Understand
[edit]The city's name comes from the Hebrew word for sand ("hol"), due to the sand dunes it is built on. It is also the name of a city in the Bible (Joshua 15:51), though nobody knows where exactly that city was.
Holon was founded in 1940 as a merger of existing 5 neighborhoods.
Though the city has a reputation as a boring working-class suburb, in the early 2010s, it developed a variety of museums and attractions quite disproportionate to its size. Some attractions are completely unique in Israel, like "Dialogue In The Dark", an activity in the Israeli Children's Museum where you perform activities in complete darkness to understand what life is like for blind people.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]There are 4 train stations at the western border of the city with Bat Yam. The train is aimed at commuters, and the stations are not near sites of interest. But unlike buses, the train does not get stuck in traffic. It might be most convenient if you are coming from other stations on the same line (Kfar Sava, Rosh Haayan, Petah Tikva, and southern cities like Ashdod and Sderot).
- 1 Bat Yam-Komemiyut railway station. This station opened in 2011 and there is a train every 30 minutes during the day. During rush hour, frequencies increase to one train every fifteen minutes.
- 2 Bat Yam-Yoseftal railway station.
- 3 Holon Junction railway station.
- 4 Holon-Wolfson railway station.
By bus
[edit]The easiest way to get to Holon is generally by bus. There are many urban buses from neighboring cities such as Tel Aviv, as well as intercity buses from Jerusalem.
From Tel Aviv
[edit]- From near the Central Bus Station:
- from HaHagana train station: Lines 35, 38, 71, 89, 171, 176, 271.
- from Har Zion street: Lines 126, 289.
- From Arlozorov train station and Azrieli Center: Lines 71, 72, 171, 176, 271.
- From Central Tel Aviv:
- from Ibn Gabirol street: Lines 126, 189, 289.
- from Carmel Market: Lines 72, 73, 88, 172.
- from Dizengoff street: Lines 172.
- from Ibn Gabirol street: Lines 126, 189, 289.
From Rishon LeZion
[edit]Lines 16, 20, 29, 71, 77, 95.
From Bat Yam
[edit]Lines 16, 22, 24, 43, 87, 88, 99, 141, 143.
From Jerusalem
[edit]Line 406. Check the schedule - this line runs maybe once per hour. A direct line running nonstop between Jerusalem and Holon. If you miss this bus, take the 405 to Tel Aviv and a local bus to Holon.
By car
[edit]- From Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, take Routes 4 or 20 south.
Get around
[edit]
The city is small, and often you can get from place to place on foot. But in the summer heat, you'll want to take a bus, car, or taxi even for short distances.
Egged and Metropoline operate 3 internal bus lines (lines 4, 5, 22), and you can also take a bus headed for Tel Aviv or another part of the urban area.
See
[edit]- 1 Holon Design Museum, 8 Pinhas Eylon st., near Holon Mall and Mediatheque, ☏ +972 73-2151525, fax: +972 3-6520331. Su-Tu 10:00-16:00, F 10:00-14:00, Sa 10:00-18:00. The only design museum in Israel. The museum contains temporary exhibitions from around the world. Adults: ₪35, Teens (11-17): ₪30, Children(5-10): ₪20..
- 2 The Water Tower at Moledet, Ashdod st., south of Yamit 2000. One of two water towers that have been preserved in the city. The historic Security Road (Hebrew: דרך הביטחון) from Jaffa to Jerusalem passed by the water tower.
- 3 Israeli Caricature And Comics Museum, 61 Weizman st., Near the city hall, ☏ +972 3-6521849, fax: +972 3-6521867. M W 10:00-13:00, Tu Th 17:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-15:00. The only comics museum in Israel. The museum contains exhibitions about Israeli comics and caricatures. ₪15.
- 4 Puppet Museum, 13 David Remez st., ☏ +972 3-6516848. The museum contains a collection of puppets from around the world. Mainly for children.
- 5 Egged Museum (The Historic Vehicle Museum), Dan Shomron st., Inside the Egged garage, ☏ +972 3-9142361, +972 3-9143761, fax: +972 3-9142364, [email protected]. F 08:00-12:00. Open for groups on Su and Th only by appointment. The museum contains a collection of buses that were in service at Egged from the 1930s until the 1990s. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Yamit 2000, Mifratz Shlomo st, ☏ +972 1-700-506-060, fax: +972 3 556-6528. 08:30-17:30. One of the biggest water parks in Israel and the only water park in Israel that open all year round. The water park contains 22 water slides and a spa. In winters, only the indoor slides are operational. ₪104.
