Haifa is the third largest the main city in northern Israel. It is the place of Israel’s main international seaport, Port of Haifa. The city also has an international airport which is well connected all over. Explore the regions, streets, buildings which are all part of Haifa Tourism in Israel. Some of the landmarks of the city are Mount Carmel Monastery, Baha’i World Centre, Elijah's Cave and others.
On Mount Carmel you will see a magnificent 19th century monastery, Stella Maris. It is a popular pilgrimage and tourist site. It is richly decorated with paintings and statutes and it also features special music performances. As you take a tour of Haifa Tourism in Israel an important place is Elijah’s Cave. This cave is very sacred for Christians, Jews, Muslims and Druze. It is believed that the Prophet Elijah once resided here.
On the slopes of Mount Carmel you will notice a magnificent building with a golden dome. This is the Baha’i World Centre which is the pilgrimage place for Baha'i followers. Around it are the beautifully set gardens on terraces blooming with flowers. Afterward relax while walking at the Bat Galim Promenade beside the sea. Take a cruise around the bay and harbor of Haifa from the Kishon fishing marina in the 'Carmelit' ship.
Another part of Haifa Tourism in Israel is to take the tour called 'The Paths of One Thousand Steps'. This tour comprises of 4 routes which start from Mount Carmel and ends at the sea. These routes are a nostalgic route to the German Colony, an ethnic route to Wadi Nisnas, a historic route to Paris Square and a real experience of a route to El Pasha. All these routes are clearly marked with different colors and step markings.
For elaborate information on Haifa Tourism in Israel, please click on the links listed below—
- History of Haifa in Israel
- Location of Haifa in Israel
- Haifa Weather in Israel
History of Haifa in Israel
The state of Israel is located in Western Asia and is surrounded by Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Jordan .Israel is rich in history, religion, culture and tradition. It has many historical cities like Jerusalem, Nazareth, Acre, Haifa etc. In the Haifa Travel Guide in Israel you will come across a brief history of this city. The History of Haifa in Israel goes back thousands of years to Biblical times and beyond.
Haifa is situated in the north of Israel and is also the country's third largest city. It had been ruled once by many world powers like Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Crusaders, Ottoman, French, British and others. The name Haifa does not have any solid historical origin. In Hebrew it's known as Hefa. Some believe the name has come from the Hebrew word 'hof' meaning beach or 'hof yafe' meaning beautiful beach or even 'hafo' meaning to hide or cover.
In the Middle Ages, the Christian pilgrims and the Crusaders called the town Caiphas or Caifa. The name Haifa is first mentioned in the Talmud around 1st-4th century AD. The Christian theologian and biblical topographer, Eusebius referred to it as Sykaminos. Until the 7th century it was ruled by the Byzantine Empire and then it was invaded by the Persians and Arabs. The History of Haifa in Israel was influenced by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages. The Crusaders conquered the city again in 1100 from the Jewish and Muslim inhabitants. The Crusaders made it a part of the Principality of Galilee which stayed until the capture of Muslim Mameluks in 1265.
Daher El-Omar who was the Bedouin ruler of Acre and Galilee destroyed and rebuilt the city surrounding it with a wall in 1761.This is also considered as the beginning of the modern city. Haifa remained under Ottoman rule until 1918.But there were 2 brief interruptions when in 1799 it was conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte. But he withdrew again the same year and again between 1831 and 1840 it was governed by the Egyptian viceroy Mehemet Ali. Afterwards Haifa slowly became an important city of trade and commerce. Therefore the History of Haifa in Israel has always been influenced by conquests.
In 1868 members of the Temple Society formed a modern neighborhood near the city which is now known as the 'German Colony'. The Temple Society was a German religious sect and they played an important part in modernizing the city .Haifa started emerging as an industrial port city at the beginning of the 20th century. By 1945 the city's Jewish population increased rapidly due to immigration from Europe. The UN Partition Plan of 1947 designated Haifa as part of Jewish territory and so when Palestine was divided it became a part of the independent state of Israel.
