Overview

The gorgeous city of Herzliya is a popular weekend destination from Tel Aviv, just 20 minutes drive this sparkling beachside buzzing city can be reached for a great getaway. The city is divided into two portions, split by the highway with Herzliya Pituach in the west, an upmarket beachfront neighborhood boasting some of the best beaches, restaurants, and bars in the country. On the east side of the highway is the Herzliya city where the IDC University campus, the bustling city center, and popular restaurants and bars are found.

Herzilya Pituach is one of Israel’s most famous beaches and home to the country’s wealthiest residents and foreign ambassadors. It is also the leading high-tech industry hub in the country home to companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. Pituach means development. The city was founded in 1924 named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of Zionism, it began as a small agricultural community and has changed over the years with the unexpected growth of Tel Aviv. The popular beaches here are home to Israel’s most famous beach resorts, the luxury Herzliya Marina, a string of beachfront restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars.

This beachfront, waterfront luxury neighborhood is studded with fine hotels, expensive cliffside villas, and apartments where great restaurants abound where the high-income earners reside. Beachcombing, swimming in clear blue waters, beach activities, and water sports are among the favorite daytime activities here, followed by a fine dining experience, and then a lively night out on the town.

The affluent port city boasts a prime sailing and maritime community in its lively marina where over 800 yachts and boats are docked. Herzliya is home to historic, ancient, archeological sites and ruins as well as an excellent Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Founder’s House museum. The heart of the city center leads to an interesting authentic urban lifestyle.

Things to see and do

Visit the beautiful beaches of Herzliya, these are among the most spectacular beaches in the country and one of the main reasons locals and tourists visit the town. The shores are coated with soft white sand perfect for sunbathing and relaxing and then taking a dip in the glistening blue waters of the Mediterranean. The beaches are great for activities including water sports such as surfing, diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, and boating, there are many opportunities for boat rides out of the beautiful marina.

Apollonia National Park and Beach is a wonderful place bordered by a cliff where the national park is located. Visitors can discover the archeological remains from the Phoenician village of Arsurf the Roman, Byzantine Crusader city, an impressive fortress that dates back to 1250. Climb up to the balcony of the fortress and discover the beautiful panorama of the Herzliya coastline. The park is filled with beautiful landscapes, walking tracks, and unique flora and fauna making it a great destination for a day outdoors. Apollonia Beach is a great beach to lounge on and soak up the sunshine and Mediterranean waters, the perfect escape for a day of relaxation.

Sidna-’Ali Beach (Nof Yam) is named after the historic 15th century Sidna Ali Mosque that is perched high on a ledge 328 feet above sea level, named after a soldier from Saladin’s army, who fought against the Crusaders in 1250 and was killed on the hill where the mosque now stands. The mosque is the only remainder from the old Muslim village of Al-Haram where the tomb of the soldier is housed, prayers and a religious school are currently held in the mosque.

The Hermit House is located here, a real-life sandcastle built into the cliffside by the owner and hermit Nissim Kahlon. The entrance to the home is made out of recycled tires, bottles, broke plates, and other debris that has washed ashore, there are chambers and passageways through the rock Kahlon has resided here for over 40 years. A strange yet unique and aesthetic place to discover.

The dazzling Herzliya Marina is a hugely popular destination in the city with picturesque views lined by luxury hotels, the Arena shopping mall, fancy restaurants, bustling bars, quaint coffee shops, and a sprawling waterfront promenade. The promenade is a great place to go shop, dine, and relax over a meal or cocktails while taking in the breathtaking views.

Park Herzliya is a beautiful verdant park spread over 180 acres with expansive lawns for lounging and picnics, a barbeque area, a stage and natural amphitheater, a lake, a natural pond, a playground, and a small petting zoo. This spectacular natural environment features recreation and popular sports, walking paths, a 3,937-foot bike path connecting with other bike paths through the city, a mountain bike track, and a dedicated 1-mile track dedicated to runners.

Sharon Reserve is a top-rated sight in the city boasting some spectacular sea views and a great destination to connect with nature with some peace and quiet. There is a beautiful trail through the reserve great for walking, jogging, and cycling with a refreshing sea breeze visitors can take in the views from the cliffs with unobstructed views of the sea.

The Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art is a spectacular museum to explore filled with a multitude of genres including paintings by Israeli artists, photography, and architecture with a special emphasis on installation and digital media. There are four exhibitions held each year along with other rotating exhibitions showcasing 50 solos and the work of veterans and up-and-coming artists relating to current events. There is also a sculpture garden and on Saturday visitors can take a free guided tour when they buy an admission ticket to the museum.

Maris Sailing School is situated in the Herzliya Marina and offers a full-fledged skipper course that teaches students everything they need to know about getting their skippers license. The course combines practical sailing instruction with theory lessons, visitors can try it for a day and the school offers three-hour sailing lessons on a yacht for up to four passengers. You can also rent yachts here for special occasions and there is a luxury yacht with a bedroom for overnight rentals.

The Afeka Caves are an archaeological site with a hiking trail through a Samaritan burial ground dating to the 4th and 5th centuries. This is a beautiful site to visit during the springtime when the daffodils are in bloom, a great place to sit back and relax with a picnic and absorb the surrounding views.

The Founder’s House or Beit Rishonim is a historical landmark in Herzliya located next to the city hall. Visitors will find a small park here and a museum the houses archives from the lives of the early Jewish settlers. A great place to visit to learn about the history of the city.

