Enjoy Tel Aviv without Blowing Your Budget
November 16th 2015
No matter what you’re looking for in your next vacation spot, Tel Aviv, a city often ranked amongst the top cities in the world to visit, is sure to have it for you. This stunning, historical city lies on the Mediterranean and offers you easy access to beaches, while also allowing you to learn about Israeli culture through performances, festivals, museums and more. And best of all, there are plenty of free or low-budget activities for you to enjoy in the city. Here are some ideas:
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Save on Accommodation
Rather than blowing your whole budget on your accommodation, look into things like hostels, rental apartments, or couch-surfing. Though traditionally these options have been limited to younger travelers, there are plenty of places these days that offer space to older travelers or even families—even hostels that thrive on dorms often have some options for cheap private rooms! Explore your options and see if you can’t find someplace cheaper to stay that affords you more money to explore.
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Take a Free Walking Tour
Tel Aviv has plenty of options for free walking tours. Check out the free tours put on by the municipality – although most people pay a nominal amount in tips, they’re well within the budget of most travelers. Or you could check out the totally free tours put on by Tel Aviv Greeters, although you’ll need to book in advance.
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Head to the Market
Looking to practice your bartering skills? Or looking to bring back souvenirs for friends and family? Carmel Market, where you’ll find plenty for sale (from clothes to spices) is for you! It isn’t just for tourists, either—you’ll see locals strolling along browsing the wares too. It may not be a free option for you, but it can be a great budget place to spend an afternoon, especially if you excel at bargaining. Although there are lots of other options for markets in Tel Aviv, Carmel Market is one of the best in terms of selection, endearing it to a lot of travelers.
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Visit a Museum
Tel Aviv is home to a number of museums. For Israeli art, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art is one of the best in the world. Or there’s the Bauhaus Centre Tel Aviv. Or the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora. These museums vary in price, but with a little research, you should be able to do some great city research specific to your interests, you should be able to learn a lot about the city without breaking the bank.
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Relax on the Beach
Tel Aviv is home to miles of sandy beaches. One of the most popular sunbathing beaches is Gordon Beach, but you have options. And when you’re on the Mediterranean, very little beats a (free!) stroll along the beach. Take the promenade from Tel Aviv to Jaffa to enjoy beautiful sunset views, busker performances, tasty food, and more.
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Check Out the Farmers’ Market
Tel Aviv’s port is always an interesting place to check out, but it’s especially interesting on Thursdays and Fridays when it hosts its Farmers’ Market. Here, you’ll not only find fresh produce but will also find fun events during Friday evenings. The area has undergone a lot of renovations in recent years, so even if you’ve visited before, it’s well worth visiting again!
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Eat the Local Food
One of Tel Aviv’s claims to fame is its restaurants—but that doesn’t mean you have to shell out a ton of money to eat out! Look for cheap eateries around the city and try out different styles of cuisine. After all, this city is known as a foodie favorite, and there’s definitely a reason for that!
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…and Have a Lazy Day
Although there are plenty of activities to enjoy in Tel Aviv, sometimes you just need to take a day to be lazy or to adjust to jetlag or to get over that homesickness or whatever else. Don’t be afraid to sit around your hotel watching Netflix if you want to (just remember that you’ll probably need to set up a VPN to circumvent Netflix’s regional restrictions if that’s what you want to do—otherwise, you’ll find yourself facing an obnoxious error message!). You have plenty of budget options available, but sometimes you just need to chill out.
Have you ever traveled to Tel Aviv? What did you do to stick to a budget?
Author bio: Jess Signet is an avid traveler and travel writer. Originally from the US, she has been traveling from a young age and has no plans to stop any time soon. When she isn’t busy exploring the world, she is busy writing about it!
