A Guide To The Things To Do In Haifa, Israel

There are many interesting things to do in Haifa, Israel. This is one of the country’s most interesting cities and it would be a pity not to go when in the country.

The third biggest city in the country and allegedly its technology capital, Haifa is right on the coast, but at the same time on the hills – Carmel Mountain surmounts it. While the historical center is picturesque, the beaches are some of the best in Israel and at any time of the year they buzz with life, people running, walking their dogs, children playing, and a selection of excellent restaurants.

Many people visit Haifa on just a day trip from Tel Aviv, going to also Akko and Cesarea. I recommend spending at least a night there to fully appreciate its atmosphere.

If you are short on time, you can still make the most of the city in a day, though you may want to do a guided tour to save some time. You can book it here.

Continue reading to discover all the things to do in Haifa.

Bahai Gardens
Bahai Gardens – one of the most iconic places in Haifa

13 Fabulous Things To Do In Haifa, Israel

Explore the Bahai Gardens 

This is Haifa’s most famous attraction. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this perfectly kept park is located on the hills and counts 19 terraces. From the top one, you get incredible views of the gardens below and of Haifa, including the harbor. Inside the gardens you’ll also find the shrine of Baha’i religion, as well as a multitude of plants.

The gardens are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and the shrine can be visited from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm every day.

Haifa
Photo by Luciano Santandreu @shutterstock

Walk around the German Colony

You simply can’t go to Haifa and skip the German Colony. It sits right at the bottom of Bahai Gardens and chances are you’ll walk through it on your way there. This is Haifa’s prettiest neighborhood, first created in 1868 when a second wave of settlements hit the Holy Land. Many of the buildings are still very well kept – some are private homes, others have been turned into cafés, bars and restaurants.

Discover Wadi Nisnas

Right by the German Colony there is the Arab neighborhood of Wadi Nisnas, a maze of narrow alleys and white stone houses that is a perfect place to try some of the best street food in Haifa. If you want excellent falafels, this is where you should go. There also is a market worth exploring.

Try all the street food

As I have just said, Wadi Nisnas is a great area in Haifa to try falafel. However, go ahead and try all the other street food. Shawarma is best tried at Emil, and if you are in the mood for dough go to Houri for a pita that is stuffed to the brim with your choice of toppings (I recommend pouring copious doses of tahini over anything). For bourekas, go to Ha’agala.

Artsy Haifa
The artsy side of Haifa

Pop into Haifa Museum of Art

Haifa Museum of Art was inaugurated in 1951 and currently is one of the biggest art museums in the country. Close to Wadi Nisnas, the main focus is contemporary art with an eye for both Israeli artists as well as international ones. Keep an eye on the website of the museum for special exhibits and events.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; it’s open until 6:00 pm, on Thursdays; Fridays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Haifa
Photo by aquatarkus @shutterstock

Visit Madatech Science and Technology Museum

Located on 25 Shmaryahu Levin Street inside the premises of Technion University, this is a fun museum to visit for both adults and children, with a fantastic exhibit with special insights into green energy and installations honoring the work of scientists such as Da Vinci and Einstein.

Outside the Madatech you’ll find an outdoors sports science exhibit as well as an interactive theater – which however costs an extra fee.

The museum is open every day but Friday and Sunday. Opening time is always 10:00 am but closing time varies throughout the week. For more information, visit their website.

Haifa
Photo by YURY LEDENTSOV @shutterstock

Ride Haifa Cable Car

One of the most fun things to do in Haifa is riding the cable car. This is an excellent means of transportation that you can use to reach Stella Maris Monastery from Bat Galim Promenade and the views from it are splendid.

things to do in Haifa
Stella Maris Monastery is a must see

Go to Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery

Thought to be one of the oldest monasteries in the world, Stella Maris dates back to 1291 AD. It’s a gorgeous place to explore – and it’s free, in a country where everything is very expensive. The views from there are stunning.

You can get to the monastery by cable car. It’s open every day from 6:30 am to 12:30 pm and 3:00 to 6:00 pm.

