TEL AVIV: THE BUBBLE OF TODAY’S ISRAEL

The Bubble of Today’s Israel

By Christian Baines

DESTINATION SPECIALIST YAEL MAROM

Tel Aviv is called the White City due to the Bauhaus Architecture and the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage

Site. The port of Jaffa is one of (if not the) oldest port in the world.

You’re standing on a long stretch of sandy beach on one of about 300 sunny days in the year. You’re sipping a cocktail, browsing this week’s entries on a year-round cultural calendar, seeing what you can squeeze in as you watch local families, bleary-eyed party goers, happy couples of every orientation, and buffed surfers, among a milieu of humanity at its most diverse. Where would you say you are?

Barcelona? Los Angeles? Sydney? Mykonos? What if we said one of the world’s holiest cities is less than an hour away by train or bus? You can only be in Tel Aviv, Israel’s cultural and business capital, and arguably, its biggest surprise. Modern Tel Aviv stands as a high energy rebuke to any notion of Israel as a destination that’s solely about history or pilgrimage. Tel Aviv puts a different face on Israel, one that sometimes puts it at odds with more conservative voices.

What’s the best way to discover this progressive port city that welcomes the world to Israel? Start where Tel Aviv began, the ancient Arab port of Jaffa. A stark contrast to the modern city, Jaffa preserves traditional architecture, an acropolis, and a bazaar area and flea market that’s a popular night-time dining spot. The Yemenite Quarter is another traditional slice of Tel Aviv to spark both your curiosity and taste buds, as you graze its historic Carmel Market. The oldest part of Tel Aviv proper is the Neve Tzedek quarter. It’s one of the most enjoyable neighbourhoods you can explore, with hip cafés, restaurants, and small art museums housed in its traditional houses.

Architecture is a major part of Tel Aviv’s identity, and fans of the egalitarian Bauhaus style will wander “The White City” in wideeyed appreciation, particularly on a dedicated Bauhaus architecture tour. It makes for attractive city walking or biking, however you go…and you will want to walk or bike! Tel Aviv’s mostly idyllic weather is too inviting to stay cooped up in vehicles, but the efficient bus system will get you between those further flung highlights.

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is another architectural highlight that deserves a few hours, even if you have just a passing interest in modern and contemporary art. If such art is your passion, you can easily spend all day wandering its halls, admiring works by Klimt, Kandinsky, Picasso, and Miro, a stunning sculpture garden, and the best of Israel’s modern masters.

History buffs and those interested in Jewish heritage will not want to miss the Diaspora Museum, also known as the Museum of the Jewish People, telling the story of Jewish communities around the world. The Land of Israel Museum is its perfect complement, bringing the story closer to home with its unique blend of historic, artistic, and scientific exhibits.

But what about Tel Aviv, ‘The Bubble?’ The centre of Israeli media, economy, and nightlife? You won’t have to look hard for it. If New York is the city that never sleeps, Tel Aviv is a city that’s barely heard of the concept. There’s a party to be found any night of the week. LGBTQ+ locals and visitors display an open confidence you won’t find anywhere else in the Middle East, and are an essential part of Tel Aviv’s identity.

For all the ancient wonders of Israel, everchanging, ever-pulsing Tel Aviv is ready to enchant any traveller as original, fun-loving, and out-of-the-box as the city itself.