Last Updated on November 3, 2021

Attractions & places to visit in & around Haifa

Hebrew:  טיולים בעזור חיפה והצפון

People flock to Northern Israel for a quiet respite and break from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.  On your way up north, to the Galilee or the Golan, stop, take some time and discover some popular spots and some that are off the beaten track.

Nahariyah: Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetta’ot – The Ghetto Fighters’ House

The Ghetto Fighters’ House or The Itzhak Katzenelson Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Heritage Museum was founded in 1949 by Holocaust survivors and members of the Jewish underground in the ghettos of Poland, and veterans of partisan units. It is a place that tells the story of the Jews during the 20th century and during the Second World War. The Ghetto Fighters’ House was the first museum in the world to commemorate the memory of the Holocaust and Jewish resistance.

The Yizkor Hall allows the public access to the archives and art collections for viewing.  Names of the communities from which Jews were taken to their deaths are displayed here to.

Directions:

The Ghetto Fighters’ House is located on the Coastal Highway (Route #4) between Akko and Nahariya.  Bus No. 271 from Haifa-Mercazit ha-Mifratz to Nahariya or “sherut”  to the stop opposite the Ghetto Fighters’ House.  You can also take the northbound train to the Akko station; continue from there on the Coast Road by bus or taxi – both leave regularly from the “Egged” station which is approximately a five minute walk from the train station.

Touring tips

• Many primary schools introduce their pupils to the Holocaust by taking them on a visit to the Yad LeYeled memorial museum.  Go with if you can.
• Guided tours in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.
• Wheel-chair friendly. Hearing impaired visitors can borrow a device, worn on the neck, that transfers the words of the guide or the personal audio guide to their hearing aid. Three cheers for that!
• Amazing ancient Turkish aqueduct adjacent to the museum

Opening hours

Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 – 16:00, Friday:9:00-13:00 (by group reservation only). Saturdays and holidays: closed (unless by special arrangement for groups)

Telephone: +972-4–9958-035/044/052

Akko: The Tunisian Synagogue

From Lisa K: “I have been visiting Akko for over 20 years with guests from abroad and only recently discovered the Tunisian Synagogue.  I have never seen any other synagogue like it in the world.  The 4 story building is covered with mosaics from floor to ceiling.  This place takes your breath away.  Our guide for the day, who is also the Beadle, founded the synagogue over 60 years ago.  He speaks Hebrew with a heavy Tunisian accent which was sometimes difficult to understand.  His stories and explanations were fascinating though.  I don’t think he speaks any English at all as he asked me to translate for my guests. The other visitors that were there that day, all had English speaking guides.  Scenes of ancient Israel, the Twelve Tribes, Jewish symbols and more decorate every surface; walls, floors, ceilings, stairwells and handrails.  Panel after panel of mosaics.  The Beadle said that the design ideas just come to him.  The doors to the main Ark (on the second floor), are made of silver and engraved with text and blessings.  You don’t really need a guide to take in the beauty of this place.”

Getting there:

• 13 Kaplan Street, Akko
• A short taxi ride from the central bus and train stations.
• The sherut (shared taxi) stops on the main road, just a couple of blocks away.
• You can also take the Haifa – Naharia bus (271) from Merkazit Hamifratz Central Bus Station
• Plenty of parking outside

Our top tips

• Open from 9:30 – 13:30
• Ladies, make sure your shoulders are covered and that you are dressed modestly.
• Gentlemen are required to cover their heads.  Bring your own kippah.
• Allow at least two hours for the visit
• There is a gift shop.  Buy their album  with color photographs and explanations (5 language options) for around 100 Shekels – makes a great gift or memento.

Kfar Hassidim: Jankel’s Shtetl Station

Step back in time into the unique atmosphere of a lost world recreated – life in the Jewish Shtetl. See how some of our ancestors lived, worked, cooked and celebrated.  You can see the tools and implements they used, household furnishings typical of the time and experience the sounds  of Yiddish and traditional songs.

Top Tips

• An outing for the whole family – lectures, anecdotes and stories of Jewish life
• Children’s workshops and creating activities
• Savor the flavors of Bobba’s cooking – meals can be arranged in advance
• They have facilities for private functions of various sizes as well
• The site is accessible to disabled visitors
• Closed on Shabbat

Directions

At the Kfar Hassidim Junction, between Yagur and Kryat Ata, turn right (from Yagur) and then left into Kfar Hassidim.  Follow the road and at the circle turn left.  Turn left again at Hapoel Hamizrachi and then right at the sign post to Jankele’s Shtetl.  To arrange a visit contact call: +972 52 448 1481 or 04-9846417

Haifa: The Bahai Temple

The Bahai Temple is probably Haifa’s most popular attraction.  There are 4 options for viewing the grounds.  The first is a visit to the Temple (Shrine of the Baab) on Sderot HaZionut.  The second is from the lookout on Yefe Nof Street in the Central Carmel, the third is a pre-arranged tour of the terraces which starts on Yefe Nof and the fourth is a spectacular view from Ben Gurion Blvd in the German Colony.  This tour operates daily, except Wednesdays. It is free of charge and no reservation is needed.

