Tel Aviv, Israel — Tel Aviv is a city that has been getting a lot of international attention lately. It’s known for being one of the most modern cities and a popular place to visit in Israel. Apart from a vibrant music scene in the city, there is also the Dead Sea, and the holy city of Jerusalem.
One thing that sets Tel Aviv apart from other cities in Israel is its location — the Capital city sits right on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, making it a remarkable destination for anyone who wants to explore or just be close by to the body of water that was at the focal point of Western civilization in ancient times!
Israel will be my country no.19, Tel Aviv being city no.40 for me on my travel list, and my 2nd country in the Middle East after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It will be a 13 to 17 hour connecting flight, depending on which airline I fly with, from the world’s best airport — Singapore! A huge contrast to the cultures of Asia, I am stooooooked to explore Tel Aviv and all it has to offer.
Here are 5 reasons why I am absolutely looking forward to Tel Aviv next summer!
1. Dead Sea
Now on to the first must-see: The Dead Sea. It’s so salty, you’ll float. Adding to that, it’s not really a sea, it’s a salt lake land-locked between Israel and Jordan. The water is so rich in minerals, and a mineral mud bath makes your skin feel soft and smooth after bathing in it. It is known for its therapeutic properties and healing powers. Personally, I can’t wait to just float in it and force my friends to take cool pictures of me.
2. Vegan Party
The city has something for food lovers too, restaurants serving traditional Israeli dishes like falafel and hummus that are made with fresh ingredients. The city is popular among vegans, that colloquially, you can call it “the world’s most vegan-friendly city.” The city also hosts an annual Vegan Festival every summer, which features vegetarian Israeli cuisine, including mezzes (a variety of local appetizers), tabbouleh (bulgur salad), and veggie kebabs.
3. Jeruseulum, the Holy City
In the holy city of Jerusalem, a historical site, it is a place where I’ll be able to learn about Jewish history while visiting some of the world’s oldest synagogues. Then head over to the Western Wall. It is a sacred site where many Jews go to pray and receive blessings from God. It is the last remaining outer wall of the ancient Jewish temple, and an incredibly important site of modern Israeli history.
There are many different kinds of people who live in Tel Aviv — Jews, Arabs, Palestinians and Israelis. This makes the area fueled with ongoing racial tensions in its undercurrent and makes for interesting social activity and stories.
4. Arabic House Music and Techno
If you’re a fan of house music, then Tel Aviv nightlife will have a profound effect on you. Known as the “party capital of the Middle East”, Tel Aviv is it has a lively nightlife and 24-hour culture.
If you’re into house music, you must check out Arabic house music.
This genre of house music has taken the Middle East by storm, surging in its popularity with younger audiences. Arabic house music is a genre that combines Western house beats and tempos with Arabic melodies and rhythms, which are often sampled from traditional Bedouin songs. This presents itself as an eclectic world genre, that transcends and crosses cultures. You certainly won’t be able to find this one anywhere else in the world, and I’m looking forward to my buffet of electro-house music parties once I’m there.
5. LGBTQ Capital of the Middle East
Presenting itself as a haven for the LGBTQ community, Israel is a generally progressive country where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and queer people live freely and openly. Israel’s laws surrounding these communities are considered the most developed in the Middle East.
Before getting there, I always do my research
Before making one’s way to Tel Aviv though, it might be helpful to know the local currencies, laws and lay of the land. The local currency is Israeli New Shekel, or shekels for short. The foreign currency rate 1 shekel = 0.2 USD. The sale of alcohol outside of bars and restaurants is illegal from 11pm to 6am. Checking on Visa requirements on government websites for entry requirements, most passports (EU, US) allow for 30-day visa-free entry. The local and official language is Hebrew, where locals either speak it as their native first language, or fluently even as a second language.
Tel Aviv has captured the world’s attention for a few years now, and it has a blend of interesting nightlife, historical sites, and scenic nature. It is definitely one for my bucket list.
Written by Lilac
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