Ra'anana

Ra'anana (He. רעננה) is city in central Israel, north of Tel Aviv. It borders Herzliya on the west and Kfar Saba on the east.

Understand
At approximately 70,000 inhabitants, Ra'anana is a mid-size suburban town. The majority of residents are Israeli, but since its inception Ra'anana has been home to a large percentage of American and British immigrants, and in the 21st century has seen influxes of Argentinian and French immigrants. Ra'anana likes to boast that it spends more on education than any other Israeli city.

By bus
The Egged bus lines 501 and 502 pass through Ra'anana and terminate at Tel Aviv's central bus station. The 502 is a slightly express version of the 501; nevertheless, you should expect an hour's ride either way. One way - about ₪10. Another option is Metropoline bus 347 which is an express but that skips some stops in Tel Aviv and has only 2 stops in Herzliya, but this line comes every 60 minutes. A third option is route 29, to/from the Herzliya train station and Herzliya's Marina, beach and malls.

By car
Use road number 4. Turn west at north Ra'anana junction for the Hi-tech zone, or Turn west at the Central Ra'anana juntion (also called Kfar Saba junction) for the Ahuza street and the Ra'anana park.

Get around
Ra'anana is not particularly large: the longest journey you could make within the city would be about 5 km. In its east–west direction the main drag, Ahuza (He. אחוזה), is served by local bus line number 29. This same bus line passes through Herzliya's train station. North to south trips can be undertaken by foot at the maximum duration of 30 minutes.

See
The Founders Museum presents the story of Ra'anana's original settlers, from the arrival of the Ahuza Alef-New York Association until Ra'anana achieved local council status in 1936.

Do
The park of Ra'anana is the largest urban park in the Sharon region. It offers walking and bike paths, sports fields, a zoo and children's petting corner and a lake in a clover shape reminiscent of Ra'anana's coat of arms. There are two fountains in the lake and pedestrians can cross over it on the bridge. There is a park with a small zoo section as well as occasional Shakespeare performances.

The lake is surrounded by special gardens, including the Seven Species garden, and shaded walking paths. There is also a restaurant and small art gallery.

Buy
There's a 3-story shopping mall.

Sleep
While hotels may exist, there are no hostels.

Go next
You'll have to cross over the dividing Highway 4 between Ra'anana and Kfar Saba where just past lies Kfar Saba's central bus station to visit locations other than Tel Aviv.