Active Pursuits

Beaches

Tel Aviv's seashore is within walking distance of Dizengoff Square. A promenade runs the entire length of the beach. Most beaches have free showers and facilities for changing. The cleanest beaches are behind the Dan and Sheraton hotels (Frishman to Gordon sts.) and at the Hilton hotel.

In a slightly more remote location, the Bat Yam Beach, 4.8km (3 miles) south of Jaffa, is wide and sandy, and gets crowded only on hot Saturdays in summer; the sea here is usually a bit cleaner than in downtown Tel Aviv. From Ben-Yehuda Street, you can take bus no. 10, which begins its run at City Hall. June to September there is an admission fee of NIS 16 ($4/£2).

A word of caution: Swimming at Israeli beaches can be dangerous. The problem is a totally unpredictable undertow that can be hazardous even for a strong swimmer. It's safe, however, to swim at beaches where guards are stationed. Pay attention to the safety symbols along the beaches in the form of small flags. The color of the flag tells the story: Black means absolutely no swimming in the area; red warns you to be especially cautious; and white indicates that the water's fine. Tel Aviv's city beaches are protected in many places by a system of breakwaters and are the safest in the area.

Cycling

Tel Aviv is relatively flat and, in that respect, more bicycle-friendly than the mountainous cities of Jerusalem and Haifa. Drivers, however, are not bicycle friendly. Serious cyclers should check ahead with the Israeli Cycling Federation, 6 Shitrit St., Tel Aviv (tel. 03/649-0459; www.ofanaim.org.il). For bike rentals, try Shuli and Mike's Bikes, 197 Ben Yehuda Street, (corner of Nordau St), (tel. 03/544-2292, www.rentabikeisrael.com); rates run NIS25/hr (US$7.20/£4); NIS60 (US$17.30/£9), up to 24 hours and include helmet and lock; and O-Fun, 245 Dizengoff St. (tel. 03/544-2292); rates run approximately NIS 45 ($11/£5.60) per day from the time you rent until the day's closing time for the shop.

Jogging

The long beachfront promenade, running several miles from the northern end of Jaffa to the Hilton hotel, provides an excellent stretch for urban jogging, without the inconvenience of cross streets and traffic lights. It's busy, which adds an element of safety, and you can stop for a dip in the sea or cool off at the public showers that dot the beaches at various intervals. There is a jogging track at Sportek on Rokach Boulevard (tel. 03/699-0307), at the northern entrance of Tel Aviv. Admission to the track is free.

Boats

Small motorboats, pedal boats, and rowboats are available to rent by the hour on the lake at Yarkon Park, near Yehoshua Gardens (tel. 03/642-0541) at the northern end of the city, daily from 9am to 6pm. Motorboats are NIS 100 ($25/£13) per half-hour; pedal and rowboats are NIS 65 ($16/£8.10) per full hour. Danit Tours (tel. 052/340-0128) does party and group boat tours from the Tel Aviv Marina. Call for information and see if you can join a group ride into the sea.

Swimming

Aviv Beach, midway between Mogravi Square and Jaffa, is designated for surfboarding, kayaking, wind sailing and kite boarding. Contact Surf Point (tel. 03/517-0099; www.surf-point.co.il) for equipment rental and lessons. Surfboard rental starts at NIS 120 ($30/£15); the website is mostly in Hebrew.