Sports & Recreation

SPORTS & RECREATION

Elite Sports Center

The Elite Sports Center serves as the venue for all regular university physical education courses, as well as competitive intercollegiate and Israeli league activities in a variety of sports. Installations include an Olympic-size swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, a basketball court, a running track and soccer stadium. The Goldreich Multipurpose Sports building houses fitness and weight rooms, squash courts and a gymnastics hall. You may purchase a sports pass entitling you to the use of all sports facilities and activities for a nominal fee.

Public Sports Facilities

Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv’s largest public park, is within walking distance of the university. Features include extensive picnicking areas, gardens, a man-made lake, a bicycle path along the Yarkon River, boats for hire, a small children’s zoo and more.

In order to reach the park, walk towards the University Railway Station on the campus’s southeastern side. Cross Rokach Boulevard, then turn left and enter the grounds beyond the parking lot. You will find the following in the park or close by:

• Sportek, the Park Hayarkon sports center, tel. 642-2828, 699-0307.
• Meimadion Water Park in Park Hayarkon (summer only), tel. 642-2777.
• Tsapari Park in Park Hayarkon – Houses several species of exotic birds in a beautiful tropical garden setting, tel. 642-2888.
• Minigolf, 56 Rokach Boulevard at the corner of Haifa Road, Ramat Aviv, tel. 699-0229.

Other Local Attractions

• Bowling Tel Aviv, 124 Ibn Gvirol St., Floor -3, Tel Aviv, tel. 523-1222, 523-7004(7005).
• The Safari Park – Spacious safari park with zoo and petting corner, Ramat Gan, tel. 631-2181.
• Israel Tennis Center, Ramat Hasharon, tel. 645-6666.

Beaches

Tel Aviv has excellent public beaches with changing rooms, restrooms and cafes right on the sand. Beach chairs and parasols are available for a small fee. For more information, including directions, please visit the following link: http://www.tel-aviv-insider.com/beaches-north.php.

Shopping Centers

The closest shopping center to the campus is the Ramat Aviv Mall, which is a five-minute walk from the university’s main gate, at 40 Einstein Street, tel. 642-6612. The mall has two large supermarkets and two levels of shops, restaurants, cafes and cinemas.

Other options in Tel Aviv are:

• Dizengoff Center, 50 Dizengoff St., tel. 621-2416.
• Azrieli Center, off the Ayalon Freeway, tel. 608-1400.
• Opera Tower, right on the water at 1 Allenby St., tel. 510-7496.
• Gan Ha'ir, designer boutiques, 71 Ibn Gvirol St., tel. 527-9111.

Tel Aviv has a number of colorful and lively bazaars, or outdoor markets, which are open from early morning to early evening Sunday through Friday. While it is less customary to bargain on food prices, it is acceptable to try for a discount on clothes and house-wares. The word in Hebrew for bazaar is shuk.

• Shuk Hacarmel – The largest and best market for fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, meat, Asian and other specialty foods, cleaning supplies, inexpensive clothes and every other consumer item under the sun. Begins at the corner of Allenby and King George Streets.
• Nahalat Binyamin – An arts and crafts market held every Tuesday and Friday with live music and entertainment. On the Nahalat Binyamin pedestrian-only street, right off Allenby Street and parallel to Shuk Hacarmel.
• Shuk Bezalel – Discount clothes. Off King George St., very close to the corner of Allenby Street.
• Levinsky Street – A wonderful street market for spices, nuts, dried fruit, etc.
• Flea Market (Shuk Hapishp’shim) – Second-hand clothes, furniture and general household items, located in Jaffa.