The Trail of Independence: Tracing the origins of modern Tel Aviv

(27 reviews)

Tel Aviv audio tour: The Trail of Independence: Tracing the origins of modern Tel Aviv

This is a 0.4mi walking tour

It takes an average of 40 mins to complete.

Tel Aviv

Israel

$9.99

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About the Tour

Tel Aviv is a city of many shades and contrasts. But where did it all begin? Join me on this historical tour as we walk in the footsteps of some of the founders of Tel Aviv, such as Ben Gurion and Meir Dizengoff. We’ll stroll along Rothschild Boulevard, tracing the Israeli Trail of Independence. This is the incredible story of the first Jewish city in the world, that was founded in 1909, and turned in recent years into the heart of the Startup Nation. In this tour we discover the secrets behind the preserved houses, including the Hall of Independence - the place where the state of Israel was founded, as well as the Hagana Museum and Ben Nahum Hotel.

You'll also hear about:

How Tel Aviv was born out of the sea
Who was the sheriff of Tel Aviv
Why did the first school of Tel Aviv vanish
What was life like in the early years of Tel Aviv
Where the story of Israel and the story of Tel Aviv come together

Let's seek out the origins of this bustling old-new city and discover how the past always informs the present in Israel.

Please note the tour does not include entrance to any of the sites.

Tour Producer

Tomer Chelouche

7 tours

Father of two and Tel Aviv tour guide since 2008.

My family was one of the founding families of Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, they didn't leave me any real estate so I guide tours instead.

I love to tell people about this amazing city. Join me and I hope you'll enjoy all that Tel Aviv has to offer!

Preview Location

Location 6

Dizengoff House

Stop here, next to the equestrian statue at 16 Rothschild Boulevard.

Look to your right to view the statue and the house behind it.

Here we meet the Sheriff of Tel Aviv. Sort of…

Meir Dizengoff settled in Jaffa around the same time as Akiva Arye Weiss. Interestingly,... Stop here, next to the equestrian statue at 16 Rothschild Boulevard.

Look to your right to view the statue and the house behind it.

Here we meet the Sheriff of Tel Aviv. Sort of…

Meir Dizengoff settled in Jaffa around the same time as Akiva Arye Weiss. Interestingly, if you were to ask a local whether they heard of Weiss - the man with the plan, the person who envisioned the establishment of Tel Aviv - you’d probably get a puzzled expression. But every Tel Avivian will know the immediately recognizable name of Dizengoff.

A smart businessman and cunning politician, Meir Dizengoff took the lead from Weiss when construction of the first houses in Tel Aviv began. He served as chairman of the Tel Aviv council, responsible for every public aspect of city life - infrastructure, sanitation, education, welfare and economic development. When Tel Aviv expanded and was recognized as a city, independent of Jaffa, Meir Dizengoff was elected as the first mayor.

As the first mayor of Tel Aviv, Dizengoff seized the opportunity to transform a picturesque suburb of Jaffa into the urban heart of the Zionist endeavour, the financial and cultural arena of the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. If we were here at the beginning of the 20th century, we could have seen Dizengoff riding on his horse in the streets of Tel Aviv, making sure everything was going according to plan. In his strolls, he also had a habit of picking up a kid he thought was unhappy and giving him a fun ride. Can you imagine that?

Meir Dizengoff and his wife, Zina, had no kids. He cherished Tel Aviv as if it was his own child. To many, he was the “father of the city”. When he passed away in 1936, he bequeathed his house, right here, on 16 Rothschild Boulevard, to the city. That’s how Dizengoff House became the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

In 1948, the head of the Jewish Agency, David Ben-Gurion, designated as a prime minister to be, chose the Tel Aviv Museum of Art as the place to read out the Declaration of Independence. On May 14th 1948, as the British Mandate was coming to an end, Ben-Gurion stood in the big hall of the museum and declared with his roaring voice: “the establishment of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, to be known as the State of Israel”.

The very place where Tel Aviv started - the house of the first mayor - is exactly the same place where Israel started. The establishment of the city of Tel Aviv and the establishment the state of Israel are two stories intertwined, right here.

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art moved to a different location in the 1970s. Since then, Dizengoff House is a museum for the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Inside is a recreation of the ceremonial hall used by the Founding Fathers of Israel - the Hall of Independence.

When you’re ready, turn left and keep walking up Rothschild Boulevard, along the brass stretch embedded in the pavement. Our next stop is right ahead - that’s the monument for the city founders. Read More

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Major Landmarks

מזרקת נחום גוטמן
Dryfus Statue
בית עקיבא אריה וייס
Shalom Meir Tower
הקיוסק הראשון של תל אביב
Rothschild Blvd 9
שביל העצמאות
Independence Hall (Dizengoff House)
פסל - דיזנגוף רוכב על סוסתו
Founders Monument and Fountain
The Hagana Museum
Benedict
Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Rothschild Blvd 7-3, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Total distance

590m
Final location
Allenby St 110, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Distance back to start location

333.91m

Directions to Starting Point

Gutman’s mosaic fountain is located at 3 Rothschild Boulevard. Situated right at the heart of Tel Aviv, it might be within walking distance from where you are located. The area is well served by taxis and buses, or you can rent an e-scooter and navigate your way to the starting point.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The area is filled with galleries and museums, as well as cafes and restaurants. Here you can find your favorite cuisine, which ever it may be. During night time you can join the party-goers to check out the clubs and pubs scene in the area.

Best time of day

A walking tour in Tel Aviv is best done in the morning hours or late afternoon, to avoid the heat. Most sites are also well lit during night time. The area is quite busy around the clock, but if you prefer a more quiet atmosphere aim for Saturday morning.

Precautions

Watch your step as you cross roads.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”