Passport/Visa Requirements: Citizens of Canada, Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. need passports but not visas and may be required to show proof of sufficient funds and onward passage. Reconfirm travel document requirements with carrier before departure.
Population: 3,012,000.
Languages: Hebrew, English, Russian.
Predominant Religions: Jewish, Muslim. Small numbers of Christians (Protestant, Roman Catholic), and other religions are represented..
Time Zone: 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from early April to late September.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 972, Israel country code; 3,Tel Aviv city code;
| Currency Exchange | Top  |
Israel's currency is the New Israel shekel (NIS), usually only called shekel (or shekelim in the plural form). The shekel is divided into 100 agorot. The currency is relatively stable in comparison to the U.S. dollar, but exchange rates can fluctuate. The shekel is also the main currency in the Palestine Territories, as nobody uses the Palestinian pound.
Currency-exchange centers are located in various areas of Tel Aviv and especially near the hotels. The centers charge no commission but offer a slightly lower exchange rate than those provided at the banks, which may charge up to 4% commission. On the whole, exchanging money at one of these bureaus is generally more efficient and quicker than standing in line at a bank.
Credit cards are accepted at the majority of Israeli shops and restaurants, although finding establishments willing to take payment against American Express or Diners cards might be a challenge. Cash payments in NIS are always accepted, but payments in foreign currencies are not. Traveler's checks are only accepted at shops that deal primarily with tourists.
Israel's ATMs allow cash withdrawals in NIS against foreign credit cards. Some ATMs are specially geared for cash withdrawals in U.S. dollars. Visa credit cards are most widely accepted, and withdrawals with MasterCard can only be conducted at ATMs of Bank HaPolim.
| Banking Hours | Top |
Israeli banks are usually open Sunday-Thursday 8:30 am-1 pm, and sometimes 4-6:30 pm. Hours vary at different branches.
Israelis pay a 15.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on all goods, and prices quoted always include this tax. There are plans to reduce the VAT rate, which has already been lowered several times. Tourists are exempt from paying the VAT for accommodations, organized tours, car rentals and flights within Israel, but only when payments are made in foreign currency or with a credit card from a foreign bank. In addition, tourists who purchase goods exceeding US$100 at shops posting a "Tax Refund/Tax-Free Shopping" sign are entitled to a VAT refund at their port of departure. Exceptions to this rule include tobacco products, electrical appliances and photographic equipment. Tourists should make sure to ask for a special invoice when they make purchases at these shops in order to present it at the VAT refund office.
Diners at Israeli restaurants receive bills that clearly state, "Service not included." The expected tip is 12%-15% and is given in cash after the bill has been paid. Guests who pay with a credit card and ask to add the tip onto the bill are usually told that this is not possible.
Tipping taxi drivers is not expected but gladly accepted when offered. On the other hand, tour guides and their bus drivers usually expect tips. Hotel staff is appreciative when tips are left by happy lodgers.
The best times of year to visit Tel Aviv are in the spring and autumn, when temperatures are warm and nights are cool and refreshing. In summer, the humidity in Tel Aviv can be quite oppressive, relieved only in air-conditioned hotels, restaurants and shops. The natural way to get out of the heat is by dipping into the refreshing Mediterranean. Sea breezes offer some summertime relief as well.
In spring and autumn, Israel frequently experiences a dry, seasonal heat wave known as a sharav, which originates in the African or Arabian deserts and clouds the skies with sand. Surprisingly, during these times Tel Aviv is often cooler than Jerusalem, due in part to its proximity to the sea.
The rainy season in Israel is usually between October and March, although it occasionally rains earlier and later in the year as well. A day or two of rain can be followed by a week of cloudless skies, so don't expect the weather to interfere with your visit, even in the winter. Tel Aviv homes are usually equipped with air conditioners but not always with heating, so winter nights can be quite cold. Hotels, on the other hand, make sure their guests remain comfortable year-round.
