There are nearly 200 km of Mediterranean coastline in Israel and over fifty public beaches. Along the Tel Aviv-Yafo coastline there are thirteen spectacular beaches, each one offering something different. To really understand the local culture, one just needs to spend some time at the beach. To see the small children being taken for long walks by their parents during the week, families strolling together during the weekend, couples snuggling on the sand as the sun is setting, people working out, doing yoga, playing volleyball, sunbathing, dancing. Israelis are people who love the outdoors, they have a lust for life, they enjoy laughter as much as loud heated discussions, they dance, they sit on the soft sand strumming a guitar, singing songs.
One of our favorite activities while in Tel Aviv is to stroll, shoes in our hands, on the powdery sand. The cool comfort of the turquoise and blue water on our feet, the salty air filling our lungs, the birds swooping down for some crumbs and the gentle sounds of the waves crashing; there is nothing more romantic, relaxing and invigorating.
Jaffa offers a wonderful view of some of the beaches along the Tel Aviv coastline all the way up to the port in the north.
We begin our walk in Jaffa, the southern part of Tel Aviv. This is Jaffa Beach - a fairly quiet beach, popular with the surfers due to the lack of wave breakers.
Next is Alma Beach, where one can stroll on a wonderful promenade, ride a bike, or just sit on the rocks and enjoy the waves crashing and people watching. The beach is located between the Dolphinarium and Jaffa beach.
I find this part of the Tel Aviv coastline to be the most beautiful and tranquil. The massive rocks, some covered by green algae, and eroded, others pristine and seemingly untouched over so many years, help to create a very dramatic but peaceful scenery. I find it so relaxing to sit there and watch the waves peak and crash into the shore, over and over and over again.
Manta Ray, a great restaurant, is in the northern part of Alma Beach.
Banana Beach, just north of the Dolphinarium, is wonderful since it is less crowded and almost tranquil, especially during a sunset.
Banana beach is also home to a surf school.
My husband and I spent many hours watching the surfers ride the waves.
The sunsets are magical, each evening a different array of colors covers the sky.
Jerusalem (Geula) and Trumbeldor Beaches are near Allenby street, they are both a bit quieter than the next three beaches.
Our idea of a perfect afternoon.
The next three beaches, Bogradashow, Frishman and Gordon, are wide, sandy, and packed on the weekends. They are at the center of the hotel strip.
On weekends these beaches are filled with tourists, locals, young and young at heart. The sand is soft, the towels and chairs fill up every square inch, the restaurants are busy serving snacks and lunches and the volleyball courts are all packed.
The constant pitter-patter of a ball hitting a small wooden racquet can be heard pretty much all day. That is Matkot (paddle ball), a cherished pastime in Tel Aviv. A fun activity is to sit and watch them play, the skill level is very impressive.
Most of my photos were taken during the week, hence the emptiness.
This lifeguard tower was temporarily turned into a luxury pop-up hotel suite.
The beautiful marina is next.
There are three beaches near the Hilton Hotel:
Hilton Surfers Beach - great restaurants, people watching, this is the place to see and be seen, and to surf, of course.
Hilton Gay Beach - gay friendly beach
Hilton Doggie Beach, where dogs are free to run wild. We spent half and hour watching the adorable dogs catch Frisbee, balls and play in the water.
Behind the walls in this photo is the Religious Beach, a segregated beach meant for the religious Tel Avivians. Women have the beach on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and men on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Metzitzim is the final beach on the Tel Aviv coastline. It is just south of the Port (HaNamal), and it offers volleyball courts, playgrounds, restaurants, and an outdoor gym. It attracts families due to the shallow waters and plenty of lifeguards.
Most beaches in Tel Aviv have outdoor showers, bathrooms, chair or lounge bed rentals and restaurants. It takes about an hour to walk from the Jaffa beach to the Metzitzim beach.
Joanna
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