Haifa my love
the most visited places in Haifa
We traveled all around Haifa and created the perfect tours for you.
Haifa is the largest city in Northern Israel and the third largest city in the country. Its geographical layout is somewhat unique as it flows in a 3-tiered landscape from the northern slopes of Mount Carmel to end with its seaport at the Bay of Haifa.
Planning your Trip to Haifa
The key to a successful vacation or trip is meticulous planning. It is better to be prepared and err on the side of caution than to lose time, money and possessions simply because you neglected to prepare for your trip. Hopefully, the guides here will help you learn more about Haifa so you can make educated decisions about what to do and where to go for your vacation.
How to Get There
There are many ways to get to Haifa anywhere from Israel. The first option is by plane which is a usually the case for international travelers. Your port of entry is at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. From there, you can either take a connecting flight to Haifa (which can be confusing if you have to transfer between terminals or even airports) or simply drive straight to Haifa, the trip taking up to a maximum of 2 hours, by bus, train, taxi and sherut.
By Plane
If you’re coming from Tel Aviv, Acre and Beer Sheva, your most convenient form of transportation is the train that leaves directly from these cities. It’s also relatively fast, taking about an hour to arrive in Haifa even during peak hours.
By Land
If you plan on taking the bus to get to Haifa, you won’t have a hard time if you’re coming from any of the major cities as the bus lines always have service available. However, you have to remember that because of the Sabbath they don’t operate between Friday evenings and Saturday evenings.
By Ship
Another option in getting to Haifa is by coming in from a Mediterranean cruise ship, with Israel as one of its port stops. Several other shipping lines also offer travel itineraries from Europe to Haifa Port. If you own a private ship, boat or yacht, then it’s also possible to reserve in advance a berth in the marina of your choice.
The City of Haifa is not a walkable city because of its geographical layout which is why the presence of the Carmelit, their funicular which runs up and down the mountain, is a big help.
Buses run by Egged, the national bus company, are also available for going around town except that they don’t run operate on Friday evenings. Other than that, they still operate on Saturday and other Jewish holy days, unlike in other cities. There are also mini-buses, called “Shchunatit” that go around the neighborhoods of Haifa.
On the Sabbath, you’ll have to choose between shared taxis or regular taxis to take you around the City.
Haifa also has 6 railway stations that run along the Gulf of Haifa. The Parvarit, the metropolitan line, has seven stops.
The city itself strikes a balance between old and new. On one hand, you can get a glimpse of the ancient city with its relics, architecture and religious connections. On the other, you have your technology parks and modern skyscrapers that change the skyline of Haifa. It also has beaches and mountains and the other attractions are only a stone’s throw away from the city. There really is something for everyone in Haifa.
Sites of Religious Importance
There really is something for everyone in Haifa.
Elijah’s Cave – Climbing down from the top of Carmelite Monastery, you’ll find a path that leads to Elijah’s cave, now a very popular pilgrimage site. It is believed that the prophet Elijah hid in this cave from the Kings of Israel. Many Christians, Jews and Muslims (who call him El-Khidr) venerate this place.
Baha’i Gardens and World Center – is the central shrine of the Baha’i faith that also serves as a tomb for its founder, Mirza Ali Mohammed. Its golden dome defines Haifa’s skyline and the Persian Gardens are a marvel to behold.
The Stella Maris Monastery – belongs to the Carmelite Order of Monks, dedicated to the prophet Elijah.
Explore Haifa
For these reasons alone, visiting Jerusalem is not just for pilgrims who wish to assert and renew their faith but for all people who wish to stand on the brink of history, learn from it and relive it.
we can see a large groups that come every year from all over the world, The groups come through ” tour operator in Israel ” who takes them to the most active and holy places
What you should see in Haifa
Local Attractions
The German Colony – was started by members of the German Templar Society as an agricultural community. The original Templar houses have been restored and renovated and its main street is a popular promenade filled with restaurants, coffee shops that afford great, unobstructed views from the Carmel Ridge to the Mediterranean Sea. The Beit Ha Am or the Museum of the History of Haifa, can be found in the first German Templar house.
Beaches
Haifa is surrounded on three sides by the sea. As such, you have many choices of activities in many different beaches. The waters of Kiryat Haim, Bat Galim, Carmel, Dado Zamir and Hof HaShaket beaches are relatively calm. Most of them have lifeguards, restaurants and recreational areas. However, there are separate bathing days for men and women in the Hof HaShaket beach. The Surfers’ Beach in Bat Galim is considered one of the best beaches for surfing in the Middle East.
Arts and Culture
Visiting Haifa is not just for the spiritual upliftment of its visitors, it also gives them a chance to learn more about its art and culture through its museums and theaters.
Haifa Museum of Art – Since 1977 the museum has incorporated the Museum of Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art into its bosom. The collections of Ancient art include Caesarea and Byzantine mosaics from Shiqmona. Contemporary artwork from Israeli and international artists from the 18th century to the present day are contained in the Modern Art collection.
Haifa National Museum of Science, Technology and Space – is appropriately located in the historic Technion Building to demonstrate through interactive learning, the importance and value of science and technology in modern times.
National Maritime Museum explores the naval history of Israel
The Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum – is dedicated to the documentation and re-telling of the history of the Jewish immigration into Israel using various audio-visual materials.
The Mane Katz Museum is centered around the work of Jewish artist Mane Katz. The collection includes paintings, sketches, sculptures and antique furniture.
Tikotin Japanese Art Museum – is the only Japanese museum in the whole Middle East. Here you’ll find roughly 6,000 exhibits of Japanese art, such as paintings, sketches, books and statues.
The Hecht Museum features archaeological exhibits and art collections from Manet, Monet and Van Gogh. It also has the Ghez Collection, a compilation of works from artists who died in the Holocaust.
enjoy great food in Haifa
There are many places to enjoy great food in Haifa. The Downtown area exudes the distinct Oriental-Arabic atmosphere of Ancient Haifa. If you have a craving for fresh and delicious seafood, the Bat Galim Promenade comes highly recommended. The German Colony also serves French, Chinese, Oriental and European dishes. Wadi Nisnas is your destination for the most famous falafel stands and mouth-watering oven-baked goodies. Hadar on Carmel is also filled with enticing smells and tastes at very reasonable prices.
The place to look for artistic wares and antiques of Haifa are in the colourful streets of Masada and Hillel. The Druze Village on Mount Carmel also has great selections for unique handcrafted items. There are also a number of major shopping malls in Haifa if you’re interested.
The nights are alive in Haifa and there are varied locations to spend your evenings depending on your current mood. Restaurants are bountiful and offer a whole range of international cuisines. There are bars and pubs that range from a relaxing, subdued ambience to dance and music bars that keep you on your toes. If you’re more into the performing arts scene, then you’ll feel at home in the Haifa Auditorium that is where all performance arts, from dance to opera and theater, are performed. The film buffs will find their way to the Haifa Cinematique for their choice of international films.