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Haifa

10 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Haifa

Try to describe Haifa in a few words, and ... and you will fail. In this city you can go alone, in company and family with children. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what kind of rest do you like and what impressions you crave. It will not be boring to anyone. No wonder they say that "Haifa is a city of buzz."

Founded in immemorial times and known from the Roman era, today's Haifa is a metropolis. She proudly bears two honorary titles: the country's main port and its second, northern capital.

There are two must see objects in the city - small and widescale. The first is the metro-funicular. The tiniest in the world! He has a poetic name - "Carmelit.", because the train rolls through the tunnel in Mount Carmel.

The second is a huge Bahai temple, the domes of which can be seen from everywhere in the city, and its gardens. Baha'ism is one of the youngest monotheistic religions.

1. Baha'i Shrine and Gardens

On one of the slopes of Mount Carmel in Haifa is the most important shrine of the Baha’is - the spiritual center, consisting of the temple, the tomb (in it rests the remains of the founder of the Baha’i faith) and gardens.

The tomb is a majestic building that adorns a huge gilded dome. At night, the dome is beautifully illuminated and it seems that the light comes from inside.

The path to the tomb runs through the delightful gardens, which are divided into nineteen terraces. Bahai gardens are recognized as the eighth wonder of the world, and this is not surprising. Amazingly beautiful plants (about 450 species), unique flowers and perfectly trimmed shrubs grow here, and the lawns in the gardens are always neat and green. Decorative fountains give this place a special charm. In the Bahai gardens, everything is in harmony with each other. At night, the gardens take on a special mysterious view, as they are illuminated with a huge amount of lights.

2. Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery

The monastery was built in the second half of the 18th century. During the period of the Napoleonic wars, the church was seriously damaged, and in the first half of the 19th century, the Turks razed of the earth its last remnants. But a decade later, the monastery began to build up again and in 1836 opened at the same place. In the 20th century, it was alternately occupied by British and Israeli troops, but nowadays the monastery and the church returned to their original value. Today the Stella Maris Cathedral is considered the main spiritual center for the Carmelites from all over the world.

Address: Off Tchernikovsky Street, West Haifa

3. Cable Car

The cable car in Haifa was built in 1986. It runs from the embankment of Bat Galim, to the top of Mount Carmel to the monastery of Stella Maris. The elevation difference is 130 m, and the length of the road itself is 330 m. On the way, there is a magnificent view on the bay and the city itself. Haifa opens from an unusual angle, the city looks differently than from the observation platform of Bahai Gardens and the promenade at the top.

The road takes only 5 minutes, but during this time you can enjoy the view of the sights of the city. For example, below you will see the bay and the port, as well as ships and a submarine from the Museum of illegal migration. In the middle of the path will be a view of the cave of the Prophet Elijah and the cave of the monks. At the top of the mountain, passengers can get out and explore the Carmelite monastery Stella Maris.

Address: Entry from HaHaganah Street, Galshanim Beach

4. Elijah's Cave

Opposite the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery, a path leads down to Elijah's Caveat the foot of the cape. According to legend, it was here, in a cave at the foot of Mount Carmel, where the prophet Elijah was hiding from the Israeli king Ahab. Today the cave is the center of pilgrimage for Christians, Jews and Muslims. According to another ancient tradition, the Holy Family stayed in the cave on the way from Egypt to Nazareth. In the cave, people pray, ask for healing, help and enlightenment.

Address: Off Tchernikovsky Street, West Haifa

5. Downtown Haifa

Ben-Gurion Street is the old main street of the German Protestant colony founded here in 1868 by members of the Society of the Temple, who believed that settling in Palestine would bring about the Second Coming. The society continued to exist until the Second World War. The old houses, with their tiled roofs, have all been spruced-up and are very characteristic of their period. The street is now home to Haifa's best dining and shopping. The cemetery of these zealot settlers lies to the northwest, at 150 Jaffa Street, next to a British military cemetery of the First World War.

Location: Central Haifa

6. Beaches

The beach sandy zone in Haifa stretches for 5 km, and the total length of the coastline in the city reaches 17 km.

Bat Galim is one of the oldest and most famous beaches in Haifa. Along the boardwalk there are plenty of cafes and restaurants, and for children there is even special entertainment: a playground in the form of a pirate ship made of wood. The southern part of the beach is especially good for surfing.

The high towers of Hof-HaKarmel mark the beach of the same name, located to the south of the Neve-David district. This beach is crowded on weekends.

The Dado Beach, long and convenient, is among the best in the country, according to a research by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

HaHof-HaShacket Beach (“quiet beach”) is located behind the Rambam Medical Center. The beach is visited mainly by locals, and there are separate days for swimming: men’s are Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Women's - Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday (Saturday is a common day).

Location: Haifa shoreline

7. Mane Katz Museum

The Mane Katz Museum is located in Haifa, on Yefe Nof Street, which means “beautiful view”. Mane Katz was an avant-garde artist. The museum collection contains several hundreds of works by Mane Katz, as well as objects from his collection. The paintings are made in various techniques: oil, gouache, watercolor, pastel, pencil. Among them are works on religious themes, portraits, scenes from the history of the Jewish people. You can see still lifes and landscapes with views of Haifa.

Mane Katz's works are kept in the leading museums of the world - the Museum of Contemporary Art in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and the museums of Amsterdam, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. But the collection in the Haifa Museum is the most complete and meaningful.

Address: 89 Yefe Nof Street, Carmel Center

8. Ursula Malbin Sculpture Park

This lovely public park is full of gorgeous bronze statues and is a great place to relax after a morning of sightseeing. The statues were all made by German-born artist Ursula Malbin who lives part of the year in Israel. If you're travelling with children, they'll love exploring the well-maintained trails through the park and peering at the quirky monuments. In the early evening, plenty of Haifa locals come here for a stroll so it's a great place for a spot of people watching and to check out local life.

9. Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel is a long mountain range on the Mediterranean coast. It is located in the north of Israel, near the city of Haifa. On the territory of the picturesque array there are several natural parks, reserves and magnificent man-made gardens, including the Bahai gardens, which tourists like to visit.

Address: off Tchernikovsky Street, West Haifa

10. Beit Shearim

This fascinating archaeological site, recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Beit Shearim is a national park in northern Israel, located 20 km east of Haifa in the southern part of the foot of the Lower Galilee. It borders with Kiryat Tivon in the northeast.

The park is located in the archaeological site of the ancient city and the necropolis.

Location: 20 kilometers southeast of Haifa

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