ISRAELI AIR FORCE MUSEUM. This museum displays over 100 airplanes from
several generations of Israeli aerial combat, including airplanes captured from and
shot down by neighboring countries. Free guided tours by Israeli soldiers relate
the history behind each of the displays. (At the Haterim air force base 8km west of town on
the Be'er Sheva-Haterim Rd. City bus #31 stops directly in front of the entrance. Walk up Ha-
Atzma'ut St. from the youth hostel and cross over the Derekh Joe A/on Highway at the major inter-
section to reach the bus stop headed away from town. Open Su-Th 8am-5pm, F
8am-lpm. NIS23, ages 3-13 NIS15, senior citizens NIS18. Call ahead for free tours.)
TEL BE'ER SHEVA. Five kilometers northeast of the city are the ruins of a 3000-
year old planned city, recently upgraded to a national park. One pile of unearthed
rubble is a 2nd century Roman fortress, another an 8th century ВСЕ house, and a
third a 12th century ВСЕ well. The view from the top of the tower in the back right
corner of the site is fantastic. Fashionable Israelis flock to conduct their marriages
in trendy Bedouin style at nearby marriage hall Ohalei Kidar. (By car, take Rt0 out
of the city, and turn right at the set of lights after the gas stations. Taxi NIS28 each way. Buses to
Arad and Omer run by the road that leads to the site: #388, every 35mi:45am-10:30pm,
NIS6.20. The walk from the turn-offtakes about 30min. There is a roundabout approximately half-
way down the wad; keep straight to get to the mins, which are through a panning lot on the right;
an orange sign leads the way. Park open Su-Th and Sa 8am-5pm, F 8am-4pm; entrance closes
lhr. earlier. NIS9, students NIS8, children NIS4.50.)
OTHER SIGHTS. The Allenby Garden, the city's first public garden, was commis-
sioned by the Ottomans in the early 1900s. It was renamed after General Allenby,
who led the British forces that captured the city from the Ottomans in WWI.
Today, the garden serves as a pleasant little resting place, secluded from the
streets. (On Ha-Atzma'ut St. stroll up the midrahov from Abraham's Well. On the left, beyond
Herzl St.) Designed by Israeli artist Dani Karavan, the Hanegev Palmah Brigade Monu-
ment honors IDF soldiers who died defending Be'er Sheva and other Negev settle-
ments. The eight symbolic structures overlook the city from 5km northeast of the
city. (On Be'er Sheva-Omer Rd. The most practical way to reach the sight is by an NIS20 taxi.
Free.) The Gan Remez is a ceramic sculpture garden next to Ha-Jama, an elegant
Turkish mosque. (Between Hadassah St. and Ha-Atzma'ut St.)
gjj] entertainment_
Entertainment venues are centered around Trumpeldor St. and Smilansky St. in
the old city, with some lying a short distance out of town near the university and
industrial areas. Most bars and clubs open at 9 or 10pm but remain quiet until
about 11pm. Movie theaters are housed downstairs in the kenyon.
Shows run Su-Th 5-10pm; F 7:30, 10pm, and midnight; Sa 7:30 and 10pm. Movies
are usually in English with Hebrew subtitles (NIS27.50).
SI Forum, 232 Kiryat Yehudit, in the old industrial area of town, a short drive out of Be'er
Sheva's old city (taxi NIS15). Includes multiple dance floors, the largest bar in Israel,
and a swimming pool. Open on F nights from mid-June through Aug. Call ahead to find
out about theme nights like karaoke and techno. Beer NIS15-20. Cover NIS30-70.
Open Tu, Th-Sa 10:15pm-5am; F after-party until noon on Sa.
Baraka, 16 Hadassah St. on the corner of B'nei Ein Harod St. This historic stone build-
ing once served as an Ottoman hospital and now serves beer (NIS15-22) outside in a
desert-motif courtyard and inside to the beat of pop music. Line forms outside on week-
ends. No cover. Open nightly lOpm-early morning.