Tel Aviv and Jerusalem share only one thing in common: they are both in Israel. Outside of that, the two cities are diametrically opposed in pretty much every way. Jerusalem's history goes back thousands of years, while Tel Aviv wasn't founded until 1909. Jerusalem is full of shrines, artifacts, and a vast history. Tel Aviv is full of beaches, theaters, and a robust economy. But each city showcases a different facet of Israel. Jerusalem is what Israel once was, and a tie to the past. Tel Aviv is what Israel is becoming, with a look towards the future.

Tel Aviv's rise to prominence certainly didn't happen overnight. In fact, as recently as the 1950?s, Tel Aviv was seen as not much more than a concrete wasteland, with dirty beaches and no true city center. But over the past half-century, the city has undergone a striking renaissance. The beaches were cleaned up and made more accessible from any point in the city. Theaters, museums, and restaurants popped up everywhere to cater to an ever more affluent populace.

When visiting Tel Aviv, you will want to start at the beach and head inland. Many of the most popular tourist attractions are located within a four square mile radius of each other right along the coast. As you head further off the coast, you'll find nothing but residential and industrial areas. People watching is a popular Israeli pastime, and while sipping some coffee from your perch in Dizengoff Square, you will have a great opportunity to do just that. The Square is actually a circle above the always busy Dizengoff Street in the heart of the city.

Everywhere in Israel is touched by some kind of history, and Tel Aviv is no exception. The city has incorporated the ancient city of Jaffa, where the prophet Jonah once lived before he even thought about meeting a whale. As you stroll though Old Jaffa's streets, you can see remains dating from the Crusades. The juxtaposition of ultra-modern Tel Aviv and historic Jaffa provides another interesting angle to this Israeli metropolis. Tel Aviv's diversity will interest any traveler, from the history buff to the beach bum to the people person.