Last Updated on December 14, 2021
Aliyah & Living in the City of Netanya
Hebrew: עליה ומגורים בעיריית נתניה
Are you considering living in Netanya? Netanya is located in the northern part of the Central District in Israel, in the plain of the Sharon. The name Netanya means “gift of G-d”. With easy access to the main railway and an extensive bus service, Netanya is an ideal choice for people willing to do a half-hour commute to Tel Aviv in the south, and a similar commute to Haifa, in the north.
Population
Nearly 200,000 residents call Netanya home. Netanya is popular among immigrants from France, the Former Soviet Union (FSU), Ethiopia, Persia (Iran), the English speaking countries and South America. In fact, about 1/3 of Netanya’s residents are immigrants.
Economy, Industry & Employment
Industry in Netanya is largely divided between four industrial parks – hi-tech and tourism play a major part in Netanya’s economy and offer numerous employment opportunities. There are also many employment opportunities in the various academic institutions, the hospital and of course at Ikea which operates a very popular store in the area. Netanya’s small and medium business, shops and shopping malls all offer a wide selection of jobs and employment as well as for English speakers.
Transport & Accessibility
Buses, railway and sheruts (shared taxis) connect Netanya with other parts of the country. Two train stations; Netanya station and Bet Yehoshua station operate direct trains to Tel Aviv, Binyamina, Hadera, Herzliya, Lod, Rehovot, Ashdod, Ashkelon and other towns. All Israel Railways stations, including Ben Gurion Airport, can be accessed from Netanya via transfer stations such as Binyamina and Tel Aviv.
Housing
You can choose to rent or buy an apartment, cottage or villa. Depending on the location, the starting purchase price for a new 4 roomed apartment (3 bedrooms) is around 1.2 million shekels. Rentals average at 3,000 shekels for a two bed-roomed apartment and can fetch up to 5,000 shekels per month for a four bed-roomed apartment. You can expect to pay at least 3 million shekels for a cottage and obviously, even more for a villa.
Popular suburbs include the Nitza and South Beach areas which are especially popular among English speaking seniors. Kiryat HaSharon and Ramat Poleg are also popular choices.
Education
186 kindergartens, 46 elementary schools, and 16 high schools are controlled by the municipality’s education department with a large selection of secular schools as well as schools for the Dati Leumi community. Bet Yaakov and Chabad also have education facilities.
Higher education in various fields is offered at The Netanya Academic College, The Ort Hermelin College of Engineering, the Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Lesley College, and The Tesler School for Nursing. Also The Wingate Institute, Israel’s National Center for Physical Education and Sport are located in and around the city of Netanya.
Medical & Health
All four of Israel’s health-funds: Maccabi, Clalit, Meuhedet and Leumit are represented and have branches and clinics in the city. The Laniado Hospital serves almost half a million people residing in the Netanya, Sharon region and its surrounding settlements. The Tesler School for Nursing is affiliated to the Laniado Hospital.
Religious Life
Around 200 synagogues of all sizes and all affiliations; Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Orthodox, Ultra-Orthodox, Reform etc. You are bound to find a shul with a mix of people and a level of observance you feel comfortable with.
Learning Hebrew
16 ulpan classes operate in the city’s neighborhoods and provide various levels of Hebrew study services ranging from Ulpan-A through Business oriented Hebrew. The Ulpan is intended for immigrants, tourists, business people and embassy personnel who wish to study Hebrew.
Shopping in Netanya
Malls & Shopping Centers
Netanya has 5 malls; Hasharon Mall, BIG Poleg, Hadarim Mall, HaIrusim Mall and the Poleg Mall.
Hadarim Mall – Hakadar 2
Opening Hours: 09:30 – 21:00
Opening Hours (Fri): 09:00 – 14:00
Opening Hours (Sat): 30 min. From End Shabath – 22:00
A small and intimate shopping mall with only 38 shops and offices in the north eastern industrial area of Netanya
Hasharon Mall – Herzl 60
Opening Hours: 09:30 – 21:30
Opening Hours (Fri): 09:30 – 15:00
Opening Hours (Sat): 30 min. From End Shabbat – 22:30
Hasharon Mall boasts 23 clothing stores, a book store, stationery and office supplies, a department store, a computer store, coffee shops etc. as well as a supermarket – Machsanei Lahav
Get there by bus: Bus line nos. 3, 5, 8 and 11
BIG Poleg
BIG Poleg in the industrial zone has 100 shops and offices. This shopping area is divided into 2 sections. One of the sections is designed around a central, open parking area. The second section is in a closed mall.
