Jaffa Flea Market, Tel Aviv: A Photo Blog

Visit Jaffa Flea Market, Tel Aviv

This is a must for any trip to Tel Aviv. Jaffa is Tel Aviv’s old town and has over 4000 years of history. Although there are many things to see and do in Jaffa, the Flea Market is one of the area’s main attractions.

This is a place you must see to believe. Therefore, I’m going to write less and allow my photographs to bring the market to life.

Getting There

Jaffa is in the the south of Tel Aviv city. The Jaffa clock tower is good starting point as it’s a stone’s throw from the entrance to the market. If you are staying in Tel Aviv, a taxi can drop you at the clock tower. Alternatively, head to the beach and wander south towards Jaffa. You can find the clock tower by heading slightly inland once you have arrived in the Jaffa area.

For visitors who are walking to Jaffa, see the Beaches of Tel Aviv blog. This blog contains a self-guided walking tour which culminates in Jaffa.

Jaffa Clock Tower - A great starting point for visitors to the market

From the clock tower, head down Yefet Street. From here, you can find the entrance to Flea Market along Olei Zion Street

What to expect at Jaffa Flea Market

It’s hard to describe what to expect when you visit Jaffa Flea Market. The authorities in Tel Aviv have spent a lot of money rejuvenating Jaffa and making the area more friendly to visitors. In spite of this, the flea market remains eclectic and delightfully disheveled. The stalls in this market are literally overflowing with items for sale. Many of the stalls specialise in antiques, jewelry and Judaica, but amongst this you will find random objects, completely at odds with the other items on sale.

An eclectic selection of items for sale at Jaffa Flea Market, including a mannequin's head.

Next door to an antiques stall, they could sell carpets or broken television sets.

A more organised store selling vinyl records

There are clearly some shops which have spent time and effort to improve customer experience. Yet next door to this there is a store where the items for sale heaped in a pile.

Although you can find Judaica for sale throughout Israel, there is certainly no shortage of this here. You will find menorahs and mezuzah’s a-plenty. However the real challenge here is spotting the antiques from the imitations.

Admittedly, the Jaffa Flea market contains a lot of what the western world would consider to be junk. I was particularly keen to understand who would be in the market from broken cameras and second hand shoes. However this adds to the markets charm. It is a glimpse into a world where necessity is more important than materialism.

A plant growing out of a wall over a stall at Jaffa Flea Market

a Troll from the 1980s amdist the other items on sale.

If you want to find out more about Jaffa Flea Market, see reviews from other visitors at TripAdvisor.

Ali Caravan, home of the best Hummus in Tel Aviv

Following your trip to Jaffa Flea Market, make a visit to Ali Caravan for lunch. This unassuming cafe serves some of the best hummus in Tel Aviv and is a 15 minute walk from the market.