Average temperatures in Tel Aviv range 55 F/13 C in January and February to 78 F/26 C in July and August, but they can easily climb to the mid-90s F/mid-30s C.
| Weather Forecast | Top  |
Weather forecast not available at this time.
| What to Wear | Top |
Tel Aviv is a much more liberal, fashion-conscious city than Jerusalem, and that leads to extremes in both directions. Although beachwear is very loose—and minimal—partygoers at night tend to dress up, wearing the trendiest designer clothes. Visitors to the city in summer should pack lightweight clothing that takes into account the extreme humidity. In winter, a sweater or light jacket might be necessary in the cool evenings. An umbrella is also occasionally needed in winter. Business meetings are oftentimes informal—Israeli men frequently show up for meetings without a business suit or tie. Dining is almost always informal. Regardless of when visitors go to Tel Aviv, comfortable walking shoes are a must.
| Communication | Top |
| Internet Access | Top |
Most of Tel Aviv's first-class hotels have either a business center offering Internet access or full connectivity in their hotel rooms. Despite Israel's wired population, the number of Internet cafes in Tel Aviv is quite small. An Internet lounge can be found at Webstop, located at 28 Bograshov St. Use of the facilities starts at 14 NIS an hour. The Inbar Internet Cafe at 87 King George St. has been there since 1996. Spielman Internet cafes are situated at three locations. There is a much larger Internet cafe on the lower level of Dizengoff Center.
Wi-Fi access is readily available in Tel Aviv, often for free. Only some hotels charge extra for this service. Many cafes offer free Wi-Fi access, as well. Look for a special sticker in the window. Principal public places and shopping streets like Rothschild Boulevard and Sheinken Street are wired, too.
| Mail & Package Services | Top |
The Israel Postal Authority offers a variety of postal services, including domestic- and international-mail forwarding, telephone calling cards and foreign-currency exchange. International money transfers are available via Western Union. Telegrams and faxes can be sent from all post offices. Letters and postcards to North America take 10 days to arrive. Sunday-Thursday 8 am-2:30 pm, Friday 8 am-noon. 137 Hahagana St., Tel Aviv. Phone 630-3343.
| Newspapers & Magazines | Top |
Tel Aviv is home to Israel's three Hebrew dailies—
Haaretz,
Maariv and
Yediot Aharonot.
Haaretz, which is the most respected of the three, also has an English-language edition published in conjunction with the
International Herald Tribune.
Haaretz has an excellent Friday entertainment guide, and its Web site, http://www.haaretz.com, also is quite helpful in listing Tel Aviv events.
Although published in Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Post is available throughout Tel Aviv as well. The Post is more conservative than Haaretz and carries weekly inserts from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. An entertainment guide is included in its Friday edition. The paper's Web site, http://www.jpost.com, has interesting travel and tourism articles.
The biweekly Jerusalem Report covers the Middle East and worldwide Jewish issues. Its top-quality articles occasionally highlight information about Tel Aviv and other Israeli tourist attractions. http://www.jrep.com.
The bimonthly TimeOut Tel Aviv guide is an excellent source of information about what's happening in Tel Aviv and its surroundings. The magazine includes restaurant reviews and listings of bars, museums, spas and more. Distributed at no cost to Tel Aviv hotel guests, the magazine includes a short section in French as well.
Tel Aviv is located in the 03 area code zone. When making phone calls within the Greater Dan area, the 03 at the beginning of a phone number is dropped. When calling other areas of the country, the area code is included. (A call to a number in Jerusalem would begin with 02).
Local calls from hotel rooms are generally expensive (about US$1 per minute for a local call), and a surcharge is added to international calls. Although telephone cards are still available for purchase, the number of phones accepting them has decreased significantly in recent years. Local calls are less expensive at night and on weekends.
Israel has a number of international phone carriers, but an overseas call can generally be placed by dialing 00 and then the country code (1 is the country code for the U.S. and Canada).
