TEL AVIV, WHITE CITY

Israel’s second-largest city – modern, vibrant and cosmopolitan – is one of the country’s greatest assets, a sun-bronzed strip of coastline where coffee and culinary innovation are the local obsessions, where residents speak every language under the sun, and where life is lived outdoors and to the fullest.

The Unesco-listed Bauhaus-era buildings that give the place its popular title of ‘White City’ are a major draw, as is the historic port of Jaffa (Yafo), which has a fascinating Arab heritage. But the city’s real attraction is the local lifestyle. Visitors tend to get into the Tel Avivi swing of things straight away, flitting between contemporary art galleries and chic cafes one day, artisan boutiques and blissfully balmy beaches the next. A few days here is fun, but a week can be a revelation – don’t miss it.