For elaborate information on History of Haifa in Israel, please click on the links listed below—
- Location of Haifa in Israel
- Haifa Weather in Israel
- Haifa Overview
- Haifa Tourism
Sightseeing in Haifa
One of the best holiday destinations in the Middle East is Haifa in Israel. Tourists swarm to Haifa to explore its rich cultural and historical background along with its natural beauty. Haifa is tucked on and round the Carmel Mountain by the Bay of Haifa. Haifa happens to be a port city, wonderfully nestled in the northern part of Israel. Being the third largest city, Haifa is endowed with a number of tourists' attractions and for that fact Sightseeing in Haifa has always been a great delight for the tourists.
This ancient city is bundled with lots of worth watching places and tourists are found to roam about these interesting places through the year. Most of these places reflect the bygone era. You will be mesmerized by the architectural magnificence of the palaces and museums. The Mediterranean weather is combined with beautiful natural surroundings which will charm you undoubtedly. So, Haifa is the place where you will have natural beauty, rich cultural and historical inheritance along with ancient urbanity. For such an amazing outset, Haifa has come up as a popular tourists' destination.
Your Tour Itinerary can't expel Sightseeing in Haifa at any cost. Tourists visit these places with ample interest. Tourist Attractions in Haifa manipulate a large number of tourists every year. Just come to the place to feel what you are missing! The surroundings are so beautiful that apart from sightseeing, roaming about in the city will also delight you. The most popular tourists' attractions are listed below.
- Bahai's Shrine and Garden in Haifa
- Haifa Museum
- Elijah's Cave in Haifa
- En Hod
- Haifa Town
- Haifa University
- Old Technion
- Allone Abba
- Atlit
- Bahai Archive
- Bahai Cable Car
- Ben-Gurion Street
- Carmelite Monastery
- Chaqall House
- Town Hall
- Maritime Museum
The whole city is easily accessible from every part of Israel. Israel boasts of 6 Railway route and the International Airport of Haifa is located in the northern part of the district. Port of Haifa lies on the Bay and the Carmel Mountain offers an overview the beautiful city. There are 3 Central Bus Terminals in Haifa from where you will have frequently bus service to reach the Tourists Attractions in Haifa. Taxis and Hired Cars are also available round the town. Tourists use Public Transport for Sightseeing in Haifa. Haifa is one of the holiest places of Bahai religion. The 8th Wonder of the world, Bahai Shrine and Persian Garden is in Haifa and the Museums are the places of a million worth. Apart from these, you can visit the bustling industrial arena, the town, valley, Haifa port and all the places there are. Rest assured these places will certainly delight you with the harmonious blend of ancient urbanity and modern industrialization.
Museums in Haifa
Haifa is the main city and seaport of Northern Israel and the third largest city in the country. The Location of Haifa is on Mount Carmel is on the Mediterranean Sea. Haifa is set amidst an exotic landscape consisting of seas and mountains. The medieval wall city of Acre lies in the north east. Haifa is an ancient city which is rich in culture and tradition. Haifa is also a popular tourist spot in Israel. Well known Haifa Tourist Attractions are the Bahá'í World Centre, Cave of Elijah, Stella Maris Church, German Colony, Druze Villages and the Haifa University. A lot of tourists visit Haifa every year. All these factors have led to the foundation of a varied range of Museums in Haifa.
There are a varied range of Museums at Haifa in Israel. The museums give tourists a feel of the ancient history and culture of the city. Visitors can observe and study various artifacts, relics and monuments in these Haifa Museums. Other than the local relics, the Museums of Haifa also contain other well known historical and cultural relics of countries across the globe. Some of the well known Museums in Haifa are:
Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum in Haifa: It is one of the important Museums at Haifa in Israel. It is a museum which displays the story of the Israeli Navy. The story is portrayed through the means of documents, articles of the time, models, photos, light and sound shows and diagrams. It also features the Af-Al-Pi-Chen - , ship which is famous for running the British blockade and rescuing 432 inhabitants.
