Tel Aviv
Travelogue:
Capsule From north to south, opt for a walk, bike, scoot & more. Tel Aviv’s grid makes it easily accessible for pedestrians, bikers, scooters, motorbikes, cars and everything in between to live on the street. You’ll catch rabbis on rollerblades, mopeds whizzing by with dog their dogs in tow, over-confident skaters weaving in and out of traffic and even speedy motorcyclists with sidecars. With that said, traffic can be infuriating (although nothing like Sao Paulo or Los Angeles) and a steady simmer of impatience and heedlessness sprinkled with a spicy dash of aggression can make the streets a battleground. If you easily throw caution to the wind, you will have no fear on Tel Aviv’s streets. For everyone else, stick to traipsing the sidewalks and alleyways, where you’ll be treated to welcoming smiles from local vendors, colorful people-watching, delicious smells wafting in and out of street food eateries, and vibrant swatches of street art to dissect up close. The city has designated parking areas for scooters available by various different companies. Look for stations filled with “Lime”, “Wind”, “Bird” and “Telobike” – all great, green and economical options if you need to zip to and fro on a minute’s notice. The municipality also offers 75 bright green Tel-O-Fun bike stations across the city, which is a Tel Aviv bike share program that enables riders to pick-up and drop-off a bicycle as needed (the same format at the scooters). For buses, the Moovit app is helpful for timetables and bus stop locations and Gett Taxi is the Israeli answer to Uber. Whatever your preference for transport, the city’s beach promenade is a must-see for fresh air and local vibes. Pop into one of the seaside eateries, order a cold coffee or local beer (Goldstar or Maccabi) and revel in the moment.
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Traveling Light – How the City Moves
There are plenty of spots in Tel Aviv to eat great food. Some are worthier than others. And some are easy on the pocket and equally memorable. Here are those places - all within walking distance of ISLA -
A City Canvas -
Tel Aviv Street Art,
Galleries & MuseumsLocals have a thing for expressing themselves. ISLA has a true admiration for artists and designers and in the planning of its own establishment, local and international art has played an inspiring role in how an authentic sense of place was created and continues to define ISLA’s atmosphere. The interior of the hotel and then stepping out into Tel Aviv’s city life go hand-in-hand. They complement one another’s aesthetic, style and vibrancy. Israel has become an under-the-radar player in street art and homegrown names like Know Hope, Dede, Klone, Brothers of Light, and Broken Fingaz have enveloped the alleyways,… -
Shopping & Local Inspo
Whether you are looking to bring home some Israeli threads, itching for some inspiration, or simply want to grab a good book to mark your travels, the area surrounding ISLA has some eclectic options. At We Must Shop (30 Montefiore Street), this minimalist boutique packs a punch with designer labels exclusively imported from Japan and Korea. A bit gallery-like in its approach, they have a curated selection of on-trend styles and small batch accessories from earrings to shoes. Just nearby is Halper’s Books (87 Allenby Street), a beloved second-hand book shop with a wide-ranging offering of genres. Halper’s…