Where to stay · Tel Aviv · Israel
Where to stay in Tel Aviv
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Giladtop, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Rothschild and the city centre. Tree-lined boulevard, Bauhaus blocks, cafés and cocktail bars. Best alternatives — families: Beachfront and HaYarkon Street; budget: Kerem HaTeimanim.
Key facts
- First visit
- Rothschild and the city centre
- Families
- Beachfront and HaYarkon Street
- Budget
- Kerem HaTeimanim
- Nightlife
- Rothschild and the city centre
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Rothschild and the city centre | Tree-lined boulevard, Bauhaus blocks, cafés and cocktail bars |
| Families | Beachfront and HaYarkon Street | High-rise hotels facing the sea between Gordon Beach and Hilton Beach |
| Couples | Jaffa | Stone alleys, a fishing port, flea-market shops and hummus counters at the southern end of the seafront |
| Budget | Kerem HaTeimanim | The Yemenite Quarter's small lanes beside Carmel Market and the beach |
| Luxury | Neve Tzedek | Low-rise 19th-century houses, boutiques and the Suzanne Dellal dance centre |
| Nightlife | Rothschild and the city centre | Tree-lined boulevard, Bauhaus blocks, cafés and cocktail bars |
| Food lovers | Jaffa | Stone alleys, a fishing port, flea-market shops and hummus counters at the southern end of the seafront |
| Solo travellers | Rothschild and the city centre | Tree-lined boulevard, Bauhaus blocks, cafés and cocktail bars |
| Shopping | Jaffa | Stone alleys, a fishing port, flea-market shops and hummus counters at the southern end of the seafront |
| Quiet stays | Neve Tzedek | Low-rise 19th-century houses, boutiques and the Suzanne Dellal dance centre |
| Beach | Beachfront and HaYarkon Street | High-rise hotels facing the sea between Gordon Beach and Hilton Beach |
Tel Aviv neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, culture and shopping
Jaffa
Jaffa is one of the oldest port towns on the Mediterranean, with Old Jaffa's restored lanes, galleries and St Peter's Church on the hill above the harbour. Around the Clock Tower, the flea market streets fill with vintage shops, cafés and bars, and boutique hotels occupy converted Ottoman-era buildings. The beachfront promenade leads north to central Tel Aviv in about 30–40 minutes on foot.
- Good
- Strong historic character; Some of the city's best hummus and bakeries; Sunset views across the bay
- Watch out
- Further from the central beaches and Rothschild Boulevard; Hilly cobbled lanes are hard with luggage
- Nearby
- Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port, Jaffa Flea Market, Jaffa Clock Tower
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, quiet stays and shopping
Neve Tzedek
Founded in 1887 outside Jaffa's walls, Neve Tzedek was the first Jewish neighbourhood built beyond the old city and keeps its narrow streets of restored low houses. Shabazi Street has independent fashion and design shops and cafés, and the Suzanne Dellal Centre stages dance performances. It sits between Jaffa, the beach and Rothschild Boulevard, with HaTachana's old station complex on its edge.
- Good
- Quiet, attractive streets; Short walk to the beach and Jaffa; Excellent cafés and restaurants
- Watch out
- Few hotels and high prices; Little budget accommodation
- Nearby
- Shabazi Street, Suzanne Dellal Centre, HaTachana, Rothschild Boulevard
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Rothschild and the city centre
Rothschild Boulevard's central walkway of ficus trees, kiosks and bike lanes runs through the heart of the White City, with Habima Square and the performing-arts centre at its northern end. Side streets such as Lilienblum and Nahalat Binyamin hold many of the city's bars and restaurants, and Carmel Market is a 10-minute walk away. It is the most convenient base for first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere.
