Start the day with a Middle Eastern breakfast of hummus and pita bread by Jaffa Port, then soak up the atmosphere as you explore this ancient city that long predates Tel Aviv. Next, venture to the Jaffa Flea Market, an intoxicating warren of street stalls, cafés, bars, boutiques, and restaurants, where you can buy everything from ancient irons and Arabic brassware to vintage clothes and antique wood carvings (the market closes on Saturdays). For lunch, enjoy a seafood feast on the golden sands of laid-back Alma Beach.

During the 1930s, Jewish refugees fled en masse from Germany to Tel Aviv, bringing with them the modernist Bauhaus architectural style but adapting it to the desert climate. UNESCO has recognized the White City that they built, with over 4,000 structures, as a World Heritage Site; be sure to explore some of the highlights on a walking tour. After architecture, turn your attentions to the spectacular geometry of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, home to a world-class collection of works by the likes of Max Ernst, Vincent Van Gogh, and Wassily Kandinsky.

Tel Aviv’s nightlife scene is the region’s buzziest, with beautiful people partying until dawn in cafés, bars, and clubs and on rooftops—and you’d be remiss not to join in. Load up on hearty Israeli fare at the eateries in and around Carmel Market, then head for the bright lights of the city center. Lively Dizengoff Street offers something for almost everyone, from beer gardens to classy cocktail joints, and makes a great place to start the evening off. Later, make a beeline for the rooftop bars that spring up across the city every summer.