Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv

Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv is one of the city’s central and beloved locations, combining expansive urban nature with a stunning urban landscape. The vast grass areas stretching in every direction provide a perfect place for relaxation, family picnics, ball games, or just leisurely strolls. It’s easy to get lost among these endless spaces, discovering a new corner each time.

One of the park’s prominent features is the lake where small pedal boats float. It’s a pastoral scene that feels like an experience outside the city, especially when observing ducks crossing the water or families enjoying time together. Beside the lake, the park’s iconic hot air balloon rises in the sky. The balloon offers a breathtaking view from a great height, and the flight experience highlights the beauty of Tel Aviv’s skyline. The view is particularly enhanced during sunset hours, when the sun descends and paints the city and sky in orange and pink hues that are exciting every time anew.

The park also features the Concert Hill, a well-known destination for live performance enthusiasts. The hill is a focal point for massive musical events, with audiences filling the grass with songs, dances, and tremendous energy. It’s been many years since I attended a concert in Yarkon Park – perhaps because I’ve grown older, not to say aged, and the energies have changed – but the memories of the performances still live in my mind. The hill, as I photographed it empty, evokes a sense of nostalgia for a different era.

Yarkon Park combines Tel Aviv’s urban vitality with the quiet and nature we all sometimes need. It’s a place to experience the city from different angles – from below when walking or boating, and from above when ascending in the hot air balloon – and there’s always something new to discover.