Haifa, Israel: travel guide
Terraced gardens and sea views stepping down Mount Carmel
A port city rising up the slopes of Mount Carmel, best known for the terraced Bahá'í Gardens and Shrine of the Báb, its German Colony, mixed Jewish-Arab neighbourhoods and Mediterranean views.
About Haifa
Haifa climbs the slopes of Mount Carmel to the Mediterranean, and its steep streets and viewpoints give it one of the most dramatic settings in Israel. The mood is calmer and more mixed than in the larger cities, with Jewish and Arab neighbourhoods side by side.
The centrepiece is the Bahá'í Gardens, a series of terraces leading down from the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb. Below, the German Colony has a leafy boulevard of restaurants and cafes, and the city's Arab quarters are known for good food. The beaches and the cable car along the coast offer easy ways to enjoy the sea.
Haifa suits visitors who like gentle exploring and good views. Spring and autumn are comfortable, while summers are warm and humid.
- Country
- Israel
- Currency
- ILS
- Time zone
- Asia/Jerusalem
- Nearest airport
- HFA
Last updated
Top places to visit in Haifa
Mount Carmel & Carmel National Park
National park · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The forested Carmel range rising behind Haifa, Israel's largest national park, with hiking trails, springs, caves and Mediterranean woodland.
Stella Maris Monastery
Carmelite monastery · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Carmelite order's mother church on the tip of Mount Carmel, a domed 19th-century monastery associated with the prophet Elijah and overlooking the bay.
Elijah's Cave
Holy cave · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A grotto at the foot of Mount Carmel revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims as linked to the prophet Elijah, a place of prayer and pilgrimage.
Haifa Museum of Art
Museum · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A municipal art museum in central Haifa exhibiting Israeli and international modern and contemporary art.
National Maritime Museum
Maritime museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ₪35 (≈ ₹1,090)
A museum of five thousand years of seafaring in the eastern Mediterranean, with ancient anchors, ship models, coins and maritime archaeology.
Clandestine Immigration & Naval Museum
History museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₪20 (≈ ₹620)
A museum built around the Af-Al-Pi-Chen ship telling the story of illegal Jewish immigration to Mandate Palestine and the Israeli navy.
Haifa Cable Car (Bat Galim)
Aerial cable car · 4.0 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A short cable car in spherical cabins that climbs from the Bat Galim seafront up to Stella Maris, giving views over the port and bay.
Dado Beach
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A popular public beach along Haifa's coastline with a promenade, cafes, and family-friendly facilities.
Bahá'í Gardens & Shrine of the Báb
Bahá'í shrine & gardens · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Nineteen dramatic terraced gardens cascading down Mount Carmel around the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Haifa's signature view.
German Colony (Ben Gurion Avenue)
Historic avenue · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A leafy 19th-century Templer avenue of restored stone houses running from the port up toward the Bahá'í Gardens, lined with restaurants, bars and cafés.
Louis Promenade (Yefe Nof)
Panorama promenade · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A clifftop walkway along the crest of Mount Carmel giving sweeping panoramas over the Bahá'í Gardens, the port and the Mediterranean bay to Akko.
Wadi Nisnas
Arab quarter & market · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A historic Arab neighbourhood of narrow lanes, a lively food market and outdoor "Museum Without Walls" street art, a symbol of Haifa's coexistence.
Things to do
- Bahá'í Gardens Guided Tour Walking Tour · 1 h
- German Colony & Wadi Nisnas Walk Walking Tour · 2 h · from ILS 70 per person
- Mount Carmel Nature Hike Hiking · 3 h · from ILS 120 per person
- Akko (Acre) Old City Day Trip Day Trip · 6 h · from ILS 250 per person
Day trips and tours
- Haifa & Akko Day Tour 7 h · from ILS 300
Where to stay in Haifa
- German Colony about ILS 600 per night
Haifa's prettiest base, at the foot of the Bahá'í Gardens with restaurants along Ben Gurion Avenue.
- Carmel Center about ILS 750 per night
Up on Mount Carmel with the best views, boutique hotels and the Louis Promenade.
Hotels
- Colony Hotel Haifa 4-star · ILS 600 to ILS 950 per night
- Villa Carmel Boutique Hotel 4-star · ILS 650 to ILS 1,000 per night
- Port Inn Guesthouse 2-star · ILS 140 to ILS 420 per night
- Dan Panorama Haifa 4-star · ILS 800 to ILS 1,500 per night
Where to eat
- Fattoush Levantine, Arab, Mediterranean · about ILS 110 per person
- Douzan Levantine, European, Mediterranean · about ILS 120 per person
- Abu Yousef Levantine, Arab, Middle Eastern · about ILS 50 per person
- Hanamal 24 Mediterranean, Israeli, Contemporary · about ILS 250 per person
- Maayan HaBira Central European, Jewish, Israeli · about ILS 100 per person
Getting to Haifa
Airport: Haifa (HFA)
Getting around
- Bus
- Funicular
- Taxi
- Walking
More in Israel
Frequently asked questions about Haifa
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Haifa?
- The highest-rated places in our Haifa guide are Bahá'í Gardens & Shrine of the Báb, Mount Carmel & Carmel National Park, Stella Maris Monastery, Elijah's Cave, Dado Beach.
- Where should I stay in Haifa?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Haifa: German Colony, Carmel Center.
- How do I get around Haifa?
- Ways to get around Haifa covered in our guide: City bus, Funicular, Taxi, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Haifa?
- The nearest airport to Haifa has the code HFA.