- Good
- Central and walkable; Dense choice of restaurants and bars; Light rail stations at Allenby and Carlebach
- Watch out
- Noisy at night on weekends; Boutique hotels can be expensive
- Nearby
- Rothschild Boulevard, Habima Square, Carmel Market, Nahalat Binyamin
$$$$ · Best for beach, families, first-timers and luxury
Beachfront and HaYarkon Street
Most of Tel Aviv's large hotels line HaYarkon Street and Herbert Samuel promenade, directly above the beaches. Rooms with sea views, pools and breakfast buffets make it the easiest choice for families and beach-focused trips, and Ben Yehuda and Dizengoff streets are one block inland for restaurants and supermarkets.
- Good
- Beach on the doorstep; Large hotels with pools and family rooms; Sunset views over the sea
- Watch out
- Hotel strip lacks neighbourhood character; Among the highest room rates in the city
- Nearby
- Gordon Beach, Frishman Beach, Hilton Beach, Tel Aviv Promenade
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and couples
Old North
North of Dizengoff Square, the Old North is a calm residential district of Bauhaus apartment buildings, small boutique hotels and neighbourhood cafés around Basel and Ibn Gabirol streets. The Tel Aviv Port, Metzitzim Beach and Yarkon Park are within a short walk, which suits families and travellers who want local life rather than nightlife.
- Good
- Quiet and residential; Near the family-friendly Metzitzim Beach; Good local cafés
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels to choose from; A bus or bike ride to Jaffa
- Nearby
- Tel Aviv Port, Yarkon Park, Metzitzim Beach, Dizengoff Square
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Kerem HaTeimanim
Kerem HaTeimanim, the Yemenite Quarter, is a compact grid of narrow lanes between Carmel Market and the sea, settled by Yemenite Jewish families from the early 20th century. Small family-run restaurants serve Yemenite soups and breads, and short-term apartments and small hotels put the market, Allenby Street and the beach within five minutes on foot.
- Good
- Market and beach on the doorstep; Traditional family restaurants; Good value for the location
- Watch out
- Mostly apartments rather than hotels; Market deliveries start early
- Nearby
- Carmel Market, Allenby Street, Frishman Beach
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Florentin
Florentin is a former light-industrial district of carpentry workshops and small factories that has become the city's student and nightlife quarter, with murals on almost every wall and bars along Vital and Florentin streets. Levinsky Market's spice shops and delis are at its northern edge. Hostels and budget apartments make it the main base for backpackers.
- Good
- Lowest prices in central Tel Aviv; Street art and bar scene; Walking distance to Jaffa
- Watch out
- Noisy and gritty in places; Around 20 minutes on foot to the beach
- Nearby
- Levinsky Market, Jaffa, HaTachana
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Jaffa | $$$ | Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port, Jaffa Flea Market, Jaffa Clock Tower |
| Neve Tzedek | $$$$ | Shabazi Street, Suzanne Dellal Centre, HaTachana, Rothschild Boulevard |
| Rothschild and the city centre | $$$ | Rothschild Boulevard, Habima Square, Carmel Market, Nahalat Binyamin |
| Beachfront and HaYarkon Street | $$$$ | Gordon Beach, Frishman Beach, Hilton Beach, Tel Aviv Promenade |
| Old North | $$$ | Tel Aviv Port, Yarkon Park, Metzitzim Beach, Dizengoff Square |
| Kerem HaTeimanim | $$ | Carmel Market, Allenby Street, Frishman Beach |
| Florentin | $ | Levinsky Market, Jaffa, HaTachana |
Getting to your hotel
Ben Gurion Airport is about 20 km southeast of the centre. Trains run to the city's four stations in about 15–25 minutes, except on Shabbat. Metered taxis wait at the official rank outside arrivals and take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Tel Aviv for first-time visitors?
Rothschild and the city centre. Rothschild Boulevard's central walkway of ficus trees, kiosks and bike lanes runs through the heart of the White City, with Habima Square and the performing-arts centre at its northern end.
+Where should families stay in Tel Aviv?
Beachfront and HaYarkon Street: Beach on the doorstep.
+Which area of Tel Aviv is best for a budget stay?
Kerem HaTeimanim ($$): The Yemenite Quarter's small lanes beside Carmel Market and the beach.