- 2 Azrieli Holon Center, HaRokmim st.. Contains several restaurants and few pubs. The main nightlife center of the city.
- 3 Park Peres, Mifratz Shlomo st.. A big park. Contains a playground for kids, a lake, rental pedal boats and La Park Shopping Center.
- 4 Israeli Children's Museum, 66 Mifratz Shlomo street (at Peres Park; the entrance to the museum is at the lower floor, under the bridge), ☏ +972 3 650-3000, [email protected]. 7 days a week. Pre booking is always required.. One of 2 children's museums in Israel. The museum contains exhibits for different ages where children can touch the displays. The entrance to the museum is in La Park shopping center. Up to ₪65 per activity per person.
- 5 Dialogue In The Dark (דיאלוג בחשיכה). Exhibition simulating life with sight disability. Must pre-book these exhibitions before coming. For people above the age of 9. priced separately from the rest of the museum.
- Invitation For Silence (הזמנה לשקט). Exhibition simulating life with hearing disability. Must pre-book these exhibitions before coming. For people above the age of 9. priced separately from the rest of the museum.
- Dialogue With The Time (דיאלוג עם הזמן). Exhibition simulating elderly life. Must pre-book these exhibitions before coming. For people above the age of 10. priced separately from the rest of the museum.
- 5 Dialogue In The Dark (דיאלוג בחשיכה). Exhibition simulating life with sight disability. Must pre-book these exhibitions before coming. For people above the age of 9. priced separately from the rest of the museum.
- 6 Ice Peaks, Park Peres, near Jerusalem st., ☏ +972 3 532-3008. M-Th 17:30-20:00, F 11:00-23:00, Sa 10:00-23:00. Ice skating rink.
- The Bamba House. Bamba is an Israeli snack food made of peanuts - Israel has extremely low peanut allergy rates because kids are fed Bamba from a young age. This is the Bamba factory, where you can go on a tour explaining Bamba and the Bamba-making process. You have to reserve a tour spot in advance, and the waiting list is rumored to be months long.
Buy
[edit]The city has a single shopping mall and some small outdoor shopping centers.
- 1 Holon Mall, 7 Golda Meir st, ☏ +972 3 651-4060, fax: +972 3 651-4070. Su-Tu 09:30-21:30, F 09:30-15:00, Sa 20:00-22:30. The only mall in Holon. A typical shopping mall.
- 2 La Park (inside Park Peres near the lake), ☏ +972 3 558-8591. Open 24/7. This outdoor shopping center has few stores. Most of the shopping center is for restaurants and fast food. The shopping center also has a pub.
- 3 Premium Center, 1 HaMashbir St, ☏ +972 3 654-5297, fax: +972 3 654-5298. An outdoor shopping center with some stores and restaurants.
- 4 Sayarim Center, 38-40 HaMerkava St, ☏ +972 3 550-3316. Su-Th 09:30-22:00, F 09:30-15:30, Sa: opens half hour past Shabbat. This outlet shopping center mainly contains stores but there are also few restaurants. This shopping center is also known as Profit Center.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Silo, La Park shopping center, ☏ +972 53 938-0488. 09:00-23:59. Italian food.
- 2 Caf'e Gan Sipur, 15 Mota Gur, ☏ +972 3 501-1596. 08:00-23:59. Coffee place.
- 3 Gordus, La Park shopping center, ☏ +972 53 427-3744. Meats restaurant.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Oscar Wilde, ☏ +972 3 778-5550. Irish pub. Entry from age of 24 and up only.
- 2 [dead link] Sokolovski Bar, 45 Sokolov St, ☏ +972 053 9366180. A local pub.
- 3 Turtle House (הבית של הצב), 29 HaBanai St, ☏ +972 054 5973766. A local pub at the industrial area.
Sleep
[edit]There are no hotels in Holon. You can stay at a hotel in the neighboring cities Bat Yam and Tel Aviv.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Holon |
| Nahariyya, Haifa ← Ra'anana ← | N  S
|
→ Bat Yam, Rishon LeTzion → Ashdod, Ashkelon |
| Ra'anana, Herzliya, Tel Aviv ← | N  S
|
→ Bat Yam, Rishon LeTzion |
| Jaffa (Tel Aviv) ← | W  E
|
→ Ramla, Lod, Beit Shemesh |
| Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv ← | N  S
|
→ Ashdod, Ashkelon → Beer Sheva |