Tel Aviv: a city of visions
An inspirational exploration of the visionaries and dreamers behind this dynamic city, both past and present.
Part of Classic Israel: a week across the country →
The shape of the day
This tour takes in the early neighbourhoods of Tel Aviv, exploring its development through the visionaries who turned it from sand dunes into skyscrapers, making it one of the world’s most dynamic cities.
We begin with the picturesque American and German colonies, built by early Christian pioneers.
We then move on to Neve Tzedek, the first Jewish neighbourhood built outside Jaffa and the seed from which Tel Aviv grew.
From there we head to the area of Rothschild Boulevard, the city’s dynamic financial and entertainment district. We’ll explore the stunning mosaics in the Shalom Tower, once the tallest building in the Middle East, before discussing the foundation of the state at Independence Hall.
We’ll continue down the boulevard, taking in the famed Bauhaus architecture, concluding with a discussion of Israel’s past, present and future at HaBima Square.
Sites we visit
- The American & German colonies
- Neve Tzedek
- Rothschild Boulevard
- Shalom Tower
- Independence Hall
- The White City (Bauhaus)
- HaBima Square
Who it’s for
This tour is for anyone curious about how a city gets built from an idea, and what happens when several big ideas collide on the same streets. It moves through architecture, politics, culture and the personalities who shaped modern Israel, all on foot in the heart of the city. I build the focus around what interests you most, and keep the pace to suit you.
FAQ
Can this be done as an evening tour?
Yes, definitely. I do a lot of evening tours of Tel Aviv, particularly in the hot summer months. It’s a city that never stops, and we can even finish over dinner or a drink in one of the local hotspots.
How much walking is it, and do we drive at all?
It’s on foot, in the flat heart of the city, with the neighbourhoods close enough to stroll between. Comfortable shoes and you’re set.
It is possible to taxi between neighbourhoods if you prefer.
Is the Bauhaus and the White City part of it?
Yes. Tel Aviv has the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world, the “White City” that UNESCO lists as World Heritage. We’ll see plenty of examples and discuss the main concepts.
Does it go well with the Jaffa tour?
Very well. Jaffa is where Tel Aviv began, so the two tell one continuous story. Many people do Tales of Jaffa in the morning and Tel Aviv in the afternoon. It also works nicely as an evening tour after an afternoon in Jaffa.
Make this itinerary yours
Tell me who’s travelling, your dates and where you want to focus. I’ll put together a personalised proposal.
For urgent bookings, send me a WhatsApp
If you are going to Israel, you would be mad not to give him a call.
Amol Rajan, BBC presenter and broadcaster
Having been on trips in Israel with seven different tour guides, Samuel stood above all the rest.
Seasoned Israel traveller
Samuel is one part walking encyclopedia, one part storyteller, one part stand-up comedian.
Berkeley Haas Business School student