Tel Aviv -- Voted Top World City

The Lonely Planet travel guide ranks Tel Aviv as the third-best city in the world.

Locals and tourists agree, though some would say it's really No. 1.

Lonely Planet calls it "a modern sin city by the sea." With its 300 sunny days a year, there's no "weather-permitting" about an outing in Tel Aviv. And the possibilities are endless.

From art to music, beach culture to nightlife, you can find an activity to suit every whim, mood or state of mind in the city that never stops.
Some say the people are the warmest and friendliest in the world, while others say the same about the climate.

In the truly diverse, 21st-century Mediterranean hub you can go to the opera or numerous museums; see shows ranging from low comedy to high Shakespeare; take in a concert or dance performance; cycle, jog or walk through ports and parks, down shady boulevards lined with cafes, and through quaint restored alleyways lined with designer boutiques.

Or you can rummage through flea markets and vintage shops; explore outdoor fairs; lounge on the beach; check out restored period structures; visit galleries and exhibitions; enjoy the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Bauhaus architecture; sample myriad cuisines, local bars and clubs and quality Israeli wines -- it's the New York, London and Paris of the Middle East.