Tel Aviv is a fabulous city, and 2019 promises to be a particularly fabulous year for it. Important milestones, cultural events and all-round amazingness make the seaside city a must-see this year. Here are our top picks for what to do and enjoy.
Architecture
Tel Aviv isn’t all sea and sun, but also a universally recognized architectural gem. Its White City area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its 4,000 buildings constructed in the Bauhaus architectural style now celebrating its 100th year.
Bauhaus, more correctly known as the International Style, was developed in the Bauhaus school in Germany that operated from 1919 to 1933. The rise of the Nazi Party led many Jews, architects included, to flee to Mandatory Palestine, where they built in the young city of Tel Aviv thousands of buildings in the decidedly modern style.
Walk around the city with the Bauhaus Center’s self-guided audio tour, or join one of the center’s special tours celebrating 100 years of Bauhaus, to learn all about the beautiful buildings with their curved corners, generous balconies and asymmetry.
History
Sure, there are definitely more historic cities in Israel than Tel Aviv. After all, what could possible compete with Jerusalem? But Tel Aviv, which this year is celebrating 110 years, has a fascinating history of its own.
It all started with a seashell lottery, when some 60 Jewish families gathered on a sand dune on April 11, 1909, and divided plots of land between them using colorful shells. That sand dune, by the way, is now Rothschild Boulevard.
The boulevard and the surrounding streets house some of the city’s most beautiful historical sites. Check out Independence Hall to see where the State of Israel was declared, or the castle-like Bialik House, home of national poet Hayim Nachman Bialik, now a museum of his work and a cultural center.
Eurovision
Israelis are very, very serious when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest. Last year, the nation’s dream came true when the fabulous Netta Barzilai won the contest with “Toy.”
That’s why Israel gets to host the 2019 contest, which will take place in Tel Aviv from May 14 to 18. The city is gearing up to host the thousands of music fans expected to come for the competition, even setting up a camping site in the city’s Yarkon Park to accommodate them.
Tel Aviv is a super-fun place all year round, but the Eurovision bonanza promises to make mid-May an exceptionally fantastic time to visit.
The beach
In true Mediterranean style, the entire length of Tel Aviv is bounded by the sea, making the beach the #1 attraction in the city from mid-spring to mid-fall.
All 13 of the city’s beaches are public and free, and offer a wide variety of seaside experiences.
Whether you want to get some surfing in, relax family-style or hit the LGBT community’s favorite sands, Tel Aviv has it all. Our top spots include Hilton and Gordon beaches for their young, sporty vibe and Charles Clore Beach for its relaxed and dog-friendly atmosphere.
Don’t be surprised if complete strangers ask you to watch their things while they go for a dip. Just beware of matkot, a seaside paddleball game that inevitably ends up ricocheting balls all over.
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