Formalities
No visa required for EU citizens. To enter Israel, all you need is a valid passport (preferably valid for another 6 months). Your tourist stay may not exceed 3 months, and you are perfectly free to telework on the spot during these 3 months. However, if you want to stay longer, you'll need to apply to the Ministry of the Interior for a resident visa. Please note, however, that the Jewish community in the Diaspora has priority. If you have stamps from Arab countries in your passport, find out before you leave whether this will be a problem on arrival.
Good to know
Language. In Tel Aviv, Hebrew and Arabic are spoken. However, French is also spoken (due to Tel Aviv's French-speaking Jewish community) and most residents speak English.
Time difference. One hour ahead of France, in winter and summer alike. When it's 8pm in Paris, it's 9pm in Israel.
Currency. You pay in shekels in Israel. 1 € = about 4 shekels.
Public transport. Cars are not recommended in Tel Aviv, as the streets are very congested. Public transport is the best option, especially as it is well developed in and around Tel Aviv. You can easily get around by sherut (shared cab) or bus. However, you can also get around on foot if you're staying in the city center, or by bike. Tel Aviv has many bicycle paths, including along the seafront, so cycling is the ultimate way to get around.
Cost of living
Tel Aviv is one of the most expensive cities in the Middle East, especially when it comes to housing. The cost of living in Tel Aviv is the same as in Paris.
Some price ideas in Tel Aviv: a simple meal in a cafeteria or snack bar: €8-10; a meal in a good restaurant: around €40; a night in a 3 to 4 star hotel: €80-200; average rent for a studio in Tel Aviv: from €900; price of a one-month prepaid package with unlimited calls in the country and 4G package: from €20, then you have to top up the package as you go along; shared office in a coworking space: from €280 per month; coworking café rate: from €20 per day.
Neighborhoods
It's easy to find your way around Tel Aviv, which was built according to a modern urban plan: a large number of neighborhoods were laid out in a grid pattern, with the exception of the oldest districts. The waterfront was used as a base to create parallel boulevards, themselves intersected by large perpendicular streets. So once you've memorized the names of these axes, you're in the bag!
Downtown. This is one of the liveliest districts, and you'll find everything you need to get around on foot. It's also home to Tel Aviv's financial and business center, which stretches from Avenue Rothschild to Rue Allenbi. Nomadic business people will particularly appreciate the downtown area.
Neve Tzedek. Neve Tzedek is an inexpensive and popular suburb with street art, lively bars and restaurants. Its colorful old buildings give it an artistic and historic touch. It's the perfect neighborhood if you need peace and quiet, but also plenty of entertainment during your stay as a nomadic worker.
Jaffa. Jaffa is the oldest part of Tel Aviv and the birthplace of the city. Today, it's a lively tourist district, with flea markets, cafés and several markets. Nomadic workers who love the typical, inspiring atmosphere will love Jaffa, and can easily work in the cafés on site.
Florentine. Located to the south of the city, this is a former industrial zone that has been completely rehabilitated. In a way, Florentine has become Tel Aviv's Soho. It's a young district with a vibrant nightlife, lots of street art and bars. Nomadic workers in the arts or design love it. Finally, Florentine is more affordable than Jaffa or downtown.
Lodging
For accommodation in Tel Aviv, you'll find apartments for rent on the usual rental platforms (Airbnb, Booking, etc.), but there are also Israeli platforms like City Service(https://city-service.com/long-term/) or Holy Guest(http://holyguest.com/) that offer apartments for rent in the city.
Work
Tel Aviv is the capital of the start-up nation. The big names in technology have set up shop here, and towers are springing up like mushrooms! Unsurprisingly, the same applies to coworking spaces, which can be found almost everywhere in Tel Aviv. Among the best coworking spaces in the city, we recommend Urban Place. However, rates are higher than elsewhere in the world. Note: you'll easily find free wifi access points in the city.
Daily life
Shopping. There's no shortage of supermarkets for food shopping. The best-known are 24h/24 and Supersol. For fruit and vegetables, head to Shuk Akarmel, where you'll be spoilt for choice and can also buy spices and local specialities. For clothes, the city's malls such as Ramat Aviv Mall or TLV Fashion mall will do the trick.