Cave of Elijah
Photo by StockStudio Aerials @shutterstock

Visit Elijah’s Cave

Elijah’s Cave is a chapel thought to be the place where Prophet Elijah’s used to live in the 9th century BC. It’s where he taught and many of his life events took place. This place of religious worship for Christians, Muslims, Jews and even Druze is located at the foot of Carmel Mountain.

Hit the beach

Haifa easily wins the title for best beaches in Israel. Bat Galim and Dado are both are excellent places to practice sports such as surfing, kite-surfing, wind-surfing, paddle-boarding.

Bat Galim is a lovely neighborhood with a nice promenade, restaurants and cafés perfect for a walk in any season. The cable car that connects Haifa to Stella Maris Monastery departs from Bat Galim.

Dado Beach is famous for the long boardwalk and the well kept gardens, and a favorite of locals.

beaches in Haifa
Haifa beaches are great year round

Have a picnic in Carmel Park

Carmel Mountain National Park is the largest national park in Israel and it’s at just 20 minutes drive from Haifa. It’s a wonderful place to have a family picnic, to walk and even bike around and from there you can reach several archeological sites.

Browse around the Flea Market

If you are in search of a bargain or just want to peek around the stalls, go to the flea market. This is open daily, but the best day to visit is Saturday, when you’ll find the largest variety of objects – from vintage jewelry to used clothing and art pieces.

Haifa
Photo by LevT @shutterstock

Hang out in Masada Street

One of the nicest things to do in Haifa is hanging out in Masada Street. This part of town is very artsy – you will find bohemian looking people enjoying a drink; vintage shops; cute coffee shops and a lot of street art.

Walk along Louis Promenade

Known as the Balcony of the Country, Louis Promenade was built in 1992 and it’s just 400 meters long. It’s a short but nice walk through the Mediterranean woods with benches and pergolas perfect for a break and with incredible views of the sea – a great place to hang around in the late afternoon, especially in the spring and summer months.

Bahai Center
The Bahai Center, a place of worship inside the Bahai Gardens

Practical Tips To Plan Your Trip To Haifa, Israel

Where to stay in Haifa

Haifa has a good selection of places to stay. You can decide to stay either near the beach or in the city center. The following are just a few places for your consideration:

When to visit Haifa

Haifa is great at any time of year. The spring and summer months are best to enjoy the beaches and the lovely nightlife, but keep in mind Israel tends to get very hot in August. The rainiest month is January, so you may want to avoid that.

Haifa
Photo by RnDmS @shutterstock

How to get to Haifa

Haifa is well connected to the rest of Israel.

BY TRAIN: The easiest way to get there from Tel Aviv is by train. There are frequent trains and the overall journey lasts around 45 minutes to one hour.

BY BUS: You can take bus 910 from Tel Aviv Central Bus Station all the way to Haifa Hof Ha Carmel bus station. It takes around 90 minutes.

Keep in mind that public transportation does not work in Israel during Shabbat, so from Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon. If you want to go during that time, your best bet is a car rental.

You can book your car here.

How to move around Haifa

Public transportation works really well in Haifa – it’s actually the best in the country – and you can count on the bus, the light rail, the Carmelit (metro) and on a great web of service taxis to get around efficiently and cheaply.

Other useful information

I recommend getting a good travel insurance for your trip to Israel.

Get your insurance here. Check out my post Why You Need A Good Travel Insurance.

Further Readings

If you are planning a trip to Israel, make sure to read all my other posts:

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Discover the best things to do in Haifa, Israel - via @clautavani

2 thoughts on “A Guide To The Things To Do In Haifa, Israel”

  1. As someone who lived in Haifa from age 7 to 25 I totally agree with the recommendation. Haifa is wonderful city with a cool vibe and a history of tolerance and coexistence.
    There is lot’s of wonderful food in Haifa – street food as well as more upscale restaurant food.
    I would also recommend walking or hiking on the Carmel mountain (near Mukhraka, for example) and visiting the Druze villages Daliyat-Al-Karmel and Isfiya.

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