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:30
Opening Hours (Fri): 09:00 – 14:30
Opening Hours (Sat): From End Sabbath – 22:00
Getting there by bus: Bus line nos. 48 and 84
HaIrusim Mall – Haargaman 55
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 21:00
Opening Hours (Fri): 09:00 – 15:00
Poleg Mall – Gibor Yisrael in the Poleg industrial area
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 01:00
Opening Hours (Fri): 09:00 – 15:00
Opening Hours (Sat): 09:00 – 01:00
Store selection: 26 stores: fashion, bakery, housewares, toys, sports, a branch of MEMSI (where you can get an international driver’s license) a cinema and parking for 450 cars
Shopping in the Shuk – Fresh Produce Market
A noisy and colorful place, one of the greatest features of the Netanya shuk (market) is that it has a roof; summer or winter, pounding rain or the intense summer sunshine, the entire shuk experience is very pleasant because of this. Like any other market fruits, vegetables, meat, spices, and deli are available. Exotic aromas and everything you could want for North African, Russian or French cuisine. Lots of small restaurants with a varied menu choice. It is highly recommended to have a meal at the ChuChu Tripolitan restaurant.
Entertainment
Sand-stone cliffs and 13km of nine sandy public beaches make up Netanya’s golden coastline. Pleasant and warm for most of the year, the official swimming season is from June to September . Lifeguards are on duty from early morning to sunset.
The Blue Bay Beach
Near the Blue Bay Hotel – is Netanya’s most northerly beach. Netanya Municipality states that the beach is currently closed to the public and an expected reopening date is not listed on their website.
Zanz Beach
To the south of the Blue Bay Beach – the Zanz beach is reserved for Netanya’s ultra religious Jewish community. Separate swimming days for men and women as follows:
Women: Mornings: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30-13:00
Midday hours: Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 13:30 and until half an hour before sunset.
Men: Mornings: Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 8:30-13:00
Midday hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 13:30 and until half an hour before sunset.
This beach is closed on Saturday.
The Onot Beach
Near the Onot Hotel, access from Niza Boulevard and the Shaked promenade, the Onot beach is frequented by youngsters who love music and dancing.
The Amphi Beach
The Amphi Beach is situated right by Netanya’s amphitheater. If you are into water sports, this is the beach for you. There is beach access for boats, surfboards and kayaks. There is a marine sports club and a diving shop where you can sign-up for diving lessons.
Herzl Beach
Herzl Beach – off Herzl Street and Atzmaut Square is adjacent to Amphi Beach – playgrounds, a restaurant, beach umbrellas. a sports center, sports equipment rental and a special camp for children are some of the reasons to come to the Herzl beach. The beach is also accessible through the Sea Elevator and there is parking on the northern side of Sironit Beach. A special thumbs-up – Herzl Beach also provides handicap accessibility.
Sironit Beach
Salsa dancing, Israeli folk dancing, creative activities and sports competitions, beach football, and beach volleyball are just a few reasons to hang-out on the Sironit Beach. Adjacent to Herzl Beach, the two beaches share the same facilities. The lifeguard station is opened all year long, including the winter season.
Sironit Beach B
Netanya’s main beach and voted as one of Israel’s top 10 beaches, Sironit Beach is located below the Rishonim Promenade, accessible by the transparent sea elevator. Two breakwaters are set up opposite the beach which create tranquil bays and enable safe swimming almost all year round.
Argaman Beach
The entrance to Argaman Beach is from Ben-Ami Blvd. There is a lifeguard on duty and parking is free. The beach is narrow and beautiful and there is no wave breaker here. The beach is accessible on foot from Sironit Beach or Poleg Beach. The beach is to the Neot Shaked and Ramat Yadin neighborhoods.
Poleg Beach
