This post will cover two separate weekends spent on the beach in Tel Aviv. The first time in Tel Aviv, I went with some friends from Sde Boker and stayed two nights in a hostel located just one block from the beach. The great thing about a hostel is that you can always turn a group of total strangers into a group of friends, because most of its inhabitants are just passing through like you. I met visitors from Australia and New Zealand, Germany, and more. The hostel had a pretty cool rooftop view.
View from the hostel roof.
I got very familiar with this room, as the room we were assigned had no ceiling fan and for me it was simply impossible to sleep there. So, this became my bed (from 7am, when the roof was unlocked, until our 10 am checkout time!):
We managed to catch the last day of a two week food festival, which featured cuisine from nearly every region of the world, as well as live music, beer gardens, and other fun stuff.
I still have no clue what this radio gameshow was all about!
The main attraction of Tel Aviv is definitely the night scene – but be prepared for excruciatingly-high prices if you go to a trendy lounge! I also roamed around the market during the day and shopped for souvenirs, but as far as I can tell the city is not exactly brimming with cultural destinations (see: Jerusalem). The two things one goes to Tel Aviv for: relaxing on the beach by day and partying by night! Although be careful- even the beaches can be expensive. We stayed near one of the free ones, but unfortunately they still charge you for plastic chairs to sit on (burning to the touch on a sunny day) and charge you even more to sit under an umbrella. At first I thought the collectors were just scammers, but sure enough, everyone has to pay at least a little for some fun in the sun.
The second (and most recent visit), we stayed just for one night: the Layla Lavan (White Night). After the city was named the White City by UNESCO in 2003, Tel Aviv began putting on once-a-year parties that consume virtually every part of it. In fact, it was such a mob scene that I was not able to find a hostel, and instead stayed out on the beach until morning! There was a huge concert on the beach, as well as smaller events scattered all over.
Front row view in a crowd that stretched a few hundred feet back!
In summary, Tel Aviv is a great place to relax for a weekend, get a tan and enjoy a vibrant nightlife with whomever you are lucky enough to meet! We were lucky because the same “crew” of hostel inhabitants was still there the second time around, so it was good to be among friends old and new alike.