Whether you’re planning to visit Israel for Tel Aviv Pride or just sightseeing around the country, there are a few tips that first-time travelers to Israel will want to know before setting foot there.
1. Download the Gettr and Atraf apps before leaving home
Israel doesn’t use Lyft and Uber, two of the most popular rideshare apps in the United States, but it does use Gettr, an app that can help you get a ride whenever you need it. Install the app on your smartphone and sign up for the service before leaving home. The app sends you a confirmation text during the registration process, and some phones can’t receive the text when aboard.
Also, while more Israeli men seem to prefer Grindr over Scruff, the most popular gay social app in the country is Atraf. Yet again, it’s wise to download Atraf before you leave the US. Once you’re in Israel, you’ll see many handsome men using the app to meet up and get down.
2. Israeli food isn’t the same as traditional Jewish food
If you’ve ever enjoyed motza ball soup, gefilte fish, haroset, latkes, or other traditional foods during Jewish holidays, you may be expecting to encounter these same foods in Israeli restaurants — but you won’t.
Most Israeli restaurants actually serve Mediterranean foods like falafel, kebab, shwarma, and pitas with sides of hummus, fattoush, baba ganoush, dolmas, and other spiced sauces and veggies that you may have had at Mediterranean restaurants.
Also, contrary to popular misbelief, not all restaurants in Isreal follow the Jewish kosher laws forbidding shellfish, pork, and mixtures of milk and dairy — many Tel Aviv restaurants also stay open on Saturdays, the Shabbat day of rest. While the local food definitely leans vegetarian, you’ll still find plenty of meat if you’re a carnivore
3. Expect New York City prices in Tel Aviv
Bars can charge up to $18 or more for a single cocktail. Restaurants can also easily run into the high-dollar range.
However, price-hunters can still find low-cost eateries, bars with drink specials, and inexpensive hotels. You can keep food and drinking costs down by purchasing alcohol and shwarma pita pockets at convenience store delis. But be warned: Convenience stores stop selling alcohol at 11 pm, whereas bars continue serving until the early morning hours.
Many businesses also have English-speaking employees and accept US credit cards, though it’s a good idea to let your bank or card provider know that you’ll be traveling so that they don’t discontinue service when they notice foreign charges popping up on your account.
4. There’s a not-so-secret gay beach near the city center
One of the biggest attractions in Tel Aviv is, of course, the Mediterranean Sea. Its warm and clear blue waters make for a fun and relaxing day, whether you’re in town for business or pleasure.
The city’s unofficial gay beach is the Hilton Beach right outside of the Hilton hotel, just north of Gordon Beach and Atarim Square. This is the gay beach. You don’t need to be a hotel guest to claim a chair or umbrella, and the beach also has a nearby bar and restaurant as well as a restroom and showering facilities.
While heterosexuals and families frequent the beach, you can cruise, be physically affectionate, or wear a daring swimsuit without anyone batting an eyelid.
5. Make sure to check out these cool spots nearby
If you have a short time to visit, treat yourself to a walk through the nearby city of Jaffa, a beautiful seaside area with ancient buildings, a marketplace bazaar, artisan shops, and lots of Arabic cultural influence — perfect for a brief stroll or photos.
Architecture buffs will want to check out all the Bauhaus architecture near Bialik Square, Dizengoff Square, and Rothschild Boulevard. It’s the world’s second-largest grouping of such buildings whose post-World War I style favors simple geometric forms and rational, functional designs.
Lastly, for some souvenirs and local flavor, check out the Carmel Market. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 7 am until near sundown, and it has a colorful array of vendors selling keepsakes, t-shirts, special regional flavors, fresh fruits, and veggies, as well as plenty of snacks to take on the go.
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