Tel Aviv, translated from Hebrew as “Hill of Spring,” is the second-largest city in Israel, after Jerusalem. It is regarded as the most modern and westernized place in Israel, serving as the country’s cultural, economic, and business center. The city was founded between 1870 and 1880 by Jewish settlers from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, on the site of the former port city of Jaffa, which was predominantly inhabited by Arabs at the time. The name “Tel Aviv” is linked to a work by Theodor Herzl, and the city was built on desert sand dunes purchased from Arabs, north of Jaffa. Since 2005, the city has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its approximately 4,000 Bauhaus-style buildings in the city center, belonging to the avant-garde architectural movement.
In terms of tourism, Tel Aviv ranks third globally, attracting over 2.5 million visitors annually. The city boasts the highest number of museums per capita in the world, including:
A unique site is Jaffa – Yaffa Historic Center, located south of Tel Aviv's city center, with an Arab-inspired atmosphere distinct from European historic centers.
Tel Aviv is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. For shopping enthusiasts, top locations include:
The “White City” status, granted by UNESCO, was first celebrated in 2003 through the inaugural “Layla Lavan” (“White Night”) festival in Tel Aviv, which has since become an annual event.
Airlines operating flights to Tel Aviv include TAROM, EL AL Israel Airlines, Wizz Air, ITA Airways, Austrian Airlines, Corendon, Lufthansa, Pegasus Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian, JAT Airways, Swiss, and Hisky.