Thousands of music fans descended on Tel Aviv this May when the Eurovision Song Contest was held in the Israeli city.
The city was abuzz with the event, which saw 180 million people watching the contest take place in Expo Tel Aviv in the north of the city. But even without the draw of sequins and cheese, Tel Aviv has earned its nickname of the Mediterranean capital of cool.
Following a five hour direct flight from Londons Luton Airport, I arrived in the city on the day of the first Eurovision semi-final, and instantly rushed to my hotel to prepare, but it was hard to keep work at the forefront of my mind with the glorious weather. Being a beachside town, Tel Aviv pairs the perfect breeze with the Mediterranean heat, with temperatures hitting 33 degrees in the third week in May.
Thankfully, in between Eurovision activities, I got to make the most of the city that I didnt know that much about. The most I knew about Tel Aviv was its proximity to the conflict in Gaza, with tensions between Palestine and Israel ramping up in the weeks before my visit. Political issues are the biggest detractor from wanting to visit Israel, and I did worry that the city itself would feel unsafe.
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However, I felt as safe as Ive ever felt on holiday, and walked around daily on my own without feeling any discomfort.
While there was obviously a higher level of tourists in Tel Aviv, residential areas were still pretty chilled, but walking through them, I didnt feel intimidated.
Walking is what I did a lot of, only figuring out the bus system for trips to and from the Expo and deciding taxis were a bit pricey for my liking.
Everything is pretty much in reach via a walk in Tel Aviv. My hotel – the small but charming Center Chic Hotel in Dizengoff Square – was basically a half an hour from everything, whether that was a leisurely stroll to the Carmel market in the Yemenite Quarter, a bustling market selling everything from clothes to sweets, or the famous Tel Aviv beachfront, which is a must for any traveller.
Where should you stay in Tel Aviv?
Tel-Aviv is seen by many as one of the funkiest cities of the Middle East, so its no surprise the Eurovision Song Content was hotly anticipated this year. Travel site Expedia actually found that hotel searches for Tel Aviv rose by 55% for the Eurovision weekend, showing how the event brings people around the world together.
Whats more, the 14km promenade has great beaches for surfing and sunbathing, meaning most accommodation is walking distance from the sea with a large handful of hotels boasting epic room views.
If you have a good budget and want five star living with all the amenities, Royal Beach Tel Aviv (approx. £220 per night) offers a plush break, with a full-service spa, an outdoor pool and access to a business centre.
If you fancy something smaller and more intimate, opt for a cosy apartment such as the Sea Land Suites (approx. £114 per night). Set on the pedestrianised Ben Yehuda street, the apartment is in a prime spot for exploring local gift shops, wandering around eateries serving traditional falafel or watching street performers.
For something in the middle, try Center Chic Hotel (£138 per room). It also has a great rooftop garden terrace, a living room style lobby so you feel right at home and free bike rental. Not only that, its just steps away from shops and overlooks the iconic Dizengoff Square in the epicentre of Tel Avivs most vibrant district.
Book flights and accommodation on Expedia.co.uk.
The sandy beaches stretch all along the coast, with smaller stretches more suited to families while larger sections prioritise sunbeds or volleyball. But all of them are just minutes away from each other with stunning clear waters, while restaurants and bars line the other side of the road.
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Take another slightly longer walk into the old city of Jaffa, and youll be rewarded with gorgeous buildings and the flea market, which sucked me in with its antiques and fresh sweets for sale.
But when the days of sunning yourself and sightseeing are over, its in the night when Tel Aviv comes alive. Known as one of the more vibrant gay scenes in the Middle East, there are more gay bars than you can shake a stick at, and plenty of them are worth a visit. The scene was better than ever with the Eurovision delegations in the city, with Eurocafe and Euroclub taking over some of the citys biggest clubs including Hangar 11.
But Shpagat, a lively bar that feels welcoming even when youre flying solo, was worth a visit in spite of the Eurovision calendar, with amazing drag shows on nightly. Gay men visiting the city also have a host of parties catered to them – bears can rock up to Tel-A-Beef, while Arisa, Papa Party and Pag all cater for the boys.
However, get ready to empty your pockets if you plan on partying hard.
The prices of drinks was the biggest downside of Tel Aviv, with a pint of lager costing around £7 – and thats just for standard Carlsberg or Heineken.
A night out can easily cost upwards of £50, so Id advise not getting into any rounds. Throw in taxis being typically expensive and many clubs requiring an entry free, and youre looking at a costly social life.
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Happily, these prices dont extend to the food.
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