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Tel Aviv is not very large compared to other cities. However, there is an incredible amount of diversity between its neighborhoods. If you’re visiting the city or looking to move here, you definitely want to find the neighborhood that fits your needs and style. Then we’ve got you with this guide!

Southern Neighborhoods of Tel Aviv

Looking to the south of Tel Aviv to see what those neighborhoods are like.

Jaffa

Tel Aviv-Yafo is really two cities: Tel Aviv and Jaffa. They merged into one larger metropolitan city, so Jaffa has the same city services as Tel Aviv. However, it truly does feel like a different city when you go to Jaffa.

Jaffa is an ancient, Biblical city full of winding cobblestone streets and Middle Eastern architecture. Plenty of seafood restaurants are on the water with a great view of the Mediterranean. Additionally, there is the Flea Market, which is filled with interesting antiques. It’s one of the many cool markets or shuks in Tel Aviv.

An apartment building with rounded windows in Jaffa, Tel Aviv-Yafo.

Who Lives Here

Jaffa is more of an Arab neighborhood than a Jewish one. Jews and Arabs live side by side here. The upside is that more places are open on Shabbat. Plus, there’s a ton of Arabic food, including our favorite hummus place!

Parts of Jaffa are still pretty underdeveloped, with many crumbling buildings. The city is working hard to restore Jaffa to its former glory. Many artists have moved to Jaffa since it is more affordable than Tel Aviv. We considered an apartment here, but it is not super dog-friendly.

Places to Stay in Jaffa

  • Jaffa House—This hotel has incredible views and is located in the center of Jaffa. Some rooms have balconies or terraces overlooking either the sea or the clock tower.
  • Market House—This luxurious hotel is pet-friendly and offers breakfast and afternoon snacks. It also has a large garden complex and offers free bike rental.

Old City – Jaffa

The port of Jaffa is the oldest continuous operating port in the world. This is also where Jonah tried to run away from God instead of going to Nineveh. The Old City is reminiscent of Old City Jerusalem. It has cobblestones, many stairs, narrow walkways, and amazing buildings.

St. Peter’s Church is here, and there is a great view of the Port and Mediterranean Sea. Plenty of little hidden artist shops and galleries exist throughout the Old City. You never know what you’ll find.

Florentin

Florentin is an artist haven in Tel Aviv. It used to be an industrial section of the city, but now artists have taken over. Amazing graffiti is found all over this neighborhood. While there are many run-down buildings, the city is investing in Florentin.

Florentin is also home to Shuk Levinsky, the best spice market in Tel Aviv. It is jam-packed with chic bars, restaurants, and cafes and has a very lively nightlife.

A cute shop corner in Florentin

Who Lives Here

Florentin residents tend to be young, creative, and bohemian. Most people who live here are in their 20s and 30s. Many choose to call Florentin home since apartments here are more affordable than in the center or northern Tel Aviv.

Places to Stay in Florentin

  • Levinski Market Hotel—Located right by the fragrant Levinski Market, this modern hotel offers a terrace, a/c, and a private bathroom for each guest. Additionally, it is within walking distance from the beach.
  • Albi Florentin—This beautiful hotel has a wonderful rooftop terrace from which you can see the whole Florentin neighborhood. It is within walking distance from the beach. It also offers family rooms, making it great for families traveling to Tel Aviv.

Neve Tzedek

Neve Tzedek feels like a whole different village within Tel Aviv. It was the first neighborhood to be established, and after falling into disrepair in the 1980s, everything changed. It is now one of the most fashionable and expensive areas of the city. Our favorite places are the elegant little streets lined with colored homes, small restaurants, galleries, and fashion boutiques.

An apartment building in Neve Tzedek

Who Lives Here

Neve Tzedek is an expensive neighborhood where apartments are in high demand. It is such an elegant area that you’ll want to look elsewhere for a good chance of getting something affordable.

Places to Stay in Neve Tzedek

  • Bachar House—Just off Rothschild Blvd, this hotel is modeled after the Bauhaus style from the White City. The beautiful rooms exude luxury. They offer airport shuttles and breakfasts for all guests.
  • The Drisco Hotel—This 5-star hotel is the height of luxury expected of Neve Tzedek. From the roof, you can see the Sea. It also includes an airport shuttle, a spa, a garden, a fitness center, a restaurant, a complimentary mini-bar, and a complimentary breakfast.

Central Neighborhoods of Tel Aviv

Moving to the busiest and most populated area of Tel Aviv. This is the commerce center and heart of the city.

Lev Ha’ir

To locals, the heart of the city is known as Lev Ha’ir. This is where all the action happens. You’ll find the lively Sderot Rothschild, Kikar Dizengoff, Dizengoff Center, and some beautiful parks here. The best restaurants, cafes, and bars are all packed into this area. There is always something interesting happening here.

In this area, you’ll also find the White City UNESCO World Heritage Site, a collection of over 4,000 buildings built in the Bauhaus Style.

