Just east of Tel Aviv, lies the big city of Ramat Gan, which is one of the biggest economic centers of Israel. Though it is sometimes considered to be the older and less appealing sister of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan has plenty to offer by itself, for those who are looking to escape the crowds and see a different side of Israel. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Ramat Gan.
The History of Ramat Gan
Archaeological remains from the Copper and Bronze Ages were found on the territory of the Ramat Gan, going back as far as 5,000 years ago. However, this area was abandoned for thousands of years, and the town of Ramat Gan was established in 1921, by residents of Tel Aviv who were troubled by the density of their city. It started as an agricultural town, but started to grow very quickly, and eventually became a city in 1950, when it had about 60,000 residents.
Today, there are 150,000 residents in Ramat Gan, which is considered to be a major economic center. It serves as the location of the Israel Diamond Exchange, several high-tech companies, and Bar Ilan University. Ramat Gan’s nickname. the City of Gardens stems from the fact that 25% of the city consists of parks or gardens.
Best places to visit in Ramat Gan
Ramat Gan Safari
The Ramat Gan Safari is the only safari in the country and is considered to be the most diverse zoo in the middle east.
The safari has a huge variety of animals, with over 1,600 animals from all over the world, including 68 species of mammals, 130 species of birds, and 25 species of reptiles. During your visit here, you’ll see elephants, giraffes, different types of monkeys, and much more.
One of the best safari experiences is driving with your private vehicle among the different animals in an open area. Here, you can get close and see the animals in their natural environment. In addition, the lions’ area, located at the edge of the safari, is a very unique experience, enabling you to drive with your private vehicle in a large open area around the lions.
A visit to Ramat Gan Safari is a great experience for the whole family. It is completely wheelchair-accessible and is very convenient to walk around because it is almost completely flat. In addition, since it is a very large area, you can also rent golf carts and use them to get around here. You can spend several hours to at least half a day in the safari, depending on your walking pace and the number of stops you make.
Operating hours:
Sunday-Friday: 9:00-16:00
Saturday: 8:30-17:00
Entrance fee:
Tickets purchased online: 89 ILS per person
Tickets purchased at the gate: 99 ILS per person
Ramat Gan National Park
The Ramat Gan National Park is the second largest park in Israel and the first to be established in the country, which is why it was named the National Park. The large park of Ramat Gan offers a great entertainment option for all ages, with a combination of several attractions for children, in a natural atmosphere next to the city. So if you are looking for an easy city getaway, a picnic in the open nature, or a nice, free attraction for children, Ramat Gan Park is a great place for that.
In the heart of the park, you can find a lake where you can rent boats for sailing. An accessible boardwalk runs around the lake and is surrounded by lawns, picnic tables, outdoor gyms, playgrounds, impressive fountains, and colorful flowers that decorate the landscape. Probably the biggest highlight of the park is the large collection of sculptures, made by the well-known sculptor Menashe Kadishman, which is displayed throughout the park.
The Museum of Israeli Art
The museum is located in a historic industrial building, which was converted in the 1980s to display exhibitions of modern Israeli art. The museum’s collection includes about 800 works in a variety of fields, including sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs, and more. The exhibitions presented in the museum focus on topical issues concerning society and culture in Israel and on universal issues that are at the heart of the contemporary discourse, alongside tribute and research exhibitions of a historical nature.
Operating hours:
Monday and Wednesday: 10:00-16:00
Tuesday: 12:00-20:00
Thursday: 10:00-18:00
Friday: 10:00-14:00
Saturday: 10:00-16:00
Entrance fee:
Adults: 40 ils; kids: free.
Napoleon Hill
The beautiful Napoleon Hill, offering a great nature getaway in the heart of one of the busiest areas in the country, is named after the French general Napoleon Bonaparte, who camped here with his troops in 1799, while he was laying siege to Jaffa. Napoleon Hill is most impressive in September when you can see plenty of blooming Drimias here.
Nightlife and shopping in Ramat Gan
As a big, central city, Ramat Gan features several great areas for shopping and nightlife enthusiasts. Here are some of the most popular of them.
Bialik Street
Bialik Street is the symbol of the city center of Ramat Gan. It is named after Israel’s national poet, Haim Nachman Bialik. The entire street is adorned by mature ficus trees and architecture enthusiasts will identify historic Bauhaus and International style buildings here. Along the street, there are plenty of shops, with some being decades old and some just recently opened. Those include plenty of restaurants and bars, alongside shops selling clothes, toys, and jewelry, bookstores, and more.
Hasafsal Bar (the Bench bar)
In addition to the impressive selection of alcohol that Hasafsal Bar offers, the bar is also an energetic and lively entertainment place, with live performances, screening of sports games, and plenty of backgammon boards, for those who want a more active time at the bar. Hasafsal also offers a varied and popular food menu, but the real entertainment here is the people and the vibe.
The Sheldon Bar
The Sheldon is a place with a slightly higher pace than the other quiet local pubs of Ramat Gan and is considered to be a great place to go out with friends, get to know others, and have a good conversation.
The Sheldon bar rewards its visitors with a party atmosphere, with contemporary mainstream music, beloved dishes on the side, and a variety of drinks.
