LES PLAGES DE TEL AVIV

The number 1 activity in Tel Aviv is, of course, the beach. Every Saturday, the crowds take over the sandy area, complete with cooler, cocktails and transistors. It's an experience in itself. Each beach is unique. And everywhere, you can hear the incessant knocking of matkots, Tel Aviv's inevitable beach snowshoes. They've undoubtedly become an emblem of the Tel Aviv lifestyle.

The most popular beaches are Bograshov and Yerushalayim Beaches, as well as Frishman and Gordon Beaches. The latter attract a more family-oriented, tourist population and boast good facilities. Beach volleyball is very popular. A little further north are the Hilton and Sheraton beaches, which are well-equipped and attract tourists from the nearby major hotels. Hilton is unofficially the LGBTQ+ beach. It has an air of Santa Monica with its outdoor sports facilities. Just to the north, you'll find a religious beach, reserved for women on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and for men on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (it's mixed on Saturdays). Finally, Metzitzim Beach, just before the port of Tel Aviv, is very family-friendly.

Heading south from the center, you'll arrive at Banana Beach, a favorite with matkot players, then Drum Beach, where the city's most rootsy population gathers. You can also admire the surfers' show when the wind is up. Just before reaching Jaffa is Alma Beach, the bobo beach par excellence. More peaceful than the other beaches, it has the disadvantage of being unsupervised. Be careful, though: this is the Mediterranean, and the currents can sometimes be violent. Finally, Givat Aliyah Beach is Jaffa's beach, located in the Ajami district. Here you'll find good restaurants and a very special atmosphere. It's one of the city's most beautiful beaches, wilder but also more dangerous, with particularly strong waves on windy days.

There are flags on the beach, which are changed according to the weather. The white flag means that swimming is permitted, while the black means that it's forbidden. In general, the beach is empty at this time, and if you're feeling rebellious and want to take the plunge anyway, be warned that lifeguards will call you to order with a megaphone. The red flag means that swimming is dangerous. In that case, a word of advice to "swimmers-who-have-seen-others-and-the-Mediterranean-is-a-big-flake": go and cool off in a pool instead...