Jerusalem Beach to Metzitzim: Tel Aviv's Shore

Drop your bags at your hotel and get into your swimwear — the Mediterranean is waiting and there is no time to waste on the first morning.

Jerusalem Beach sits right at the heart of the promenade and is one of the best places in the city to simply get into the water and stay there. Spread out on the sand for a proper sunbed morning, let the waves do what waves do, and take a slow walk along the shoreline before the midday heat arrives.

Steps from the promenade, Mike's Place is a reliably lively spot for a cold drink and a proper meal after a long morning in the water. It sits right on the Downtown seafront stretch, so you barely need to shake the sand off your feet before sitting down.

A short stroll up the promenade brings you to Bugrashov Beach — a favourite with locals who come for the waves and the social, easy-going atmosphere. Find a quiet patch of sand and watch the afternoon drift by.

As the light turns golden and the heat softens, pull up a seat at this seafront bar and watch the sun fall into the water with something cold in hand. The sea view from here is hard to beat as an end to a beach day.

Just inland from Bograshov, Matteo offers a relaxed dinner to close out the first day. After a full day in the sun, the walk over from the promenade feels just right — a chance to slow down, eat well and let the evening take its time.

Start the second morning with a proper sit-down breakfast on Ben Gurion Boulevard before the beach fills up. Eats Cafeteria is a bright, straightforward spot to fuel up for another day on the sand.

Hilton Beach has its own distinct character — broad, open and backed by the hotel gardens, it draws a lively, mixed crowd and tends to have a good energy through the morning. Get into the water early before the sun is fully overhead, then settle in for a long, unhurried stretch of sand time.

Right on Hilton Beach, this is the most convenient lunch stop you will find — no need to leave the seafront. Order something cold and filling, and watch the beach life carry on around you before heading out for the afternoon.

For something different between swims, follow the promenade south all the way down to Jaffa Port — one of the oldest harbours in the world, where old stone walls meet the same Mediterranean you have been swimming in all trip. The walk itself along the waterfront is the thing, with the sea always to your right and the city skyline behind you.

Metzitzim Beach, north of the main promenade strip, feels a little apart from the city crowds and is the perfect place for a final long swim as the afternoon cools. The water here is calm enough to float in, and the light at this hour is worth staying for.

End the whole trip at Mike's Place on Herbert Samuel — a seafront bar and restaurant that sits right on the waterfront with an unobstructed view west. Order as the sun sets, stay as the stars come out, and let that be the note the trip ends on.