Kikar Hamedina

If you plan on doing some shopping in Tel Aviv and look for some luxurious designer shops, high-end jewelry stores and exclusive boutiques, Kikar Hamedina ("the state's square") at the northern part of Tel Aviv is the place you are looking for.

Arguably the most expensive real estate in the country, though having no Tel Aviv hotels around but only residential buildings, Kikar Hamedina offers the highest assemblage of international name brands, including Ralph Lauren, Versace, Chanel and Gucci, in what is considered to be the most stylish, though pricey, shopping area of the city. It offers quite a selection of major American and European designers, but if you prefer to shop in local exclusive boutiques, Helga Designs and Enigma are good places to start. If you have the means and the desire to do some high-end shopping in Tel Aviv, Kikar Hamedina is surely one of your first stops, and probably the only one.

Shops in Kikar Hamedina are scattered around a circular square, which is quite huge in Tel Aviv standards. In the middle of the square is a pretty simple-looking plaza, which can be a nice relaxing spot for a short rest after shopping around for couple of hours. Though it reflects nothing of the high-class atmosphere you'd expect, it was slightly renovated in recent years and except for Hayarkon Park it is one of the only green spots in northern Tel Aviv. For those getting tired of all the shopping action, Kikar Hamedina offers a few small cafes and bakeries that offer fresh pastries. There are only few Tel Aviv hotels in the area. Within a walking distance from this major center for shopping in Tel Aviv, you can visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (27 Shaul Hamelech Blvd.), which is the main art museum in the country and one of the cultural centers of the city. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is visited by more than half a million visitors per year and offers a very dynamic program. If you are an art lover don't miss it, but even if you aren't you would probably appreciate some of the local and international exhibitions, open to the public everyday except Sundays.

Kikar Hamedina area is not a central Tel Aviv hotels spot. It is located within a 20 minutes walk from Adiv hotel Tel Aviv. It is also easily accessible by public transportation, with many bus stops in the nearby Jabotinsky and Arlozorov streets.