Jaffa

Jaffa is a historic coastal quarter perched on a raised cliff south of central Tel Aviv, with cobblestone streets, stone staircases and houses built from ochre-coloured blocks. The area spreads across several levels from the harbour quay to the hilltop, overlooking the sea and surrounding bay.

The harbour settlement developed from the Bronze Age as a port city and trade post between Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean. Over the centuries the quarter was reshaped and expanded by Romans, Byzantines and Ottoman rulers.

The quarter name derives from the Hebrew word Jaffa, which traces back to its phonetic pronunciation. Visitors today see narrow passages with studios, stone walls and local café terraces where residents from different religious communities gather.

The walk from the clock tower at Yefet Square to the summit takes about 20 minutes, with steep sections remaining manageable. The lanes are lively during the day, quieter in the evening, and the harbour area remains accessible most of the time.

A wishing tree stands in the lanes near the historic harbour quarter, where visitors attach notes and personal messages to its branches. The metal sculptures in the quarter squares depict biblical figures and scenes from ancient harbour history.