activities in tel aviv

 Haifa is "Tel Aviv of the north". It is a shopping and clubbing center for residents of the Galilee region. If you want to tour the whole country, it is advisable to find an accommodation in Tel Aviv, which is more central. But Haifa is definitely worth a visit, so don't forget to take the train to Haifa while you're at the coastal area.

 Haifa's History

Haifa's history dates back to the Biblical times. Tel Abu Hawam was the first settlement in the vicinity. It was an ancient port city established during the late Bronze Age. During the 3^rd century AC, Haifa became a dye making center. Since then it has been conquered many times by great empires: the Phoenicians, the Hebrews, Persians, Hasmoneans, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans, Egyptians, British, and the modern state of Israel. Today, Haifa is the center of import and export in Israel. Their remains can be seen in the city.

 Haifa's Attractions

 The Bahai Gardens – The Bahai Gardens are a beautiful shrine at the top of the hill, with green terraces that stretch from the top of the hill to the bottom. On each terrace there's a designed garden with palm trees, flowers, and a rich green grass. It looks like a large fancy garden on the slopes of the hill.  Here in the shrine, the remains of Bab, leader of the persecuted Bahai religion, were left to rest.

 The German Colony – The German Colony was built by German Templar families who arrived in Haifa in the mid-19th century. It was the first neighborhood in Israel that was built according to a plan (during these times there was no architectural planning and houses were built based on available space). It looks like a beautiful German Village in the middle of the city, with its large stone houses and red roofs. The main road of the Colony is full of fancy restaurants.

 The beach - Haifa has a beautiful beach and a promenade with many stands and restaurants.

 The Carmel Mountains – Haifa is situated on the border between the Carmel Mountains and the beach. Between the city's neighborhoods and outside of Haifa there are many trails that offer spectacular views.

 How to get from Tel Aviv to Haifa

 The shortest way to get there is by train. Our vacation apartments in Tel Aviv are located near the central train station. Take bus no. 10, 20 or 32 and you'll arrive at the station in 10 minutes. Then take the train, and in an hour you'll get to Haifa.

Enjoy!

 The streets of Tel Aviv have their distinct look with its white, round-edged buildings. Many of them seem to match the curve of the road, and our accommodation in Tel Aviv is surrounded by them. This style of architecture is called "the Bauhaus". The "White city" of Tel Aviv owes its name to these white buildings.

 The Bauhaus Architects

 The Bauhaus is named after the "Bauhaus" architecture school in Germany. The school was established during the 20's, preaching for simple and practical buildings that suite the social trends of the time.

 Tel Aviv has the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world. This is due to the massive immigration of German Jews in the beginning of the Second World War. Many of them were Bauhaus graduates. During that time Tel Aviv was growing fast and immigrants kept pouring in to the city. There was a growing demand for pre-planned neighborhoods, and the Bauhaus architects heeded the call, building the first concrete buildings in Israel.

 The Bauhaus Building

 The first Bauhaus buildings were not suitable for the hot Israeli climate. Eventually the immigrant architects understood that they must adapt their theory to the local weather. Therefore the newer Bauhaus buildings were built with porches that had "shading walls". The Shading walls protected the house from the hot sun. The corridors were built with long narrow windows, in order to use the natural day light, without letting in too much heat.  

If you're interested in spending the holiday in Tel Aviv's white city, our resort is right there. You will find there everything: shopping centers, nightlife, and many kinds of beautiful modern architecture.

 Tel Aviv has not always been the center of Israel's culture and economy. In fact, the small port of Jaffa used to be the economical capital of great empires, while the area of Tel Aviv contained small settlements that were built and deserted over the centuries. About 100 archeological sites were discovered in the area of the Yarkon Estuary.

 The first settlements of Tel Aviv

 The Yarkon Estuary was the lifeline of the old settlements. It was one of the widest streams in Israel, and it allowed the boats to sail deeper in to the country. Until the times of the second temple, most villages were centered on the Yarkon River. From then on they spread to the other areas of Tel Aviv.

Starting from the 12^th century BC the Philistines developed the area of Tel Aviv and the settlements prospered. The Kasila Mound is one of their most important remnants. The Cudadi Mound contains remnants from two Assyrian fortresses. The fortresses were built near the Yarkon Estuary in order to protect it.

The new settlements of Tel Aviv

 During the Ottoman times a few Arab villages were built around the area, one of them was Sheikh Munis (where Ramat Aviv, Tel Baruch and Afeka are situated today).  After the Independence war the cities were destroyed and new buildings were built over them.

