Tel Aviv may not be Israel’s capital city or the first city that comes to mind when thinking of the country, but it is certainly the most exciting… in my opinion, at least. Sure, Jerusalem offers tons of history and is a definite must-visit, and Haifa has impressive sights as well, but Tel Aviv is like those cities with the speed turned all the way up. It’s bustling, energizing, wheelchair friendly, and there are plenty of things to do in Tel Aviv for everyone, making my list of top wheelchair vacations. Whether you want to relax at the beach or party until the wee hours of the morning, when trying to find what to do in Tel Aviv, you’ll be set.
At the end of my trip to Israel, after visiting many notable cities, I was asked if I could see myself moving to any of them and if so, which one? Without hesitation, I said Tel Aviv. Wondering what to see in Tel Aviv? Here’s my Tel Aviv guide to 6 wheelchair accessible things to do in Tel Aviv that will make you fall in love with this city just as much as I did –
What to Do in Tel Aviv
Hilton Tel Aviv Beach
While beaches are a wonderful and relaxing place for most, they can be a bit tricky for wheelchair vacations. However, this Tel Aviv beach is not tricky at all. In fact, it’s one of the most accessible beaches in all of Israel so put this at the top of your list of what to do in Tel Aviv. This beach is located at the Hilton hotel in Tel Aviv, but it is a public beach so you can enjoy it whether you are staying at this hotel or not.
Wheelchair users will be happy to learn that there are two beach wheelchairs available at this Tel Aviv beach, on a first come first served basis. You won’t have to stay on the sand in this beach wheelchair because they can even be rolled into the water. If you want to stay in your own powered wheelchair though, you can still get very close to the water thanks to a long ramp that stretches all the way down the beach. The ramp ends just a few feet from the water. There are also several covered cabanas, all of which are accessible, so if you get too hot just head to the shade for a while.
Hilton Beach truly impressed me with its accessibility. I’m a big fan of Hilton properties, and this was another example of the company going above and beyond for wheelchair vacations.
Carmel Market
This is an outdoor market that really made me feel like I was in the Middle East and is a must on any Tel Aviv guide. When imagining an Israeli market, I thought of a crowded area with plenty of food and gift vendors… and that’s exactly what Carmel Market is. Wondering what to do in Tel Aviv to get the best souvenirs? Just visit Carmel Market and practice your haggling skills!
As the largest market in Tel Aviv, it is completely accessible and you can easily spend a few hours here just strolling around, people watching, and eating. If you visit on a hot August day like I did, enjoy a fresh juice at one of the stalls, but be sure to request extra ice if you want it to be cold. When I ordered, we only got about two pieces of ice in our drink and that melted away within minutes.
Lastly, try to visit Carmel Market on a Tuesday or Friday. On these signature days, independent artists sell unique crafts, art, and jewelry along Nahalat Binyamin Street. Their works were quite impressive and I even watched a band performing at one point. It was a very lively atmosphere on a Friday afternoon, making it one of the most entertaining things to do in Tel Aviv.
Sarona Market
Perhaps the hustle and bustle of the Carmel Market isn’t really your thing. If not, head over to the fully accessible Sarona Market and you will certainly be satisfied.
This market is pretty much the complete opposite of Carmel Market in many ways; it seemed to be more relaxed and it’s indoors, making it a nice refuge from the heat and a must for this Tel Aviv guide. What makes it similar though, is that it does offer many wheelchair accessible shops and food stalls. In fact, it has 91 different stalls and restaurants, with some seriously good looking foods. I tried a pomegranate lemonade from a juice bar and some gelato, and they were both delicious. Again, plan to be at this market for a couple hours of exploring and eating.
I think it is worth recommending that you should visit both the Sarona Market and Carmel Market. It gave me a good perspective on Tel Aviv by visiting both, and I can’t say that I like one better than the other. They’re both fantastic in their own special ways and some fantastic things to do in Tel Aviv.
Port of Tel Aviv
As one of the trendiest spots in Tel Aviv, this is a must-visit during wheelchair travel to the city. The port has over 150,000 square feet of space, with a wooden deck that covers the promenade and is right along the seafront and another Tel Aviv beach. There are many well-known shops including Adidas and Castro, and plenty of restaurants as well. Although, my favorite thing about this port was just rolling along and taking in the views of the sea. In fact, I loved the Tel Aviv Port so much that I visited it two days in a row. It makes the top six list of what to see in Tel Aviv.
If you will be in Tel Aviv between June and late August, consider attending Kabbalat Shabbat by the Beach. This is a “welcoming of the Shabbat” service that starts at 6:30pm, so you’ll have an incredible view of the sunset. There is excellent live music and the songs are actually still stuck in my head, even though they were in Hebrew. Attending this service was one of my favorite things that I did in Israel (and I’m not even Jewish). It was just moving to see everyone celebrating together.
Port of Jaffa
More historical than the Port of Tel Aviv, the Port of Jaffa offers something different for visitors to the city. If you’re still wondering what to see in Tel Aviv, add this to the list. This port has a fascinating history spanning thousands of years, and it was even mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. There are many restaurants and cafes at the port now, and it is also a popular area for fishing, so if you’re trying to determine what to do in Tel Aviv, this offers something for everyone.