Participants are accepted in the order of arrival and to the extent of available space. This tour is not recommended for people with walking difficulties or health problems.

The tour starts at 45 Yefe Nof Street, and lasts 50 minutes, ending at the main gardens entrance on Hatzionut Avenue.

Travel Tips

• English tours are at midday.  No entrance fee.
• There are lots of stairs on the terrace tour, wear comfortable shoes and take plenty of water with you.
• Think carefully about taking young children on the terrace tour – once you begin there is no going back.
• The tour is not recommended for people with health problems or walking difficulties

Haifa Museums

The Madatech – The Science and Technology Museum, The Tikotin Museum – The Japanese Art Museum, The Haifa Museum of Art, The National Maritime Museum, The Haifa City Museum, The Mane Katz Museum are just a few of the many world-class museums in the city. The permanent and and ever changing temporary exhibitions will delight your entire family.

The Haifa Cable Car

The cable car travels from the lower station at Bat Galim to the upper station at Stella Maris in the French Carmel.  From the three cabins, you have a panoramic view of Haifa and the bay.  Take Bus nos. 41 and 42 from Bat Galim and 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 from Stella Maris. Free parking is available at both ends.

Opening hours: Sundays through to Shabbat in summer 09.00 – 24.00 hours. In winter, 09.00 – 19.00 hours

Tel: 04 833 5970

Travel tip:

• Visit the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery and Church opposite the upper station.  The Church is open daily from 06:30 -13:30 and 15:00 – 18:00

Haifa now has a second cable car (commencing October 2021).  The cable car will travel from Merkazit Hamifratz to the Technion and then onto the University of Haifa where you can visit the Hecht Museum.

The X-Park

Hours of extreme activities and fun for the kids:- wall climbing, bridge rope park, omega (rappelling), paint ball, skate boarding, bungee and free climbing.

Getting there: By car, on Flieman St. (a continuation of Freud) next to the Congress Center opposite the Kenyon Haifa/Haifa Azrielli Mall.

• Parking is available
• Bus numbers:  3, 113, 114, 115, 125, 133 stop at the center.
• By sherut from Shapira St. in the Hadar that go to Tirat HaCarmel
• Kenyon Haifa is also a 10-15 minute walk from the central bus station and from the train station at Hof HaCarmel.

The Haifa Zoological Gardens

The Haifa Zoo at 124 HaTishbi Street is built on the slopes of Mt. Carmel.  It is a small zoo and very compact.  It is home to a variety of animals and indigenous fauna and flora.  Walk through the bird cage; take in the dark bats cage and the petting zoo.  White tigers, camels, Syrian bears and antelope from the Judean Hills and the Negev are just some of the local wildlife to be found.

The zoo is open from 09:00 till 16:00 Sunday – Thursday & Saturday, and from 09:00 – 13:30 on Fridays

Top Tips

• Entry into the zoo closes an hour before final closing time.
• The zoo hosts children’s birthday parties and summer camps.  Call 04-8372390 for more information
• You can combine your trip to the zoo with a stroll down Wadi Lotem.  Starting in the Central Carmel the Wadi winds down the mountain, via the thicket, through some of Haifa’s suburbs. The Wadi is at the southern corner of the Gan ha Em (see below) on the left of the events platform.  The walking tour, demarcated in blue, is about 2.5 kilometers long and finishes In the Sha’ar ha Aliyah neighborhood, in the public gardens. The Wadi is host to a variety of trees, shrubbery and flowers.
• Best way to get to the zoo is on the Carmelit underground funicular.  Get off at the last station – Gan Ha’em (Mother’s Park)

The Hai Bar

The Hai Bar is part of the Carmel Forest National Park.  The animal sanctuary aims to restore Israel’s wildlife and has re-introduced numerous native species to the area.

Entrance on Saturdays only from 08:00 – 16:00 and the entrance fee to the Hai Bar, is per vehicle.

Top tips:

• You can buy an annual membership – Matmom – from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.  This is really worthwhile.  You get free entrance into most of the parks and 50% discount to others.  Some credit card companies have a deal where you can trade your points for part of the cost of the card.   The Matmon is also available at many of the site entrances.
• Tourists can buy a similar card called “The Green Card.  For 80 shekels you get entrance to 6 sites operated by the Israel Nature Parks Authority.  Call *3639 for more information.
• Visit the forests in the spring to enjoy the masses of wild flowers.

Plan your next family outing and vacation with out resources and recommendations.