Ben Gurion International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

The Israeli train connects Ben Gurion to the centre of Tel Aviv in 15-20 minutes, with departures every 15-30 minutes from 5 to midnight, but no service from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset for Shabbat: for anyone staying more than one night, the beach or the centre are almost always the right choice, with the Herbert Samuel promenade and Rothschild Boulevard just steps from HaShalom station. Things change on Friday evening and Saturday, when with no trains only the taxi is left (20-30 minutes depending on traffic), and with stopovers of just a few hours, it is better to stay near the promenade rather than risk the Shabbat closures. Those looking for the sea head for the promenade hotels, those who prefer bars and nightlife choose Rothschild and the centre.

The promenade and the beach

Neighbourhood · From Ben Gurion station the train reaches HaShalom in 15-20 minutes; from there the promenade is about ten minutes on foot or a short taxi ride.

Best for: Travellers who want the beach right outside the hotel and the Herbert Samuel promenade on foot, accepting a few extra minutes to reach Rothschild and the centre.

Pros

Direct access to the beach and the Herbert Samuel promenade from the area's hotels
The artists' quarter and Jaffa within walking distance along the promenade

Cons

A tourist area, so prices are higher than in the centre
On Friday evening and Saturday, with no trains, a taxi from the airport is needed

Recommended hotels in this area

Hilton Tel Aviv Hotel: Inside Independence Park, with direct access to the public beach and the promenade; an outdoor seawater pool and several kosher restaurants.
Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv Beach by IHG: On HaYarkon Street, a short walk from Gordon Beach; a private beach and a spa are among the most mentioned points in reviews.

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Rothschild and the centre

City centre · From HaShalom station, Rothschild Boulevard is 15-20 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride; the same 15-20 minute train journey from the airport applies.

Best for: Travellers who want bars, restaurants and the Bauhaus architecture of the White City without straying from the centre, accepting that the sea is not right outside.

Pros

Rothschild Boulevard, with its UNESCO World Heritage Bauhaus architecture, a short walk from the area's hotels
Nightlife and restaurants concentrated within a few blocks

Cons

The sea is 15-20 minutes on foot, not right outside the hotel as on the promenade
A central area with traffic and noise late into the night on weekends

Recommended hotels in this area

Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center by IHG: Inside the Azrieli Center, about a 17-minute walk from Rothschild Boulevard; an indoor pool, a spa and a health club are among the strengths reported by guests.
65 Hotel, Rothschild Tel Aviv - an Atlas Boutique Hotel: In a round Art Deco building on the corner of Rothschild and Nahmani, in the heart of the White City; a panoramic rooftop terrace is among the most mentioned points in reviews.

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Neve Tzedek and the marina

Neighbourhood · The same 15-20 minute train journey to HaShalom, then another 15-20 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride to the southern end of the promenade.

Best for: Travellers who want the city's oldest and quietest neighbourhood, halfway on foot between the beach and Old Jaffa.

Pros

The Neve Tzedek neighbourhood, with cafés and boutiques, a few minutes on foot, and the marina right below the hotel
Old Jaffa reachable with about a 25-minute walk along the sea

Cons

Further from the trains to the airport than the centre or the northern promenade
Some street-side rooms reported as noisy in reviews

Recommended hotels in this area

InterContinental David Tel Aviv by IHG: At the southern end of the promenade, above the marina and a few minutes on foot from Neve Tzedek and Old Jaffa; breakfast is among the most praised aspects in reviews.

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