The beaches: relax and get excited
Beaches looking toward Yaffo (south) Tel Aviv has one unique feature that pretty much defines the city. The beaches! Not just any place to go and sit by the water, but truly one of the nice places to relax, exercise, watch people and eat.
The beaches run along the western side of the city. Along the beaches are some of the bigger hotels and tourist attractions. Before the Palestinian Intifadas and suicide bombings, there was a very strong tourist presence here. (Editor's note: today Tel Aviv beaches are the best guarded areas in Israel. They are probably safer than any beach in Europe or Asia, specially if you take account of non-political crime.) This has slowly shifted to more of an Israeli crowd. Which is actually nicer for tourists that complained of not seeing "Israel" - just other people from all over the world. Today the tourists are just a small part of the crowd you see on and off the beach. The beaches change in character during the day and during the year. Now, during the summer vacation, the day crowd is families with kids and teenagers. High school kids from all over the center region of Israel flock to the beach. It's a place to hang out, meet other kids and get away from the heat of the inland towns. So get ready to see lots of skimpy bikinis. Families also come to give kids a place to run and swim. For the most part, Tel Aviv beaches are watched by lifeguards and are safe. There are breakers about 1/2 a mile along most of the coast. This makes for a calm place to swim which attracts families with small children.
Tourist love the closeness of the beaches to the city. You can be at a restaurant, hotel or shop just a block away from the beach. You can walk down and be in a different type of beaches; from families to singles in a few minutes. You can be in a separate religious beach, where men and women take daily turns on who is on the beach. You can be in a bar right on the beach and read a book or have a drink and watch the parade of people pass you by. And all of this within the city borders.
Surfing and Kayaking in Tel Aviv There are a few places to rent wind surfers, kayaks and small sail boats. But Tel Aviv beaches are no longer water sport fan attraction. If you go a little north to Hertzeliya or south to the smaller towns, and beaches between the towns, you will find more surfers and the boaters. (Editor's note: ask your hotel concierge for a good place to rent a surf board or a kayak, this is one activity that is lots of fun here). You will find other sports on the beach, specially the uniquely Israeli "matkot". These are wooden paddles and a hard rubber ball hit from one person to another. If you are not familiar with this, don't worry, very few people are hit in the head by the fast moving ball. If you are in shape and want to test your hand-eye coordination, give this game a try.
The beaches are not always filled with people. In the winter they turn stormy and dark... but that is a whole other story, come again in January.
Stormy Beach - keep cool until JanuaryIn the mean time, enjoy the summer, if it's hot, take a dip and cool off. And don't forget your swim short and bikini, Israeli's are not shy about showing skin on the beach. If you are not staying nearby, pack a nice shirt and a pair of pants. And stay for the evening, the beach area turns into one giant cafe-bar with the walkway just a place to move from table to table. Great drinks, good food and lots of fun people. This makes the beaches of Tel Aviv a great place to come... and stay...
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