Hi All,
I’ll be in Tel Aviv for a few days. Can anyone recommend a lap swimming pool in the Tel Aviv metro area? Is there a masters type organization in Israel? I’ve googled with some success and searched ST.
Thanks!
Josh
Gordon pool? It is a salt water pool near the sea. Cold since it is sea fed, but nice. There is a masters group that swims there, but I haven’t trained with them. I have been there as a guest to swim laps on my own. It is near the beachfront hotels, and also near some nice breakfast spots on the beach.
If you aren’t staying in a beachfront hotel, let me know and I’ll try to think of another pool.
Thanks for the resply. Gordon pool looks like a great option. I wonder if the weather will cooporate? Are you familiar with swimming at Tel Aviv University? The website shows a nice pool but I can’t find hours and whatnot. Nevertheless as I’m staying near the beach in TA the Gordon should workout perfectly.
Thank you
I haven’t been to the University pool in more than ten years, but I remember it was indoors, crowded, and harder to get in. It would be a good choice if it is really cold out, though, since Gordon isn’t covered. Gordon is 50m; I don’t think the University pool is. Maybe there is also an outdoor U pool? I have a vague memory of sitting on grass and watching people swim even longer ago. If it is cool out, Gordon should be pretty empty, with just the hard core swimmers present.
Agree with beach front pool on Hayarkon st. YOu pay as you go and its very clean and really nice people in there. IF you near the Azrieli mall there is a indoor gym but you cant just go on, you need ful year membership, forgot the name but maybe you can work a deal with them for the few days your there.
I love swimming by the ocean. when i swam there, it was about 25% were triathletes and they had a group swim there. not sure masters but someone was yelling and telling to go faster lol.
Thank you. I plan on being at the Gordon for a couple morning swims. I appreciate your assistance.
I remember a great breakfast/lunch place there along the boardwalk called Yotvetah (from the Kibbutz of the same name) the greatest salads ever.
So many places to eat. Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder if they’ll have hummus?
Try Labneh when you are in Israel http://mideastfood.about.com/od/dipsandsauces/r/labneh.htm (unless you have dairy issues)
Also, a yogurt called Shamenet, very good.
There are many good restaurants in Yaffo as well.
Oh, let’s talk about food in TA! Yotvata would be great post swim breakfast place. There is a place right next to the Gordon pool whose name I don’t remember, just steps away, that serves a good Israeli breakfast seaside.
For hummus, go to Jaffa and eat at Ali Karavan. There are two now, one on dolphin street, the original, and one in the heart of Jaffa, DK the street name. You could easily run there. It would probably be easily than driving.
Nice to run along the Hayarkon in TA. And best pita in Israel is at Abulafia in Jaffa, just past the end of the Hayarkon trail. My wife will be there in two weeks — she brings home a month’s stash for me.
gordon pool and you don’t even have to go that far into jaffa for Abulafya. Theres one just south of the opera tower just past the traffic circle
Forget yotvetah, go to a real cafe and get some shakshuka and ppl watch like the locals do. Jealous of your trip. enjoy
I remember a great breakfast/lunch place there along the boardwalk called Yotvetah (from the Kibbutz of the same name) the greatest salads ever.
Indeed, but great debate whether the new one is as good as Jaffa 
.
Yes there is one seaside also. Closer to fountain on HAyarkon
rachov shabazi always has the best Chumus. Il be going to israel in a few months to visit family and i hope to do Israman 2014
Thank you all very much. I’m staying at the Hotel Marina across from the Gordon Pool. Hopefully the weather will be nice. I will go to Jaffa for pita. I can’t remember the name of the place but I think it’s Iraqi on the traffic roundabout just inside Jaffa from TA, that place was awesome. Thanks again. I’ll refer to this thread during my stay.
Any bike shops in TA I could visit for souvenirs?
The one just past the traffic circle / clock tower in Jaffa is the original Abulafia — the one I like. As for merc, I haven’t found any good LBS so interested to see what STrs suggest.
Swam at TA University this morning. It is administered by Elite Sports Center. I used the outdoor 50 meter pool in a steady moderate rain. 69 shekels ($18) for a day pass. There are two other pools as well both 25 meters and indoor. Outside temp was 13 celsius, water was probably 80 fahrenheit.
Funny thing that happened was that two guys in my lane asked me what sets I was doing and joined in. Really cool as opposed to the experience in Paris last year which was not as cool.
I didn’t try the Gordon pool since I was told it isn’t heated and I thought I’d opt for the heated pool.
Before I left we decided to swim tomorrow morning.
Time to run along the beach, in January! Awesome!
TA Uni pool is quite decent indeed, and a few top national swimmers do their sets regularly. Zohar Weiss, former near-Olympian (the Moscow Olympics were boycotted when he was supposed to compete) and current triathlete (40+ Age Group Champion) swims his 4km there every morning. Gordon is freezing, but being fresh saltwater (it’s not seawater, it’s pumped from some underground reservoir) makes for great wetsuit practice. It’s definitely swimmable without a wetsuit, but not for those lacking bodyfat. Even in the 30c+ summers I used to underheat if I stopped a set for too long.
If you’re looking for bike-shops, there’s HaHeshmona’im street (near the Cinematheque), with most major shops. From Cervelo and Pinarello to Trek and Cannondale. Across the street there’s an Assos Concept Store, where you’ll find me sitting for the next four hours - cheaper here than in Europe, at times.
If you have a car, Caspi Cycling in northern Tel Aviv (Lea Street 3) is a proper candy-shop for cyclists. Road-focused, they stock exotics like Storck and Parlee as well as ultralight bling like AX Lightness.