During the 19^th century the Jewish community of Jaffa increased due to a massive immigration from North Africa and Eastern Europe. Jaffa became crowded and therefore there was a need for new space. The first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Neve Tzedek, was built in 1887, and was settled by immigrants. That was the beginning of "the new Hebrew city", and Tel Aviv has grown since.

Today, Tel Aviv is a tourism attraction and many tourists spend here a few days in order to enjoy the city's old and new sites. Our vacation apartments in Tel Aviv are situated near many of them. You can easily walk along the street of Alenbi, imagining the citizens that used to live in the old European houses, or visit the Cudadi Mound and imaging Tel Aviv as a small Assyrian fort.    

Just arrived in Israel? First of all, welcome! Our Tel Aviv holiday rentals are located in Israel’s economic center, so you will easily find here anything you need. If you like shopping, this is the place! We have all types of shopping centers. Just choose what appeals to you:

Shopping malls

Tel Aviv has the largest concentration of shopping malls, the biggest one is in Azrieli, a complex of three towers; one is in the shape of a squere, the other in the shape of a triangle, and the third is round. Most of the floors in the Azrieli buildings serve as offices, but the main entrance leads to a large shopping mall that sells products from the best brands worldwide. Dizengoff Center is another large shopping center, and one of the oldest in the city.

The Shuq

If you like the oriental shopping experience, right near us there’s Shuq Ha Carmel. “Shuq” is the Hebrew word for bazaar. We have many Shuqs in Israel, their advantage is this: you can get many products for cheap prices: fresh fruits and vegetables, cloths, purses etc’. Small tip: don’t risk buying the cosmetics… anything else is a good investment, and a good experience.

The Alenbi Street Shops

Alenbi is one of the largest main roads in Tel Aviv. Throughout Alenbi you’ll find many shops that offer various products: cloths, books, furniture, fast-food, basically anything you need. Alenbi is best known for its large concentration of shops catering for weddings and big events. Here you will easily find fancy night dresses and elegant shoes.

Whether you’re looking for the fancy shopping mall or the oriental market, it’s all near us. You can easily take a break in the shopping journey, return to your accommodation in Tel Aviv, and put down the heavy shopping bags.

Tel Aviv is full of old buildings that housed poets, writers, politicians and other famous figures. The house on Shalosh Street is one of them. It changed many hands and had different roles during history.

 The Establishment of the Shalosh house

The house was built by a templar named Frantz Lorenz, who arrived at Jaffa in 1870. After he died, his son, Curt Lorenz, turned the building in to a café. The Lorenz café was one of the first buildings in Israel to have electricity.

 Lorenz Café – The Nazi headquarters of Israel

The Lorenz Café became one of the popular pubs among the Templar community. The Wagner family established a large machine factory next to the pub. The factory still exists, and is known by the name "Nechoshtan". Guthilf, head of the Wagner family, used the café for meetings with members of the Nazi movement. Soon enough the red Nazi flags were hung in the café, along with photos of Hitler. Guthilf was murdered by the Israeli underground resistance, and the café's role as a Nazi headquarters ended.

 The Lorenz Café as a cultural center

Shai Agnon, one of Israel's prominent writers, used to visit the café frequently. He wrote about it in his book. Many other artists were drawn to this place. During the First World War, one of the first Israeli theaters opened on the second floor. A local drama group used to perform there. During the Second World War started Guthilf was murdered, the Templars were kicked out of the country, and the café closed.

 The Lorenz Café after the Independence War

When Israel established its army, the Servicemen's Welfare Association transformed the house in to a soldiers' club. Many weddings were celebrated in this place during the 50's and 60's. Later on, a new club was established on Weitzman Street, and the house on Shalosh Street was deserted. During the 80's and 90's the house was neglected and its conditions deteriorated. Then one day, a Rabbi of the Conservative community saw the house and decided that this is the ideal place for his new synagogue. The house is now under renovations, and will probably open again next year.

Our accommodation in Tel Aviv is surrounded with historical houses such as the Lorenz Café. While staying at our Tel Aviv seashore suites, you might want to take a tour to the historical houses.   

Tel Aviv’s nightlife is at its best on Purim – the Jewish holiday.

According to the tradition, on this day the Jews were saved from massacre during the Persian Empire. Therefore, it is the Jews’ duty to celebrate this day by drinking alcohol, dressing up, partying and having a large fancy meal.

On this holiday, Tel Aviv offers a large variety of Purim-parties, such as:

Costume Carnival – Knights of the Round Table/20.3.11, 12:00-15:00

In this carnival, which will take place in Dizingoff center, the participants will wear the costumes offered to them, and participate in a play that is based on the story “Knights of the Round Table”.

Ozen Bar Purim Party/19.3.11, 22:30

In this bar, three bands will be performing: The Clamps, MSD and MESS, all dressed in costumes.