National Maritime Museum in Haifa: The National Maritime Museum is located near the entrance of Haifa. It ranks among the well known Haifa Museums. It displays 5000 years of maritime history and stages of development putting emphasis on Estern Mediterranean region.
Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa: The Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa is devoted to the art and culture of Japan. It displays wonderful Japanese relics and architecture. It consists of Shoji, sliding doors made of wood and paper.
Apart from these, there are also other popular Museums of Haifa. They are
- Chagall Artists' House in Haifa
- Dagon Grain Museum in Haifa
- Israel Edible Oil Museum (Museum of Oil Industry) in Haifa
- Mane Katz Museum in Haifa
- The Haifa Museum of Art in Haifa, National Museum of Science, Technology and Space in Haifa
- Railway Museum in Haifa
The Museums in Haifa really make history and culture come alive in the city and adds to the charm of the place.
Festivals and Events in Haifa
The culture and character of Haifa show best in the Festivals and Events in Haifa. The Festivals and Events in Haifa reveal the arty spirit of this Israeli city, its free spirit and the thoughts of its people and some of the Haifa Festivals also draw in huge crowds from other countries as well.
About The Festivals and Events in Haifa
There are quite a few Festivals and Events in Haifa that take place all throughout the year. The Haifa International Theater Festival for Children and Youth in Haifa is one of the major Festivals and Events of Haifa. It is held in the month of April, in the Chol Ha-moed Pesach or in the Week of Passover in the Haifa Municipal Theater in Haifa.
This event sees noted theater personalities from all over Israel gathering in Haifa to stage a varied range of productions; from the thought-provoking ones to light and airy plays. During this festival, there is also a competition of children's plays. This theatrical extravaganza is one of the more internationally renowned Festivals and Events at Haifa and your golden chance to get a glimpse of the famed dramatics scene of Israel.
Cinema in Haifa has a sterling representation in the Haifa International and Children's Film Festival (Socouth) in Haifa, another one of the arty Festivals and Events in Haifa. The film festival is held in October, during the holiday period of Socouth or the Tabernacle Feast. The film festival showcases the creations of not only Israeli directors, but also those from the neighboring Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries (courtesy the special "Neighbours" screening forum) and is your golden chance to catch up on the very best from this region.
In conjunction with this, there is also a children's film festival that is held during this time. There are also jazz concerts and open-air shows for the entertainment of the movie maniacs, making the festival one of the most enjoyable Festivals and Events in Haifa.
Amongst the myriad Festivals and Events in Haifa, the Haifa Pride in Haifa is certainly a revelation. It is a gay and lesbian parade that takes to the streets in Haifa, every year in June and lures more than 5,000 colorfully attired revelers. The celebrations consist of live music performances from city groups, and DJs dishing out the latest and the most hip tunes. There is also a film festival and a pool party to mark the occasion.
But much more than the unbridled and unabashed mirth, Haifa Pride is probably only a few of the Festivals and Events in Haifa that bring forth for the world to admire, the liberalism and the sense of free spirit that run through the veins of the city. Haifa may not look like a New Orleans or a Paris, but there is certainly no dearth of tolerance in here.
Chalk out your Haifa Travel Guide so that you get to catch the Festivals and Events in Haifa. Nothing else brings out the character of the city best.
How to Get in
Haifa, one of the largest cities in Israel, is a picturesque city with innumerable tourist attractions. Getting to Haifa, old city of countless historical wonders can be easily accessible with the availability of different modes of transport.
By Air:
Getting to Haifa by air is very easy as its own airport named Haifa Airport that operates daily flights to and from Tel Aviv and Eilat serves the city.
By Train:
Another convenient mode of getting to Haifa is by train. Well connected with Tel Aviv, Akko, Beer Sheva and Ben International airport train journey to Haifa takes more than an hour.
By Bus:
One can also travel to Haifa through the means of Egged buses from any city of the region. Route 2 the coastal road links Haifa with Tel Aviv.
Hotels in Haifa
