The city of Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel. Bordered by the Galilee to the north and east, it acts as a great gateway to the north. When trying to decide what to do in Haifa, there are many options from museums to outdoor gardens, historical sites, religious attractions, the port and some of the country’s most beautiful views. Haifa is also famously known for the Bahá’í Gardens, an attraction not to be missed. Read our introduction to Haifa, or see the great range of things to do in Haifa that is below. You might also be interested in tours in Haifa, and hotels in Haifa.
What to do in Haifa
What to do in Haifa
The Ultimate Haifa Bucket List
Haifa, beautifully located on the Mediterranean shoreline, is not only Israel’s third-largest city but also a treasure trove of history and spectacular sights. Haifa is not always on a tourist’s list of places to visit in Israel, but there are some sites here that should not be missed. We have put together a Haifa bucket... Read More
Haifa Cable Cars
The Haifa Cable Cars, located at the tip of Haifa that juts out into the Mediterranean, are fabulous both as a quick method of transportation and as a tourist attraction. Climbing up from beside the Bat Galim Promenade all the way up to Stella Maris, the top of the Carmel ridge, the Haifa cable cars provide a view of Haifa and the bay that must be seen. Read More
Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, Haifa
The Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa is the only Japanese museum in all of the Middle East. Founded by a Holocaust survivor who hid his collection of Japanese artifacts somewhere in Holland during the war, the museum has much to offer – a genuine glimpse at the historical culture of Japan. From the samurai swords that ruled Japan with razor-sharp precision to the carefully crafted fans that imbues much of Japan's peaceful culture, the Tikotin museum is a home away from home for all things Japanese. Read More
Haifa
Haifa is Israel's third largest city, set on the slopes of Mount Carmel facing the Mediterranean. A traditionally working, industrial city, Haifa is not a tourist destination to rival its big relations Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, although it does have one or two sites which should not be missed. The most famous of these are the Bah'ai Gardens, the part of the international center of this small, yet fascinating religion, as well as Haifa's restored German Colony, and the National Museum of Science. Read More
Haifa City Museum
The Haifa City Museum is located in the Haifa's German Colony, at the foot of the famous Baha'i Gardens. Celebrating Haifa's rich cinematic past, the museum was created within an old Templar Community House originally built in 1869 and recently restored in 2000. Within the museum's old walls visitors can be taken back to the the age of the silver screen and the years that followed. The Haifa City Museum can be enjoyed by anyone, from film buffs to wide-eyed toddlers with no understanding of the cinematic legends such as Clark Gable, Alfred Hitchcock and Marilyn Monroe. Read More
Hof Hacarmel Beaches in Haifa
Hof HaCarmel is the coastal area on Haifa's western side known for its beaches. In the summer, the Dado and Zamir Beaches are full of sunbathers, swimmers and more all taking it easy in the Mediterranean sun. Fishing from the rock outcroppings, watersports such as surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, and extreme watersports like para-sailing can all be done off the coast. In the winter months, the beaches are dotted with mostly joggers and sightseers and as well as elderly men playing dominoes and backgammon. With copious amounts of cafés and restaurants along the beach strip, the boardwalk is the ideal place to watch the sun set at dinnertime. Read More
Madatech Science & Technology Museum, Haifa
The Madatech National Science, Technology and Space Museum in Haifa, is a large museum crammed with hands-on activities that will please both adults and children. Not far from the Bahai Gardens, in the Hadar neighbourhood of Haifa, the museum is housed in the large edifice which is the old Technion building. The Madatech building was built in the early 1910s, visited by Albert Einstein in 1923 and then made into a museum in 1984. Today the museum hosts some 200,000 visitors annually, many of them children on school trips. Read MoreClandestine Immigration and Navy Museum, Haifa
Just above the Bat Galim Promenade, at the foot of Mount Carmel in the city of Haifa, is the Clandestine Immigration and Navy Museum. A large museum with many hands-on exhibits including two retired ships and a submarine on display and open for exploring, the museum is operated by the Israeli Navy and Ministry of Defence so don't be surprised to find the front door locked – the guards will open it for you and ask for identification. Once inside, a short video presentation is shown giving a brief overview of the Israeli Navy's history and then the large collection of both clandestine immigration and naval maps, photographs, articles and souvenirs can be browsed. Also, for those interested, a database of war medal and decoration recipients is available behind the guard's booth. Read More
Bahai Gardens in Haifa
The Bahai Gardens is possibly the most distinct tourist attraction in all of Haifa, and is very likely the most visited. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals alike travel to the Bahai Gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa, the most holy site of the Bahai faith. Last year alone, 750,000 people enjoyed the beautiful terraces of the Bahai Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read More
Haifa’s German Colony
Haifa's German Colony is probably the culture and tourism center of this beautiful city. Located just beneath the Bahai Gardens, Haifa's largest tourist attraction, the German Colony has been beautifully restored in recent years, and is now lined with trendy cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. A visit to Haifa is not complete without exploring the German Colony, and those who do visit take away great memories. A visit is definitely one of THE things to do in Haifa. Read More
Louis Promenade, Haifa
One of the loveliest places to walk and see in all of Haifa is the Louis Promenade on Mount Carmel. This pleasantly peaceful promenade etched onto the slope of Haifa's mountain is perfect for walks, jogs, runs and basking in the warm Mediterranean sun. With an exceptional view that extends from the city of Haifa to the distant white outcropping that is Rosh NaHikra, you can see the coastal cities of Nahariya, Akko (Acre) and the Krayot with the low, green mountains of the Western Galilee. Read More