From north to south, Tel Aviv is filled to bursting with sweet shopping enclaves. Each neighborhood pocket has independent Israeli boutiques, local brands, secondhand shops, jewelery designers, and more. While there are massive malls, with their ice-cold ACs blasting into big-box chains like Zara, H&M and Mango, the more singular and interesting shops will be found on the streets (and that goes for the cool people-watching as well).

You may want to start on Allenby Street, not so much for its shops (which mostly hawk basics like tank tops and flip flops), but because it's a transportation hub, and just a 10-15 minute stroll from better shopping streets, like Nachlat Binyamin which is known for crafts stores and vintage shops; the boho Sheinkin which has trendy, independent boutiques; and King George, a long stretch with varied merchandise, from alternative shops selling hippy/festival garb to others selling sneakers and comics. Other notable shopping destinations include Shabazi Street in Neve Tzedek for French brands, art galleries and jewelry; Masaryk Square and Levontin Street for independent Israeli designers; Basel Compound which has a number of adorable shops for kids’ shoes, clothes and toys. Heading up and down Dizengoff Street you will find numerous shops by Israeli designers, plenty of housewares, cute shoe shops, and cafes and ice cream stops for when you need to take a retail break. Then there is also Tel Aviv Port filled with a mix of kids’ shops and activewear outlets, and HaMedina Square, best known for its temples of luxury (brands like Gucci and Dior). Depending on where you lay your head for the night, any of these areas across the city offer an eclectic mix of shopping, strong coffee, great eats, and the distinct vibrancy of Tel Aviv.

We have individual reviews of the top markets in town (including Carmel Market, pictured above). Surf to those from our index page.

Art

Tel Aviv’s Gordon Street district is the center of serious art in Israel. Gordon Street and the cross streets, from Ha-Yarkon to Dizengoff streets, are almost wall-to-wall galleries and distinctive shops. The trendy Neve Tzedek neighborhood, in south Tel Aviv, and the nearby, shady, Rothschild Boulevard, with its superb restaurants, are also becoming art districts. Most galleries open Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm and 5 to 8pm.

Bookstores

If you’re looking for English reading material, especially fiction, Halper’s Quality Used Books, 87 Allenby St. (tel. 03/629-9710), is the mother lode, with at least a quarter of a mile of used, reasonably priced books on its packed shelves!

For a great selection of brand new books with thoughtful English sections, head to HaMigdalor (18 Mikveh Israel St; tel. 03/686-8225), and Sipur Pashut (36 Shabazi St; tel. 03/5107040), which are both independent booksellers in fun shopping neighborhoods.

There is also the very reliable and well-stocked Steimatsky (109 Dizengoff St. tel.077/269-9932) chain with branches across the country.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.