Tel Aviv, Israel

• Tel Aviv is secular, liberal, and beach-focused. Women jog alone at 6am and walk home from bars at 2am without issues. Dress however you want - bikinis on the beach, shorts and tank tops everywhere else. The atmosphere is casual to the point where formal clothing looks out of place.
• Eating alone is standard here. Israelis eat out constantly and sit in cafes for hours. English is widely spoken in restaurants and bars, especially in central and northern areas. The beach promenade has people on it until late - runners, dog walkers, people just hanging out.
• Watch for beach theft - use the lockers, don't leave your phone on your towel. The Central Bus Station area gets rough after dark, so stick to central neighborhoods at night. Police presence is high throughout the city.
• Buses run well during the week but everything stops for Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday night). Get a Rav Kav card for public transport and download Moovit for tracking. No Uber here, but Gett does the same thing.

Hebrew is the main language. English widely spoken in Tel Aviv - restaurants, tourist areas, younger people. Signs and menus usually have English. Arabic is also official. Emergency lines (100, 101, 102) have English operators.

• People dress very casually - shorts, sandals, t-shirts year-round. Beachwear is fine in beach areas. Save modest clothing for Jerusalem.
• Shabbat shuts things down from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. Grocery shop by Thursday. Some restaurants stay open in secular areas but no public transport.
• Israelis communicate directly - it can come across as blunt if you're not used to it. Service is casual, not formal. Tip 10-15% at restaurants.
• Different beach sections have different crowds - Hilton is the LGBTQ+ beach, Frishman is families, Gordon is good for people-watching. Lockers are 5 NIS.

The first hour after landing is when you're tired, carrying everything, and easiest to take advantage of. Three things to sort before you fly:

• Your ride from the airport. A driver who meets you in arrivals, at a price fixed before you fly — no haggling at the taxi rank.

  Book an airport pickup

• Data the moment you land. Maps, ride apps and a way to call for help as soon as you switch your phone on. An eSIM installs at home.

  Get a good eSIM

• The emergency number. Police: 100. Save it in your phone, not just on this page.

  All emergency contacts

• Get a Rav Kav card (5 NIS) at train stations, the airport, or Super-Pharm. Single bus ride is 8 NIS with free transfers for 90 minutes. HopOn app lets you load money via NFC.
• Buses run frequently during the week but stop Friday afternoon to Saturday evening for Shabbat. There are some free Shabbat bus lines on certain routes now. There's also the Red Line light rail.
• Gett is the ride-hailing app here (Uber doesn't operate). Regular taxis are metered. Tel-O-Fun bike-share works well for getting around - the city is flat and has bike lanes along the beach.
• Central neighborhoods are walkable. The beach promenade runs the length of the city and stays active late with people jogging and walking dogs.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.

Explore Tel Aviv with local guides and curated experiences.