14 Best Sights in Tel Aviv, Israel

This small, intimate-feeling marina (one of the most ancient ports in the world) is home to bobbing wooden fishing boats and a waterfront of restaurants, cafés, and a small number of art galleries. Some of its warehouses have been converted into public spaces for rotating art exhibits. From here, enjoy a fish lunch or a snack from one of the food stalls, and then hop on a boat for a cruise along the city's coastline.

Commonly known as Manta Ray Beach (for the outstanding restaurant that sits right on the beachfront), Alma Beach is one of those under-the-radar spots that attracts more locals than tourists. Smaller than the sprawling beaches in the city center, Alma Beach is within easy walking distance of the charming Neve Tzedek and Jaffa neighborhoods, enticing residents to pop down for a quick swim before or after work. For those with more time to spare, modern conveniences are available, from sun loungers to umbrellas and public toilets. If you get peckish, Manta Ray's deliciously fresh seafood dishes are literally steps away. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

From Kedumim Square, a number of large boulders can be seen out at sea not far from shore. Greek mythology says one of these (pick your own, everyone does) is where the people of Jaffa tied the virgin Andromeda in sacrifice to a sea monster to appease Poseidon, god of the sea. But the hero Perseus, riding the winged horse Pegasus, soared down from the sky to behead the monster, rescue Andromeda, and promptly marry her.

Completed in 1906, in time to mark the 30th anniversary of the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, this eye-catching limestone spire marks the entrance of Jaffa. The stained-glass windows from 1965 depict events in Jaffa's history. The centuries-old buildings around the square have been carefully restored, preserving their ornate facades. Since Jaffa was a major port in Turkish times, it's not surprising to find the Turkish Cultural Center here.

Israeli-born architect Ron Arad designed this striking, much-acclaimed structure made of rounded ribbons of orange-and-red steel that rises off a drab street like a modernist mirage. Inside is a two-story space with changing exhibits on contemporary design, including fashion, jewelry, and textiles. English-language recorded tours are available for free. A good café known for tasty pastries and cakes is located at the entrance. The museum is in Holon, a suburb south of Tel Aviv that is easily reachable by taxi.

Tucked behind the shops along Jaffa's Clock Tower Square is the El-Mahmoudiye Mosque, whose hexagonal minaret and pink-granite-and-marble fountain can be seen from the square. When Turkish governor Muhammed Abu Najat Aja built the fountain in the early 19th century, it had six pillars and an arched roof. The fountain's foundation is still visible in the parking lot west of the minaret. The mosque is closed to the public, though you may be able to sneak a peek through the ornate carved doors on the western side into the spacious restored courtyard. The archway on the south side formed the entrance to the hammam, or old Turkish bath.

Veteran Israeli artist Ilana Goor works and resides in this restored 18th-century house with romantic stone arches and high ceilings. She's turned part of it into a museum showcasing more than 500 works of art—both from Israel and throughout the world—including her own works. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, video art, ethnic art, antiques, drawings, and design items. A gift shop occupies part of the complex. Every Friday at noon, a guided tour is available to all visitors, covered by the museum admission fee.

One of many small bazaars surrounding the clock tower in the mid-19th century, the Jaffa Flea Market is the only survivor of that era. Along the cobblestone streets you can find everything from European antiques to Israeli memorabilia. As some antiques sellers close their doors with no family to continue the business, chic design boutiques are arriving and shifting the Flea Market neighborhood to an upscale vibe. The market's main street is Olei Zion, but there are a number of smaller streets and arcades to explore. Watch the locals bargain, and do what they do: never agree to the first price a seller demands. Combine the Flea Market's shopping and cafés with the Old City of Jaffa for a relaxed half-day stroll.

The focus of Kedumim Square is an archaeological site that exposes 3rd-century BC catacombs; the site has been converted into a free underground visitor center with large, vivid, illustrated descriptions of Jaffa's history. A labyrinthine network of tiny alleys snakes in all directions from Kedumim Square down to the fishing port; a good selection of galleries and jewelry stores can be found south of the square around Mazal Dagim Street.

Although the white bricks of St. Anthony's (also known as San Antonio's) look new, this church actually dates from 1932, when it was built to accommodate the growing needs of Jaffa's Roman Catholic community. The church is named for St. Anthony of Padua, friend and disciple of St. Francis of Assisi.

Jaffa is famous as a meeting point of East and West, and as soon as you step into this century-old Franciscan church you'll find yourself steeped in a European atmosphere. St. Peter's was built over the ruins of a citadel dating from the Seventh Crusade, led by King Louis IX of France in the mid-13th century. A monument to Louis stands at the entrance to the friary. Napoléon is rumored to have stayed here during his Jaffa campaign of 1799. To enter, ring the bell on the right side of the door; you will probably be greeted by one of the custodians, most of whom speak Spanish and some English.

Seven archaeological layers have been unearthed in a part of this park called Ramses II Garden. The oldest sections of wall (20 feet thick) have been identified as part of a Hyksos city dating from the 17th century BC. Other remains include part of a 13th-century BC city gate inscribed with the name of Ramses II; a Canaanite city; a Jewish city from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah; Hasmonean ruins from the 2nd century BC; and traces of Roman occupation. At the summit is a stone sculpture called Faith, in the shape of a gateway, which depicts biblical stories.

On the grounds of one of Israel's finest science research centers, the Weizmann Institute's indoor Levinson Visitors Center and the open-air Clore Garden of Science are educational and fun for kids of all ages. Experience how it feels to walk on the moon and climb on or through dozens of other interactive exhibits that explain various scientific phenomena. Also worth a visit is the glass-and-steel Eco-Sphere, which houses educational exhibits on the environment. Call ahead for reservations and guided tours. By car, the institute is about 40 minutes from Tel Aviv. Bus routes 174, 201, 301, and 274 take about an hour from central Tel Aviv. The train takes about 35 minutes; it's a 15-minute walk from the train station.

Think of Yefet as a sort of thread between eras: beneath it is the old market area, while all around you stand schools and churches of the 19th and 20th centuries. Several deserve mention. At No. 21 is the Tabitha School, established by the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1863. Behind the school is a small cemetery where some fairly prominent figures are buried, including Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, the first to define Hodgkin's disease. No. 23 was once a French Catholic school, and it still carries the sign "Collège des Frères." At No. 25, the fortresslike Urim School was set up as a girls' school in 1882.