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One of the great things about traveling is experiencing a new culture and new traditions. As a Jewish Nation, Israel celebrates all the many Jewish holidays and traditions. It is truly the best way to immerse yourself in this beautiful religion. Of course, you want to consider what to expect and what to do during Shabbat in Tel Aviv.
There are many things to consider on your trip to Tel Aviv, especially when planning where you want to visit during Shabbat. Below we will detail all the considerations and how to enjoy a restful two days leaning into Israel’s national day of rest.
What is Shabbat?
Beginning at sundown on Friday and ending at sunset on Saturday, Shabbat or Shabbos is the Jewish day of rest. In Israel, religious Jews do not work during Shabbat. There are many aspects to “keeping Shabbat,” including not using electronics, not driving, cooking, or using the phone.
The start of Shabbat usually kicks off with Shabbat dinner. Families and friends gather to welcome the start of Shabbat and enjoy a meal together. On Saturday mornings, many Jews will attend a morning service at synagogue and a Havdallah ceremony in the evening on Saturday night.
A very unique way to enjoy Shabbat is to participate in a Shabbat dinner. Check out these Shabbat Dinners for your trip to Tel Aviv!
How is Shabbat Different in Tel Aviv?
Experiencing a Saturday in Tel Aviv is a unique and special experience, unlike other cities in Israel. Tel Aviv offers visitors and locals an array of activities. Additionally, Tel Aviv has launched Shabbat buses on Friday nights and Saturdays so more people can move freely around the city.
Given that the city is on the water, the beaches are particularly busy on Saturdays. It is a big day to spend time outside and take it easy. We’ve seen many people go on picnics at the beach and even host parties at the park. It’s truly a great time to spend with family and friends.
What to Expect?
Expect the streets to be super busy on Friday mornings until about 4 pm. Then expect the streets to quiet down. Friday during the day is a busy time to finish shopping and last-minute preparations for Shabbat. You’ll often find a number of markets selling pre-made food during this time. On Saturday, expect the streets to continue being quiet. People won’t be getting up early, and many restaurants or cafes that are open, open later. On nice weather days, expect parks and the beach to get really full. People will sit out on any patch of grass throughout the city.
Expect to find most stores closed and have a harder time finding restaurants or cafes open. Shabbat is truly a time to relax and slow down. However, Tel Aviv does not fully close down like many other parts of the country, so there is still plenty to do.
What is Open?
You can expect most stores and food stands to close about an hour before sundown on Friday and not open at all on Saturdays. Some restaurants may stay open Friday night and then not open at all on Saturdays. The most rare are the restaurants open Friday nights and all day Saturdays. Of course, there are stores that don’t open at all on Friday or Saturday.
Most bakeries and cafes are closed on Saturdays. Aroma is reliably open on Saturdays. The shuks will be closed and so will most of the supermarkets. Super Yuda and AM:PM are open on Shabbat. Dizengoff Center is open all the time, but the stores inside are not. So expect to have a lot less options for food or shopping.
What to Do?
Well, now that you know all these things to expect during Shabbat in Tel Aviv. What is there to do?
Activities
Tel Aviv is a bustling city, even during Shabbat. The busiest part of Tel Aviv is the beaches and boardwalks on Shabbat. Especially when the weather is nice. There are usually volleyball or footy-volley games, people swimming, people going for runs or walks, and lots of water sports.
Outside Gordon Beach, there is a community center that has dance classes every Saturday afternoon. It’s a fun activity to join. While visiting Tel Aviv, you’ll find many people enjoying the beautiful weather at the park. Many people will picnic or have a party at the many different parks throughout the city.
Tel Aviv is very walkable so Shabbat is a great day to explore the city while walking. Heading to Jaffa, you’ll find many open restaurants and shops. As a more Muslim neighborhood of Tel Aviv, they don’t observe Shabbat. But the light rail train in the area will not be running.
Restaurants
There are many restaurants that are open during Shabbat. While it is not all the restaurants, you’ll definitely be able to find a place to eat. Here are some of our favorites that are open during Shabbat:
Cafes:
- Aroma
- Kooper & Pako
- Under the Tree
- Eats Cafeteria
- We Like You Too
Restaurants:
- GDB
- Greco
- Hummus HaMeshorer
- Thai House
- Moon Sushi
Shopping
I will say a lot of shopping happens on Friday before Shabbat. You’ll see so many people walking around with many grocery bags. People are getting their final weekend shopping in before sundown. This is the time for the last bit of grocery shopping or getting any last items you may need. Finally, you won’t be able to get much, if any, shopping done on Saturday. Stores, if open on Friday, will not be open on Saturdays. Shabbat is not a good time for souvenir shopping.
Getting Around During Shabbat in Tel Aviv
One of the most important things to know is that it gets significantly harder to move around on Shabbat. There are Shabbat buses which come once an hour. Trains (light rails and Israeli rail) stop operating about an hour before sundown on Friday and start again 45 minutes after sundown on Saturday. You will be able to use taxis or “Getts.”
Additionally, Israeli Air-Carrier El Al doesn’t fly on Shabbat, but other airlines do. However, we would strongly recommend against arriving on Shabbat since there are no trains or buses. Taxis are very expensive from Ben Gurion.
Final Information about Spending Shabbat in Israel
Shabbat is a time for rest and relaxation. It can feel jarring to be forced to rest and relax starting Friday and all of Saturday, but if you go in with an open mind and a chance to enjoy it, you will! It’s nice to see everyone spending time together with family and friends. The entire city feels like it slows down. Food is enjoyed for longer, beach trips are less rushed, and people, in general, are taking their time. In this fast-paced world, it’s nice to enjoy moments of rest, even on trips!