Building with balconies in Lev Ha'ir

Who Lives Here

You’ll find a mix of residents in Lev Ha’ir. Since it is in the center of the city, it can be very expensive to find a large apartment here, but many people find affordable apartments, too. We are one of those lucky people who got to live in Lev Ha’ir.

Places to Stay in Lev Ha’ir

  • The Saul Hotel—The breakfast at this hotel is delicious! It is close to a park and within walking distance of Borgashov Beach. The front desk also has Spanish speakers.
  • Embassy Hotel—Across the street from the US Embassy office, this hotel is in a great location close to the beach and Shuk HaCarmel.

Sarona

Sarona is a hip and popular area of Tel Aviv. This area is newly developed, so you’ll see plenty of new buildings and some crumbling buildings that are slated for knocking down to rebuild. Here, you will also find Sarona Market, IDF Headquarters, and two Azreli Malls. There are a lot of office buildings here as well.

Who Lives Here

This area is incredibly popular with professionals and young professionals. It is expensive, as it is all pretty new buildings. The older buildings are more affordable if you want to live in this area. Most people work in this area, which is why they choose to live here.

Places to Stay in Sarona

  • Hotel B Berdichevsky—This modern, boutique hotel is close to Sarona Market and Rothschild Blvd. The rooms are cozy and include bathrobes. Breakfast can be purchased.
  • Link Hotel & Hub—For a cool hotel, come to Link. It brings the cool vibes of Sarona into the hotel. However, this hotel doesn’t offer breakfast, yet you can play billiards in the lobby.

Want to see these lovely neighborhoods during a 48 hours in Tel Aviv? Check out our itinerary here!

Kerem HaTeimanim (Yemenite Vineyard)

Kerem HaTeimanim is where Shuk HaCarmel can be found. It is just steps away from the beach. Here you’ll find amazing, authentic restaurants and plenty of fun little bars to hang out. Unfortunately, it is currently under a lot of construction, but that hasn’t hampered the nightlife too much.

Who Lives Here

Living close to Shuk HaCarmel can make it be very loud with all the merchants and buyers that flood the area. There are a lot of cobblestone streets, which allows you to find secluded quiet areas away from the noise. This neighborhood gets its name from its Yemenite immigrant founders.

A traditional pale yellow building in the Karem HaTeimanim neighborhood of Tel Aviv

Places to Stay in Kerem HaTeimanim

  • The Elliot—This is an adults-only hotel. It combines antique furnishings in a stylish, modern way. Breakfast is not included.
  • Poli House—The coolest part of this hotel is the heated rooftop pool! It offers breakfast at a local cafe until midday. Shuk HaCarmel is at the doorstep of Poli House.

Northern Neighborhoods of Tel Aviv

This chic part of Tel Aviv includes both north and just south of the Yarkon River and HaYarkon Park.

Old North

The Old North neighborhood, also known as HaZafon HaYashan is an elegant part of Tel Aviv. There are lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars, but more importantly lots of quiet peaceful side streets. As a large area of Tel Aviv you’ll see the bustling Tel Aviv Port as well as HaYarkon Park.

This is the area we initially lived in when we first moved to Tel Aviv. We loved the peace and quiet compared to the bustle of Lev Ha’ir.

Beautiful tree lined street of Old North neighborhood in Tel Aviv.

Who Lives Here

Here you’ll mostly find families with children. It is close to city center so you’ll find young professionals in the area as well. It is an oasis while still being close to city center.

Places to Stay in Old North

  • Shalom Hotel & Relax—This hotel really embraces the “relax” aspect of its name. It has beautiful sea views and great terraces. It is a 5-minute walk from Port Tel Aviv.
  • A23 Boutique Hotel—With free bike rentals and walking distance from Hilton Beach, this hotel offers the best of Tel Aviv’s beaches.

Ramat Aviv

Heading north of the Yarkon River you’ll find yourself in Ramat Aviv. This area is home to Tel Aviv University. So you’ll find many students throughout the area. So to give the people things to do there are lots of restaurants and of course the HaYarkon Park as well as the beach.

Ramat Aviv has the Ramat Aviv Mall which is a fancy and expensive mall. The area is under construction to continue modernizing the whole neighborhood as it is very popular and residential.

Who Lives Here

You will find families with children, students, and professionals here. As it is further from the city center, it is less expensive for larger apartments. Currently, there are new apartments being built to bring in modern new homes. You’ll even find small pockets of homes rather than apartments.

Pro-Tip: Check out all our tips and tricks on how to rent an apartment in Tel Aviv!

Final Thoughts About The Tel Aviv Neighborhoods

Tel Aviv has many lively and dynamic neighborhoods to explore. While it is not a large city, taking a walking tour can really give you a sense of what Tel Aviv has to offer. Each neighborhood has a distinct personality with many different hidden gems to explore.