Be Tzavta Purim Party/20.3.11, 21:00

This party will be held in an Egyptian style – belly dancing, old and new Egyptian hits, Egyptian classical movies etc’. The party’s participants are required to dress in the style of Arabian Nights.

There are many other Purim parties in the city. Just find an accommodation in Tel Aviv for the time of the holiday, and enjoy the Purim nightlife.

Israel is unique for its variety of landscapes. Within its small territory you may find deserts and green fertile hills. For this reason, Israel is paradise for day treks. You can easily find an accommodation in Tel Aviv, and take a bus from there to Israel's various reservations. You can hike on a beautiful trail and be back in the city at the same day. Here are the best attractions for nature lovers in Israel:

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea has three times more salt than the average sea, and a variety of minerals. For this reason, the human body easily floats in the water while standing. Many people like to bring a chair to the middle of the lake, and watch the beautiful desert view. The chair will always float.  

Eilat

Eilat is the southern city of Israel. Situated on the shores of the red sea, it offers many attractions for sports and nature freaks – you can dive in the corral, surf, and hike on the many trails of the Eilat mountains. Many trails offer a spectacular view to the Egyptian and Jordanian desert.

The Golan Heights

The Golan Heights are the greenest area in Israel. In the winter its fertile grounds are covered with fresh grass, in the spring there are many flowers, and in the summer you can enjoy to contrast between the yellow grass and the black basalt stones. There are many hiking trails that include walking in creeks and high waterfalls.  

The Galilee region

The Galilee region is one of the major attractions for Christian tourists. It's the place where Jesus preached and Christianity was born. Around the Sea of Galilee you will find many Jewish ancient towns, made out of basalt stones, ancient olive orchards and beautiful hiking trails.

If you're planning to visit these areas, it's best to stay in Tel Aviv, since it's located in the center of the country. Here you can easily find busses to everywhere. Use our Tel Aviv hotels as a base, and start hiking!

Tel Aviv is full of restaurants, but some are more memorable than others. This is due to their unique style, delicious food, and the type of people that eat there. Bellow is the list of the most famous restaurants in the city:

24 Rupi

This restaurant is well known among those who've been to India (probably half of the Israeli population). The guests are seated on mattresses and pillows, and traditional Indian food is served. Open every day between 12 am to 12 pm.

Baba Yagga

A European restaurant that specializes in meat, fish and sea food. Five days a week there is a musical performance or activity, such as Piano Bar, American hits, Jazz Evening etc'. The restaurant is open from Sunday to Thursday, 12:00-17:00.

Japanika

A sushi bar in which various sushi's and Japanese dishes are served. The restaurant caters to various age groups, but the young crowed (aged 20-35) has a strong presence. Open from 12:30 to 1:00 on Sunday – Thursday, from 12:30 to 20:00 on Friday and from 18:00 to 1:00 on Saturday.

There are many other restaurants in Tel Aviv that cater to various crowds and tastes. So, after you find an accommodation in Tel Aviv, you may want to look around for the good restaurants in the area. 

When it comes to going on holiday abroad in Tel-Aviv, Israel is one of the top 5 places to go for a luxurious, relaxing trip that will delight and when you go home you will feel thoroughly rested.  There is a lot of different accommodation in Tel-Aviv to choose from and regardless of whether you are looking for hotel apartments in Tel-Aviv or a luxury Tel-Aviv seashore suite you will find everything you need on the Sea-Land website.

Sea-Land is a company that specifically deals with everything that is Tel-Aviv. Tel-Aviv is becoming a real tourist attracter.  Not only does it offer its visitors crystal clear water and white sandy beaches, but it also offers them a true cultural and commercial experience. Because tourism is on the rise and does not seem to be slowing down as the popularity is growing, more Tel-Aviv seashore suites and hotel apartments in Tel-Aviv are being built, expanded and, in some cases, existing buildings are being fully renovated to bring them up to a higher standard.  Most hotels and apartment buildings are on the seashore or are just a few short minutes walk away from the beach; this is where the majority of them are situated so that their visitors can have easy and full access to the stunning shores of the Frischman and Gordan Beaches.

Accommodations in Tel-Aviv is not hard to find, but the rooms do get booked up very easily in advance so make sure you know when you would like to go and then check it out before taking the time off work.  Deposits are a great way of keeping your chosen slot reserved in your name and then you will have to pay the remaining balance within the stipulated time given by the hotel or company.  When booking your low cost, but high quality holiday with Sea-Land for your accommodation in Tel-Aviv you will find everything is taken care for you and your booking will be handled with great competence and speed.