Washing clothes. If you want to do your laundry, don't worry: there are plenty of laundromats in Tel Aviv, and prices are similar to those in France. You can expect to pay €5 to wash and dry your clothes.
Health and insurance. Israel's healthcare system is good, and the quality of care is high, but it's very expensive. It's imperative that you take out health insurance as a nomadic worker, as neglecting to do so could lead you straight to ruin... Health care in Israel is just as expensive as in the USA.
Eating out
In just a few years, Tel Aviv has become an internationally renowned gastronomic destination. Not only does it boast a rich and refined local cuisine, but also a creativity that draws on outside influences. Tel Aviv's chefs draw from all the world's fridges: the Orient, Europe, Asia... Recently, however, there has been a return to the fundamentals of Israeli cuisine, notably street food and the famous falafels. This culinary dynamism also goes hand in hand with a high turnover: the offer is constantly evolving and new restaurants open their doors every year.
Get some fresh air / change your mind
The beaches. Tel Aviv's beaches, which stretch from north to south, are a breeding ground for activities. Water sports, of course, and numerous stores along the beaches and in the marina rent out equipment and offer courses in sailing, diving and kitesurfing. And don't forget: Gordon and Frishman beaches, just a stone's throw from the town center, are very popular with the French Jewish community, where you're sure to make some friendly acquaintances.
Thingsto see/do. Tel Aviv is not a monument city like Paris, Rome or Jerusalem: it's a city just over 100 years old. But it remains singular in the country's unique context. And while Tel Aviv invites you above all to live and feel, it also has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing. It's Israel's cultural heart, and it's here that you'll find the very best in contemporary art. Not to mention the city's historical heritage, from the Bauhaus to the Jaffa and Neve Tzedek districts and Bialik Square.
Most of the city's attractions are concentrated in the center and hyper-center. There's no need to go to the residential areas, except to see an exhibition at the remarkable Diaspora Museum (Beit Hatfutsot) in Ramat Aviv.
Going out. If you're a hard-working nomad who likes to party, you'll love Tel Aviv! Dubbed the "city that never sleeps", it's renowned for its festive nightlife. The cosmopolitan emblem of the country, Tel-Aviv caters to the desires of all night owls. The metropolis boasts countless bars, cafés and nightclubs, each more trendy than the last. From metal clubs to avant-garde theater, classical music concerts to contemporary ballets at the opera... it's all here! And it's worth noting that Tel Aviv's nightlife is virtually non-stop, especially on Fridays, as Saturday is a Sabbath holiday. The southern part of the city is the most festive, although there are other entertainment areas, notably at the port (Hanamal) or on Dizengoff. Among the cult parties not to be missed, "Arabs do it better" is the epitome of hipness. It's an evening concept offering a new interpretation of Arab music, blending traditional sounds with contemporary electronic music. They take place about once a month in Jaffa and are a big hit with young people. They are open to all, Jews, Arabs, of all sexual orientations and genders, and the bewitching electro-Arab sounds are the perfect mix.
Getaways
Jerusalem. Thanks to the high-speed train linking Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, it will take you just 50 minutes to get from one city to the other. Jerusalem is a mythical city that you absolutely must visit during your stay as a nomadic worker in Tel Aviv, especially if you've never been there before. At the end of the streets of a modern city lie the thick, crenellated walls of a medieval castle, built by Suleiman the Magnificent (1495-1566). Behind these gates lies Jerusalem's Old City, where you'll find Orthodox Jews striding towards the Wailing Wall, Greek and Armenian priests marching in procession, Ethiopian women draped in their long white shama, and Arab children cycling down the streets past IDF soldiers... You can spend a few days in the city that is holy to all three monotheistic religions, wandering from district to district, from museum to monument, from synagogue to church and from church to mosque. Take time to wander the streets, the souks, the trendy bars of the New Town and the lively Arab town to the east.
Haifa. Located 100 km from Tel Aviv, Haifa is Israel's third-largest city, the capital of the North and its most important port. A modern industrial city, Haifa is also the spiritual center of the Baha'i religion. Don't miss a visit to the magnificent gardens surrounding the Bâb sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Carmel. The city is also packed with interesting museums. It's easy to get to Haifa from Tel Aviv, and you're sure to enjoy its relaxed lifestyle.
