Old Jaffa (Kedumim Square and the Old Port quarter)

Old Jaffa is the ancient port quarter at the southern end of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited harbour towns in the world. The district is centred on Kedumim Square, a stone plaza on the hilltop where excavated remains, a visitor centre and the 18th-century Franciscan Church of St Peter overlook the Mediterranean. From the square, visitors descend through a maze of limestone lanes with names taken from the zodiac, past artists' studios, small galleries, jewellery workshops and restored Ottoman-era houses. The Wishing Bridge, a footbridge crossing set with the twelve zodiac signs, and the Ottoman clock tower at the entrance to the quarter are among the most photographed landmarks. A walk of two to four hours covers the main sights comfortably: the Abrasha Park viewpoint with its sweeping view north toward the Tel Aviv skyline, the Jaffa Lighthouse and the old harbour with its fishing boats and seafood restaurants. Architecture is the main draw. Arched passages, stairways, courtyards and flat roofs built of local kurkar sandstone give the quarter a character entirely distinct from the Bauhaus-style White City to the north. Museums and galleries in the area, including the Ilana Goor Museum in a restored hostel building, add indoor options. The best vantage points are the terraces beside the Church of St Peter and the lookout above the harbour, both ideal at sunset when the light turns the stone warm gold. Crowds are heaviest on Friday afternoons and Saturdays, when day-trippers and weekend visitors fill the lanes, and in the evening around the restaurants by the port. Early morning on a weekday is quietest, with only shopkeepers opening up. Many shops and galleries close on Saturday, while restaurants stay open. Streets are cobbled and steep in places, so comfortable shoes are important. The district is free to enter at all hours, and individual museums charge their own admission.