Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel after Jerusalem. It is on the Mediterranean coast, about 60 km north-west of Jerusalem and some 100 km south of Haifa. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo and reflects the fact that the city has grown beside (and absorbed) the ancient port city of Yafo (English: Jaffa, Arabic:?? Yafa), to the south of the new city center, in addition to many other neighboring cities. Tel Aviv is a rapidly growing city in the midst of an exciting transition from medium-sized urban center to bustling international metropolis. It's the city that many Israelis think of as their New York. While the comparison was once a stretch - and indeed Tel Aviv is still a fraction of New York's size - Tel Aviv's booming population, energy, edginess and 24-hour life give the city a cosmopolitan flair comparable to few other cities in this part of the world. Tel Aviv is not really divided into districts but rather into over 50 different neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods are real distinct areas with a different culture (e.g. Neve Tzedek, Florentin, Ramat-Ha'Chayal) while others are simply indicating a geographical area. Tel Aviv grew mainly from the south to the north so the further you go to the north you will encounter newer buildings and wealthier communities.