Travel guide and things to do in Tel Aviv: The three minute guide

WHY

"Jerusalem prays, Tel Aviv plays," locals in Israel's modern metropolis will tell you. And while it's true that Tel Aviv's defiantly optimistic, seize-the-day attitude is infectious enough to see you hanging up your party shoes long after your bedtime, it's also much more than a good-time city. Set on Israel's Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv also has one of the world's most vibrant beach scenes, is one of world's start-up capitals, and is one of the Middle East's most cosmopolitan cities, bursting with extraordinary architecture, culture, shopping and food. Base yourself in bohemian Jaffa, the ancient port area in the oldest (as in Old Testament oldest) and most energetic part of town.

VISIT

The artists' colony of old Jaffa is the prettiest part of the city, the cobbled laneways dotted with small art galleries, theatres and the makers' spaces. The museum of eccentric Israeli artist Ilana Goor (Mazal Dagim St 4) is a highlight. It houses a beautifully curated collection of Goor's work, alongside other Israeli, European and African art, in the 18th century building that Goor still calls home. Don't miss the sweeping rooftop terrace for incredible ocean views.

EAT

For polished home-style cooking with a relaxed, intimate atmosphere, Halutzim 3 (Ha-Khalutzim St 3) is a small farm-to-table restaurant where flawless share plates, organic local wines and candlelight combine to excellent effect.

LOOK

Walk down Rothschild Boulevard, in the centre of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed area of White City, en route to the beach. Tel Aviv has the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world (approximately 4,000), mostly built by the influx of German Jewish architects who fled to Israel at the start of World War II. Rothschild showcases some of the best examples of these 1930s and 40s buildings, characterized by flowing lines and a lack of decorative details. Unless you're a real enthusiast, a highlights map is useful.