Since it is historical, some parts of it are cobblestoned. However, the area with the shops and restaurants is perfectly smooth and wheelchair accessible. If you can endure the bumpy cobblestone for just a little while though, it’s worth it to follow the signs toward the ‘View of Tel Aviv’. It is a bit of a rough ride, but you will have the best view of the Tel Aviv skyline and the Mediterranean Sea as a reward.
Nalaga’at Center
My last, but certainly not least, suggestion of what to do in Tel Aviv is the Nalaga’at Center, located at the Port of Jaffa. I can promise that it’s an experience like you’ve never had before and a must for any Tel Aviv guide on the best things to do in Tel Aviv.
It is a nonprofit center of culture and arts, and a meeting place for deaf, blind, deaf-blind and the general public. My evening at the Nalaga’at Center started with dinner at the signature restaurant Blackout. As the name suggests, customers dine in complete darkness to make their other senses fully awaken. This experience really helped me to understand what our waiters lives must be like on a day to day basis, as we were served by blind waiters. Our waitress, Ruth, did an impeccable job and guided me to our table by saying, “turn slightly to the right, now slightly to the left” until I could feel the table in front of me. I could not even see my hand in front of my face it was so dark. It was great getting to know our waitress and to top it all off, the food was superb. This was truly an “eye opening” experience that will forever stay with me.
After dinner, we went to the theater, which is also in the Nalaga’at Center, and saw the play ‘Not By Bread Alone’. It was performed by deaf, blind, and deaf-blind actors. I’ve been a theater nerd forever and have seen dozens of plays, but this was by far my favorite one ever. I laughed, I cried, and it moved me in such a way that I am forever changed from it. If you visit one place and want to know what to do in Tel Aviv, make it the Nalaga’at Center!
Things to Do in Tel Aviv
As you can see, Tel Aviv is a wheelchair friendly city and there are plenty of things to do in Tel Aviv. Whether you prefer relaxing on the Tel Aviv beach or the hustle and bustle of the markets, I’m sure that you will fall in love with what to do in Tel Aviv just as much as I did. I hope you enjoyed this Tel Aviv guide for wheelchair vacations!
Check out this Fodor’s guide for more general travel information on things to do in Tel Aviv.
*Thank you to the Israel Ministry of Tourism and Israel4All for making this trip possible. While some activities were complimentary, all opinions are authentic and my own. Tel Aviv really is just that amazing!
Hi Cory,
I just stumbled upon your site. I’m very impressed Hilton Beach had beach wheelchairs. I wish it was a standard thing in all beaches. Looks like you had a great time. After reading your post, I think I’ll put Israel on my list of places to visit. 🙂
One of my very good friends is in a wheelchair and loves to travel. Just being with him, I’ve seen the difficulties he faces due to inaccessible places. Living in Europe, I often think about how so many of the countries are generally difficult for people to get around, whether in a wheelchair or with walking difficulties. I’m going to send my friend a link to your site. I’m sure he’ll find it a very good source of information.
Leah recently posted…5 Ways to be a Better Tourist in Paris
Thanks for sharing my site with him, Leah! And please let him know that if he has any questions, feel free to reach out. 🙂
Wow that beach wheelchair looks like great fun to me. It’s good to know that there’s plenty to do in a wheelchair. Beautiful sunset too
Hi Cory! Great tips on Tel Aviv. Just love those beautiful markets. Also great to see that there’s some companies, like Israel4all, that organize accessible tours.
I’m so glad to see that there are accessible places in this world for people with disabilities. It should be a normal thing, but unfortunately, we don’t see them everywhere. Port of Jaffa looks beautiful!
Bella WW recently posted…Quick Guide to Niagara Falls
You give such a great perspective. Those sites you chose can be enjoyed by anyone including those in wheelchairs like yourself. I never knew that Tel Aviv was such a bustling city which so much to do.
Travelwith2ofus recently posted…What little we know about Ecuador and why it is so amazing
You had me at Sarona and Carmel Markets. I can just about smell all the different spices and mixes of foods! It would seem like a no-brainer for all beachfront hotels to have beach wheelchairs! What a simple solution that would make a huge difference to those who need it.
Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie recently posted…12 Terrific Things to Do in Brasov Romania
I’ve heard fantastic things about Tel Aviv and I feel that it’s important to keep reminding people about the great places to visit in Israel, and not to be scared by conflicts and uncertainty there. Looks like a tropical paradise in fact!
It is great to see that it is wheelchair friendly. I can imagine that not all places are perfect to discover with a wheelchair 🙂
I love the perspective that you give on travel and the list is fantastic for anyone to do! The beaches, the market, the views from Port Jaffa, all great experiences in Tel Aviv. A friend of mine recently moved out there and keeps urging me to visit and after having a sneak peek through your list I think I may have to 😉
Melissa Jones recently posted…10 Awesome things to do in Swansea Bay
I heard indeed that Tel Aviv is the best city in Israel and that you should really go and see it. My mother went there as a kid and kept on talking about it, so I’d love to visit one day…