:

100 — Police

101 — Ambulance

102 — Fire & Rescue

And we are also here for you if you need anything!