Israel also has a number of cell phone carriers (Nokia, Pelefon, Cellcom and Orange), and phone rentals are available at various locations, including at Ben-Gurion International Airport. All cell phone numbers are now 10 digits: a three-digit area code and a seven-digit number.
| Transportation | Top |
The city of Tel Aviv is spread out over a vast, flat area, and popular sightseeing attractions are not located close to each another. As a result, the city cannot be explored fully by foot; visitors have to rely on some sort of transportation. Because the city's streets are usually packed with traffic and finding a parking spot is nearly impossible, relying on a car isn't recommended. Bus service is excellent, but many tourists reject the possibility of public transportation because of the many terrorist attacks that have targeted buses. Taxis remain an excellent alternative, and cabs can be easily flagged down on major streets or ordered in advance.
Ben-Gurion International Airport (TLV), located 10 minutes outside Tel Aviv, is Israel's main airport. All international flights arrive and depart from Ben-Gurion. The airport's sparkling Terminal 3, which opened in November 2004, is huge and modern but unfortunately did not solve all of the problems of the former, crowded facility. Check-in lines in the passenger hall are long, and security inspection, which is probably the tightest in the world, can take quite some time. It is recommended that travelers arrive at least three hours before their flight for the predeparture processes. Walking distances in the terminal are enormous, despite the presence of moving sidewalks. Restaurants and other food services are closed on the Sabbath. For a regularly updated taped recording of flight information in English, phone 972-3344. http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion.
Connecting transportation:
Best way:
Israel Railways operates a fast, modern and comfortable train service from all four of Tel Aviv's train stations to and from the Ben-Gurion International Airport (Level S of the Landside Building, adjacent to the Greeters Hall). Trains run every 20-40 minutes during the day, and once an hour after midnight. For information on schedules and fares, call Israel Railways Information Service at 611-7000 or *5770 from any cellular phone. The trip takes 12 minutes, and the cost is 12 NIS. Tickets do not have to be reserved in advance. You can buy train tickets through automated ticket dispensers on Level G of the terminal. The only disadvantage is the added expense and time getting to and from the train stations in Tel Aviv.
Other options:
The Egged Bus Company operates bus line 475 from the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv to Ben-Gurion International Airport. Buses run every 20 minutes daily 5:20 am-11:40 pm. The cost is reasonable: 11.70 NIS.
Taxi service to and from the airport is available, but the cost will be around 90 NIS.
Special transportation services are provided by Tal Limousine (phone 975-4044), Tour Bus (phone 975-4200) and Sashir (phone 975-4033), but must be booked in advance.
Rental cars are available from a variety of companies at the airport.
Tel Aviv has two major bus depots—the Central Bus Station in the city's south and the northern station at Arlozorov Street, right next to the Tel Aviv Merkaz Train Station. Egged is the private bus company that operates some 4,000 buses on more than 3,000 routes across the country. Although there are a number of lines at the northern depot, most lines originating in Tel Aviv start at the Central Bus Station. Look for the intercity lines on the top floor of the station.
Tight security measures at the country's bus stations have made intercity bus travel much safer than in the past. Bus lines reach all areas of the country, and the vehicles are new, modern, fast and air-conditioned. Lines run frequently to major destinations. Tickets can be purchased at the stations, but when traveling to Eilat, it is recommended that you buy tickets in advance.
Information about Egged's bus lines can be found at the company's Web site, http://www.egged.co.il/eng (phone 694-8888). Office hours Monday-Thursday 6:30 am-9 pm, Friday 7:30 am-3 pm, Saturday 8:40 am-11 pm.
