Elegant Rothschild Boulevard (Sederot Rothschild) cuts through the heart of Tel Aviv’s UNESCO-listed White City. This is one of the city’s busiest cultural and nightlife districts. Modern skyscrapers rise above traditional Bauhaus buildings, which double up as restaurants, shops and upscale residences. Splitting Rothschild Boulevard into two sections is a central garden, where locals meet to chat and linger at coffee shops.
The boulevard curves north from the Neve Tzedek district. See the Founders Monument and Fountain, which celebrates the creation of the city and is engraved with the names of its pioneers. Close to here is Independence Hall, where Israel was declared as an independent state in 1948. Learn about the formation and role of the Jewish Yishuv defense force via multimedia exhibits at Hagana Museum.
Find independent art galleries that exhibit and sell work by Israeli artists. Sommer Contemporary Art showcases the talents of Moshe Kupferman and Naama Arad, among others, via rotating expositions. Look for four ceramic murals by Ze’ev Baban that decorate a house at the intersection of Allenby Street.
From typical Jewish bakeries and ice cream parlors to Asian and Italian cuisine, your dining options are varied. Continue your boulevard experience late into the evening at cocktail bars, pubs and stylish clubs, where international DJs play to packed dance floors. If you prefer a more laid-back visit then observe the action from a bench in the central garden.
At its northern end, the boulevard converges with Habima Square. Purchase tickets for a show at Habima Theatre, a Hebrew-language theater established in Moscow in the early 20th century and relocated to Tel Aviv in 1928. Also on the square is the Charles Bronfman Auditorium, the main venue for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. At the opposite end, the neighborhood of Neve Tzedek is popular for its fashion boutiques.
Public buses and sherut shared taxis connect with Rothschild Boulevard from all across the city. Bike lanes and footpaths flank the gardens. There are also stations for Tel Aviv’s bike-sharing system, which is available to tourists.
