3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
About 1 hour by road from Tel Aviv / 1 hour train from Tel Aviv
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
Half a day
Haifa (Israel)
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Sarah Louërat
Practical information on Haifa
Reviews of Haifa
As the third city in the country, Haifa is known for its beaches and for the luxurious gardens of the Shrine of the Báb situated on top of Mount Carmel.
My suggestion:
If you visit the Baha'i gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site, during the weekend, make sure to arrive a good hour early to ensure you have a place on the very popular guided visit.
My review
According to those who live there, 'In Jerusalem we pray, in Tel Aviv we party, in Haifa we work'. Even if it is not the best place to go out, certain parts of Haifa are however worth a detour to the north during a trip to Israel.
I found the best views of the city, naturally, from the heights of Mount Carmel and above the gardens of Baha'i. In the German colony further down, I took some beautiful photos of white stone houses and visited the Haifa City Museum, which doesn't contain much information about the city, but which does have some great temporary exhibitions.
My favourite area of the city is Wadi Nisnas: it is full of life and I found it easy to talk to many artisans. You can also find an open-air museum there: from street art to street corners. On the other hand, I found a beach that was a little too busy for my liking.
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Sarah Louërat
Haifa is Israel's third largest city. It is best known for the Bahai Gardens which are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
My suggestion:
But it would be a shame to simply equate Haifa with the Bahai Gardens. Each time I go there I like to go up to the top of the town so I can walk on Mount Carmel. The entrance to the nature reserve is on route 672, right by the university.
My review
Haifa is a big port in the north of Israel which isn't easy to learn to like. In fact, I took some time to appreciate it. However, after a few visits, I've finished by discovering its charms. The Bahai Gardens are an unmissable site during a trip to Israel, but you can also make the most of your stay in Haifa to make a trip to the top of Mount Carmel and have an incredible view of the town and the Mediterranean. Just for that a promenade (called Louis Promenade or the Tayelet) has been created along Hanassi Boulevard. Having said that, I prefer the views from Hai Bar nature reserve which is just on the outskirts of the town. You can just see the sea low down in the distance, through all the Mediterranean vegetation and you can almost forget that you are very nearly in the town.
Haifa also has some night life to enjoy, either in the German Colony at the foot of the Bahai gardens or in Masada Street's "alternative" cafes.
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Rémi Manesse
65 travelers' photos