Driving in Tel Aviv is hectic, and finding a parking spot is almost impossible. Traffic is particularly blocked up during rush hours. Driving is on the right side of the road; city speed limits are 30 mph/50 kph. Many of the city's streets are one-way, and some in the southern market areas are narrow and difficult to navigate. Because the city's public transportation system is relatively well developed and taxis are readily available, you can easily see Tel Aviv without a car. But if driving is a necessity, there are several rental car agencies that operate both at Ben-Gurion International Airport and in Tel Aviv, and many of the hotels have private parking garages. It is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving, but don't be surprised to see many Israelis who disregard this law.
| Public Transportation | Top |
Dan is the largest public transportation company in the Greater Dan region, providing all intracity bus lines in Tel Aviv and its neighboring communities, as well as number of intercity lines. Some of the lines originate at the Central Bus Station, and others only have stops at the northern bus depot on Arlozorov Street. Bus lines operate 5:30 am-midnight, with more buses during peak hours, but some lines run less frequently. Bus fare is 5.20 NIS, with multijourney tickets available at a reduced rate. Combined Israel Railways-Dan bus tickets are also available. Phone 639-4444. http://www.dan.co.il/english.
There are plenty of taxis on Tel Aviv's streets, and all one has to do is flag down an empty cab. Make sure that the driver sets his meter—don't let him insist on a fixed, non-negotiable price. Day tariffs start at about 9 NIS, and night tariffs are 25% higher. Expect to pay around 25 NIS for a trip in the city center. Most drivers speak English.
If you're staying at a hotel, the concierge will order a taxi for you. Some of the larger hotels have regular taxi stops outside their doors. Elsewhere, taxis can be ordered in advance by calling one of the many reliable companies operating in the city.
Tel Aviv's newest train station is located close to the city's Central Bus Station, but it's still a bit of a walk or a short taxi ride to make the connection. 32 Hahagana St., Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv's Hashalom Train Station offers quick access to the Azrieli Center and the central Kirya Army Base. Derech Ha'Shalom, Tel Aviv.
Israel's rapidly expanding rail network uses Tel Aviv as its hub, and all the country's intercity and suburban lines pass through the city's four train stations. Tel Aviv Merkaz, or Center, is also known as the Savidor station. A pedestrian bridge allows easy access to the northern Tel Aviv bus depot and, in the other direction, to the Diamond District of Ramat Gan.
Israel Railways lines run from all the Tel Aviv train stations to Haifa, Akko and Nahariya in the north; Ashdod, Beer Sheva and Ashkelon in the south; Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem to the east; the nearby cities of Kfar Saba, Petach Tikva, Bene Brak and Netanya; and to the Ben-Gurion International Airport. The trains are modern, comfortable and spacious but can be crowded during rush hours. Tickets are available for sale at counters at the station's main entrance and at automatic ticket dispensers. There is no need to book tickets in advance, but reserved places are available on some of the lines. A 10% discount is given when booking return trips, and weekly or monthly passes on specific lines are available for a reduced rate. Trains run from early morning until midnight, but not all lines run at all hours. Al Parashat Drahim and Arlozorov streets, Tel Aviv. Phone 577-4000. http://www.israrail.org.il/english.
The northernmost train station in Tel Aviv is in close proximity to the Tel Aviv University campus, the Eretz Israel Museum and the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds. Sderot Rokach/Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds, Tel Aviv.
Minivans carrying 10-13 passengers operate on fixed routes and at fixed prices, offering an alternative to bus travel. The price is generally slightly above the fare travelers would pay on the bus. These taxis usually leave when they're full, so you could end up waiting for a while. Catch Sherut taxis to a number of destinations, including Jerusalem, Haifa, Netanya and Beer Sheva from outside the Central Bus Station's Levinsky Street exit.
| For More Information | Top |
| Tourist Offices | Top |
In the lobby of City Hall, the Tel Aviv Municipality has opened a second information center for tourists, with informative material available in English to help visitors plan tours in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Sunday-Thursday 9 am until 2 pm. 69 Ibn Gvirol St., Tel Aviv. Phone 521-8500.
At this small but helpful tourist office, the municipality of Tel Aviv provides visitors with maps, information about local tours and events, and advice about lodgings and meals. The office is also the home of the Tourist Police, a special unit of the Israel Police Force designed specifically to help tourists in the city when police action is required. Sunday-Thursday 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Friday until 1 pm. 46 Herbert Samuel St., Tel Aviv. Phone 516-6188.
