The Best Ways To Save Money On Your Trip To Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is not a cheap city, that’s a well-known fact. And yet, there are affordable ways to enjoy a vacation in Tel Aviv filled with activities, good food and fun.

Here are useful tips that will help you save money while visiting this vibrant metropolis.  Authentic Affordable Food Possibly the most authentic cuisine in almost every city in the world can be found in street food restaurants and that’s also true for Tel Aviv.

One of the best places for street food in the Nonstop City is Shuk HaCarmel (Carmel Market), where you can also find anything from spices and fresh produce to clothes and toys. Try Shmuel Kebabs for some mouthwatering meats and a shot of Arak; the unbelievably tasty and extra thin Druze pita made by Druze women on the spot with your choice of filling; or a plate of the humble and delicious hummus in Hummus HaCarmel, Shlomo & Doron, Kalabuni Hummus or any other hummus joint in the market. There are so many other affordable culinary gems in this market so all that’s left for you to do is go for a walk and choose.
In other places around the city you can find inexpensive authentic food like falafel, shawarma, sabich, bourekas, jachnun and traditional Eastern European Jewish cuisine.

Getting Around

Tel Aviv offers a variety of alternative transportations and you can now get around the city using both environmentally friendly and affordable transport.
You can rent a bicycle through Tel-o-Fun, the city’s bike rental system that has about 200 rental stations across the city. The rental rates are 17ILS a day, 48ILS for a three-day access or 6ILS for a journey of up to 60 minutes. The best thing is that the first 30 minutes are free so you might even be able to use Tel-o-Fun free of charge, depending on where you’re going. At the end of the ride you’ll need to return the bicycle to any one of the Tel-O-Fun stations.

Another option is the electric scooters, available for rent through a dedicated app on an hourly rate. Unlike Tel-O-Fun, you won’t need to return the scooters to a specific station – you can just ride them wherever you wish and leave them at your destination. BIRD is the largest company offering scooter rental services but new ones are constantly popping up and if you want to use any of them, all you need to do is download their app and follow its instructions.
In addition, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality offers a car share rental service called AutoTel, for which you pay by the minute. To save you precious time looking for parking, AutoTel cars have their own parking spots all around the city, which makes them a very efficient and comfortable transport option.

If you prefer public transport, there are three different bus companies operating in the city – Dan, Egged and Metropoline. Buses are frequent and affordable and the fares are paid with an electronic ticket called RavKav, which you will need to purchase in advance.

Activities

The most popular free activity in Tel Aviv is of course the beach, but there are plenty of other affordable things you can enjoy.
Park Hayarkon is the largest park in Tel Aviv and it’s the perfect place to spend a few hours or even a day cycling, walking, picnicking or boating on HaYarkon River.
Walking through the city is another great way to spend your day exploring historic sites and architecture, especially in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood or the Old City of Jaffa, with its charming alleyways and eclectic Flea Market.

Finally, you can find affordable events and shows around the city by visiting the Tel Aviv Jaffa city’s website.