Although the city of Petah Tikva (Israel) is only a 20-30-minute drive from the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, it is not a resort. As a rule, people come here in two cases: to improve their health in local medical centers, and at the same time see the sights of the city, or to enjoy a vacation in Tel Aviv, significantly saving on rental housing.
The city of Petah Tikva is located in the central part of Israel, in the Sharon Valley, a little closer to the east of Tel Aviv.
The history of Petah Tikva began in 1878, when a small group of immigrants from Jerusalem established the agricultural settlement of Em-a-Moshavot. In 1938, 20,000 people already lived there, and in 1939, a new city-Petah Tikva-appeared on the maps of Israel instead of the settlement of Em – a-Moshavot. Since that time, the city began to develop and grow rapidly, absorbing several nearby settlements.
This is interesting! The first stanza of Herz’s poem “Our Hope”, dedicated to the creation of the Em-a-Moshavot settlement, became the Anthem of the restored State of Israel.
Modern Petah Tikva is the 6th largest city in Israel: its area is 39 km2, and the number of inhabitants exceeds 200,000 people.
Petah Tikva Clinics
This city is sometimes called the “Empire of Health”, because it takes an active part in the state program for the development of medical tourism. Qualified specialists of well-known medical centers provide effective assistance to patients from all over the world who come here for treatment.
Rabin Medical Center (also known by its old name – Beilinson Clinic) and Schneider Children’s Clinic are of the greatest interest in terms of foreign medical tourism.
Yitzhak Rabin Medical Center is one of the TOP 3 best multidisciplinary medical centers in Israel. This institution specializes in cardiac surgery, orthopedics, organ transplantation, and cancer treatment. Rabin’s MC was awarded the JCI International Certificate for its high safety and excellent quality of treatment.
The Schneider Pediatric Clinic is the largest medical facility of its kind not only in Israel, but also in the entire Middle East. The clinic performs complex organ transplants and minimally invasive interventions (robotic surgery), treats oncology, orthopedic and cardiological diseases.
Travel through the city streets
Not having a large number of entertainment venues, not having beaches with golden sand, not having world-famous attractions, Petah Tikva in Israel is still quite an interesting city.
Rather unusual are the houses built in the 1950s, when it was necessary to urgently settle the repatriates. These are typical “Khrushchev buildings” located very close to each other, but standing not just on the ground, but on stilts. Mini-parks with a variety of vegetation and children’s playgrounds add special comfort to such areas. In general, there is a lot of greenery not only in the old districts, but also throughout the city: palm trees, cacti, campsis and hibiscus bushes, citrus trees.
Interesting! On the streets of Petah Tikva there are many sports grounds with exercise equipment. Anyone can study there at any time, and completely free of charge.
Founders ‘ Square is the main city square where monuments to the founders of Petah Tikva are located. There is also a beautiful fountain and an unusual memorial in memory of the agricultural past. An original monument of modern art is located nearby – there are many monuments here, on each “circle” in the intersection, sometimes completely unusual.
City Hall
Another Pitah Tikva square is located near the city hall. In the center is a figure of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, but it is unlikely that any of the locals will be able to explain what the Pied Piper from Hamelin is doing here. Next to it is a beautiful balloon made of plastic bottles and serving as a symbol of respect for nature. Right in front of the entrance to the municipality there is a monument to the Four Mothers – a fountain with figures of 4 women.
Interesting! Petah Tikva is the only city in Israel where there are real red London phone booths. There are 10 of them in total, they are located in various parts of the city. They were installed at the beginning of the XXI century. So, while relaxing in Petah Tikva in Israel, you can take a photo of London!
Hayar Ozer and Rothschild Street
On the main street of Haim Ozer, convenient and completely non-standard shops attract attention. Made of concrete and lined with ceramic tiles, they look like they were taken from the famous Park Guell in Spain. All in the same style, but different, these benches enliven the street. Match them and trash cans, also decorated with shards of broken glass and ceramics.
Another local attraction is the Baron Rothschild Arch. It was built at the very entrance to the city, as a symbol of the main gate to Petah Tikva (in Hebrew, this name means “gate of hope”). During its existence, the city has grown, and the Arch was almost in the center.
Interesting! The famous Jabotinsky Street, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, starts from the Baron Rothschild Arch. This street runs through the entire city, and it also stretches continuously, connecting 4 cities: Petah Tikva, Ramat Gann, Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv.
Across Jabotinsky Street is a string bridge (the brainchild of the famous architect Calatrava), which has the shape of the English letter Y. Supported by a 31st steel string, the bridge creates a feeling of weightlessness, as if it is suspended in the air.
Market
The Petah Tikva market is especially loved by locals and popular with tourists – only one market in Israel can compare with it, Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda. The Petah Tikva market has its own special life, where you can fully experience the color of the city and the people who inhabit it. Here you can buy any product, and much cheaper than in stores: food, aromatic spices, shoes, clothing, jewelry.
Parks and museums
The Art Museum is the most visited cultural institution in the city. It features more than 3,000 exhibits, including paintings by famous Israeli and foreign artists. In addition, the museum often organizes temporary exhibitions, displaying works by young artists.
In the Museum of Human Development, you can view an exhibition about human anatomy and physiology, as well as about the interaction of people with the environment.
Ramat Gan National Park, where there is a duck pond, and Raanana Park, where peacocks and ostriches live, are ideal for walking.
Since 1996, Petah Tikva has had a small zoo and a zoological museum. Aviaries in the zoo are designed so that animals and birds can be observed very close. For children, the zoo has a playground with carousels, slides, swings.
Children can also go to iJump (address Ben Tsiyon Galis St 55, Petah Tikva, Israel), where they can enjoy jumping on trampolines. It is better to come on weekdays and during working hours, when there are fewer people. In order not to stand in line on the spot, it is advisable to fill out a questionnaire about the health status of children and permission to participate in jumps on the site in advance. By the way, it is also better to buy tickets through the site, so it turns out cheaper.
Excursions
After exploring all this not too big city, you can go on an excursion to any neighboring one. For example, in green Ramat Gan, or other cities in the Gush Dan agglomeration. As for the distance between Petah Tikva and Tel Aviv, it is so small that a regular bus covers it in just 25-30 minutes. In addition, there are numerous tourist offices in the city that organize excellent excursions to almost all the sights of Israel.
Places to stay in Petah Tikva
Hotels in Petah Tikva are not as numerous as in the resort cities of Israel. But they are quite competitive in terms of the level and quality of service, and the cost of renting housing in this city is much lower than in neighboring Tel Aviv.
Hotels in Petah Tikva can be found for any level of affluence, and approximate prices in high season are as follows::
- Luxury rehabilitation hotel 5* Top Beilinson offers double rooms starting from NIS 1,700 per day.
- All the benefits of civilization are also available in 4* hotels, but they cost less: from 568-610 shekels for a double room in Etty’s House boutique Hotel and Prima Link Hotel.
- Comfort and amenities are also guaranteed in 3* hotels, and at very attractive prices: in Rothschild Apartments, a room for two costs from 290 shekels.
In Petah Tikva (Israel), you can also rent an apartment, paying for it daily, every week or monthly – this depends on the agreement with the owners. You can rent one of the Star Apartments (approximately NIS 351 per night for two people)– under this name they offer a certain number of apartments in different parts of the city that belong to the same owner and are converted into apartments. For a large company, you can consider this option: Sweet and cozy two-bedroom apartments on the roof, designed for 7 people, they will cost 1,100 shekels.
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