• Understand
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Shop
• Eat
• Hang out
• Sleep
• Stay safe
• Get out

Ramat Gan, (Hebrew: רמת גן) (Translation:Garden Plain) is a city in Israel, to the immediate east of Tel Aviv, which almost acts as an extension of it. Ramat Gan is an eclectic town famous for many things totally unrelated to each other including, diamonds, football, malls, chocolates, Iraqi restaurants, religious university, and there is even a full open space African Safari with Lions. Small green public gardens are plentiful and all streets are tree lined.

[edit] Understand

Ramat Gan was founded in 1921 as a moshav, a communal farming community. Over time the population grew as Tel Aviv sprawled and today, it has a population exceeding 135,000.

North Ramat Gan features a cluster of sparkling sky scrapers, which, at night, impresses you with a magnificent Manhattan-style skyline. There, you will find what is currently the tallest building in Israel (75 Floors), right next to the two sky scrapers comprising of the diamond stock exchange. This area, called the Boursa, turns at night into a sleazy collection of brothels and illegal casinos.

The rest of the city, just like its name, is residential with green gardens here and there. Some embassies (including the EU delegation) are located here, instead of Tel Aviv. A lot of political wheeling and dealing goes on at the Ramat Gan Sheraton City Towers, which is a preferred hang out for Likud Party primaries conferences.

In the North East, you will find the first successful shopping mall in Israel (Kanyon Ayalon) surrounded by huge outlets. Next to it, a shooting range ("Mitvach"), the biggest soccer stadium in the country, and the Ramat Gan National Park. On the other side of town, Bar Ilan University, a world famous institution combining modern studies with Rabbinical curriculum.

Ramat Gan is also associated with chocolates, as those passing by the "Elite" factory on Jabotinski Road would catch sweet whiffs of chocolate in the blending.

Last but not least, Ramat Gan is known as Baghdad Town. Most Jewish immigrants from Iraq settled here in the 50s and made Ramat Gan their home as a result, many Iraqi restaurants can be found here.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By Bus

The easiest way to get to Ramat Gan from Tel Aviv is by bus.

[edit] From the central bus station in Tel Aviv

Lines 30, 32, 34, 35, 51, 52, 54, 60, 70, 186, 525, 531.

[edit] From the Arlosorov train station in Tel Aviv

Lines 11, 20, 40, 42, 45, 51, 55, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 69, 72, 82, 186.

[edit] From the central bus station in Jerusalem

Line 400 goes directly to Ramat Gan.

[edit] Get around

Although walking is perhaps the most common way of going around the city center, it is recommenden to take a bus to get to the north or the south of the city. Bus 67 goes all the way from the National Stadium at the north to the National Park at the south.

[edit] See

[edit] Do

• <see name="Ramat Gan Safari" address="" phone="+972-3-6744981" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">The African Park and the zoo within occupy 250 acres and include 1,600 animals of different species: 68 species of mammals, 130 species of fowl, and 25 species of reptiles.</see>

• <see name="" address="" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">Ramat Gan hosts the Maccabiah every 4 years. This is the Jewish Olympics, where Jewish communities from all over the world send their athletes to compete and mingle at the Maccabiah village at "Kfar Hamaccabiah" a full scale sports hotel and compound.</see>

• <see name="Avraham Krinitzi National Park" alt="Also simply known as 'The National Park', is the biggest park in Ramat Gan and a favourite place for BBQ'ing." address="Southern Ramat Gan, Ehad Ha'am st." directions="By bus, lines 11, 32 and 67" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></see>

[edit] Shop

• <buy name="Ayalon Mall" alt="First ever Mall in Israel, still contemporary with lots of shops and cafes." address="Sheshet Hayamim 28 / Aba Hillel 301" directions="Go by bus, lines 20, 42, 52 and 67" phone="+972-3-5703105" hours="9:30-22:00 weekdays, Firday 9:30-15:00, Saturday 19:00-23:00"></buy>

• <buy name="Elram Mall" address="Jabotinsky corner of Bialik 76" directions="Go by bus, lines 40, 50, 66, 67 and 70" phone="+972-3-6721796" hours="10:00-21:00 weekdays, 10:00-15:00 weekend"></buy>

• <buy name="Bialik St." alt="Bialik street is the main shopping area in Ramat Gan, here you will find almost any store you can think of." directions="Get by bus or just walk to it"></buy>

[edit] Eat

Don't miss the best Iraqi-style Shawarma in Israel at Shemesh on Jabotiski Road. There are plenty of fast food joints along Jabotinski. On the edge of Ramat Gan (Next to Bialik Street), practically already in Givatayim, there is the most famous Sabich restaurent in the universe, "Oved".

[edit] Hang out

Clubs and bars are scarce, just catch a taxi to Tel Aviv (30 Shekels = $7). 'Sky Bar', 14 Abba Hillel St., Ramat Gan.

[edit] Sleep

The majority of travellers (and especially backpackers) choose to stay in Tel Aviv.

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out