A mere 58km (36 miles) apart, Tel Aviv is a world away from the historic and tumultuous city of Jerusalem. “Miami Beach on the Med”, the Israeli capital of cool has lots in common with Rio de Janeiro, Santa Monica, Honolulu, Cape Town and Barcelona – cities characterised by relaxed beach days and energetic party-hard nights.

With 13 beaches stretching over 14km, Tel Aviv is the quintessential beach town. Unadulterated sand combined with well-kept facilities make the city’s beaches some of the best in the world.

Chill among the liberal laissez faire locals, top up your tan, restore your good vibrations, and wash away a hangover with a Mediterranean dip on one of these, Tel Aviv’s most inviting beaches.

Gordon Beach

A favourite with tourists, this wide and clean beach sits next to Tel Aviv Marina. Revellers have been known to roll out of the clubs and onto the beach at dawn.

Hilton Beach

The breakwater here produces a flat sea ideal for swimming. Outside this calm swim zone, moderate waves draw a young crowd of surfers.

Cliff (Tzuk) Beach

Non-residents over the age of 13 are charged an entry fee – accordingly the facilities here are superb, making the short journey out of town worthwhile.

Mezizim (formerly Sheraton) Beach

Made famous by the film Mezizim, this family-oriented beach is convenient to reach via public transport and boasts recently renovated toilets and dressing rooms.

Atzmout Beach

Next to Hilton Beach, Atzmout is Tel Aviv’s unofficial gay beach. Nearby Atzmout Park is a popular place for Tel Aviv’s gay community to meet and date.

Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…

(Image: eytonz)

About the author

Brett AckroydBrett hopes to one day reach the shores of far-flung Tristan da Cunha, the most remote of all the inhabited archipelagos on Earth…as to what he’ll do when he gets there, he hasn’t a clue. Over the last 10 years, London, New York, Cape Town and Pondicherry have all proudly been referred to as home. Now it’s Copenhagen’s turn, where he lends his travel expertise to momondo.com.

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