Shopping

Herzliya has a wide array of shopping options including malls, shopping centers, store-lined boulevards, and more. The malls in the city are excellent and filled with brand named stores, dining, and entertainment options some of the best malls to check out include Arena Mall is a luxurious mall boasting a prime beachfront location featuring glass walls in a tranquil environment with shops offering the finest brand names in fashion, jewelry, and accessories. The mall is inspired by the streets and squares of Italy. The 7-Star mall was built in 2000 and is one of the top 5 leading malls in the country located in the Ha Sharon district covering a large area of land featuring 136 stores emphasizing fashion and entertainment with a wide range of restaurants, coffee shops, fast food options, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a go-cart track, playground, and a large supermarket. The mall regularly hosts food fairs, workshops, and festivals. The Herzliya Outlet Mall opened in 2002 is located in the posh Herzilya Pituach area, a small open-air mall with around 35 businesses operating here selling fashion and more at cheaper prices. The city center of Herzliya is filled with falafel stores, coffee shops, and other stores including souvenir shops. Sokolov is the main street in the city center offering a very clean and colorful destination for shopping with sparkling lights at night.

Food and Nightlife

There are a large number of fancy restaurants in Herzliya, many found in the Herzliya Industrial Zone, Herzliya Marina, and in the posh district of Herzliya Pituach. You can find every type of cuisine in the city with restaurant chains such as Giraffe featuring delicious Asian food, Max Brenner is known for its tasty chocolate and milkshakes and iconic “bald man” logo, sweet sugary chocolate specialties here include the chocolate ‘syringes’ and the decadent chocolate pizza. Herbert Samuel’s is the iconic restaurant located at The Ritz-Carlton in Herzliya one of the most celebrated kosher dining options near Tel Aviv, chef Mor Cohen, and Herbert Samuel specializes in seasonal fare offering an innovative menu enhanced by their open kitchen concept where diners can see the chefs at work.

The city offers a wide range of cuisines and dining options and experiences including Indian, Mexican, Italian, Western, Japanese, Chinese, and Mediterranean options. The city caters to a diverse range of tastes and needs however, dining in Herzliya is on the more expensive side. There are great options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as romantic dinners with some popular restaurants such as Segev, Benedicts, Pizza Roma, and Asia. The De Shalit Square is a pleasant quaint plaza that is surrounded by snack shops, ice cream parlors, small restaurants that cater to locals and tourists alike. The New Industrial Center in the city is where some of the more expensive and inventive restaurants and people from all over the country come here to experience some of the best dining experiences in the country. Many of the top restaurant choices here also have locations in Tel Aviv.

There are several excellent seafood restaurants with prime real estate locations dotted along the Herzliya Pituach beachfront. Located right at the Herzliya Marina including Derby Bar which serves up some of the freshest, most delicious seafood in Israel, serving up hefty portions of salads, appetizers, and main courses. Segev offers luxurious dining at its finest serving up beautiful dishes made by world-class chef Segev Moshe in a floral designed interior with a spectacular ambiance. Try some decadent mushroom risotto and buttery foie gras along with elegant cocktails and international wines. Sebastian is nestled in the heart of Herzliya Pituach with homey decor, a cafe/brasserie caters to a variety of diners with low-key brunches, and posh dinners. The restaurant features a wraparound bar in the middle with friendly, attentive staff.

Herzliya comes in second for central nightlife destination in Israel following behind Tel Aviv featuring some of the most happening with beachfront bars, upscale lounges, retro bars, pubs, clubs, and dance bars dotted all around the city. Herzliya Pituach is the upscale beachfront around with a number of laid-back open-air bars boasting the most spectacular views of the beach, water, and a prime location for enjoying a spectacular Herzliya sunset. The industrial area on Maskit Street and Shenkar Street features some of the best bars in the city, and the Herzliya Marina is a great place to dine, drink, and dance, a bar hopper’s paradise. The city is a vibrant hub for nightlife with exclusive, calm, and upscale venues such as Theodore, which is named after Theodor Herzl who gave his name to the city and is portrayed on the pub’s logo. Located on Harishonim Street off the traffic circle between Chen Blvd and Tchernichovsky Street, it can be a little hard to find. The pub serves some light food and drinks, it is housed inside a quaint old movie theatre with a large screen playing all the football games. MacLaren’s is a cozy bar named after the American TV show “How I Met Your Mother” with two stories and some outdoor seating, the bar offers great food, a wide selection of beers on tap, and live music. Check out the Yam Bar and the Yama for some casual drinks, fun parties, and events. Surfers may want to check out the Shama Ze Po where the local surfers meet up. Bourbon Street is a New Orleans-themed restaurant and bar featuring live music, live performances, sports broadcasting with 17 beers on tap, and a great menu with deep-fried specialties. Zappa is named after the great Frank Zappa boasts high-quality productions like live shows and more. Douglas is a happening establishment that offers a great nightlife experience, a playground so to speak built with many corners and pathways with a huge bar that spans the length of the entire club surrounded by upscale lounge areas, several VIP rooms, and entertainment systems.

Beaches

The beaches in Herzliya are simply beautiful, some of the best in Israel boasting soft white sand and sparkling blue waters. The largest beach in the city is Accadia Beach, which is located by some of the best restaurants and bars in the city. The beaches here are great for surfing and The Reef Surfing and Diving Center is a great place to learn how to surf and dive. The gazebo is a restaurant and bar as well as a water sports club where visitors can enjoy surfboards, catamarans, paddle boarding, and kayaks which are available for rent, and lessons are offered. Apollonia Beach is a wonderful beach bordered by a cliff and part of the Apollonia National Park where visitors can discover the archeological remains of a crusader city with an impressive fortress built around 1250. Sidna-’Ali Beach is named after the historic Sidna Ali Mosque, which is perched on top of a cliff, the beach’s entrance is marked by the Hermit House, which was built by Nissim Kahlon out of tires, bottles, broken plates, and other debris that has washed ashore.