Last Updated on November 19, 2021
Take a day out for shopping in the Druze villages of Northern Israel
Hebrew: מרכזי קניות בכפרי הדרוזים
A shopping day at the Druze villages of Daliat-El-Carmel and Usifiya which are about 10km outside of Haifa, a short distance from Haifa University, is sure to delight you and your guests from abroad. Set your destination in WAZE and head-out for a fun shopping and dining experience.
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The main shopping street in Daliat El Carmel
A street market with typical middle-eastern wares, curios and bric-a-brac are on sale. Middle-eastern cakes and confections like baklawa can also be bought. You will find a fair selection of restaurants selling hummus, fresh pita and typical middle-eastern foods. Even though you did not order them, there is a good chance that you’ll be presented with a variety of complimentary salads while you are waiting for your main course. The Druze are well known for their hospitality.
Try a fresh, paper thin, Druze pita which is about the size of a pizza. For around 10 shekels you can buy one and request that it be served with labaneh (soured goat’s milk cheese), olive oil and and local herb blend – zaatar. Really delicious! Your kids are sure to want the less traditional version and go for one served with chocolate spread instead.
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The Druze Villages are a popular destination for tourists and during the week and there are plenty of tour groups and buses. Tourist prices are inflated so make sure you bargain!! Saturday is a very popular shopping day amongst Israelis, so be prepared for hoards of people. Eateries are packed at lunch-time so be ready to wait.
Parking is not easy to find. You may have to park in one of the side streets and walk a little way to the main shopping area.
If you are coming in from out of town. midweek, and have the time and patience, you might want to park your car and take the 37A bus from the old central bus station (Egged), downtown, near the Rambam hospital. The bus travels through the Germany Colony where you can catch a glimpse of the Bahai Temple, up into the Hadar shopping district, passing the Bnei Zion Hospital, into the scenic Central Carmel, through the Ahuzza neighborhood, Haifa University and the Carmel Forest. After more than an hour, it finally reaches the Druze villages.
