Galilee and the north of israel
the great places around the Galilee
We traveled all around Galilee and created the perfect tours for you.
The region of Galilee in Northern Israel is central to the ministry of Jesus that makes it a significant, religious, historic, sacred place for Christians, Jews and Muslims. Many of its towns and cities, like Cana, Capernaum, Tiberias and Nazareth, have been repeatedly mentioned in the Gospels.
Planning your Trip to Galilee
The description above may sound daunting because there are so many places of interest in the Galilee region. However, the Galilee only encompasses a total of 5,000 square miles and 80 miles from end to end. The availability of transportation and accommodations is a big factor in being able to maximize your trip around the region.
How to Get There
The beauty of traveling to Israel is that its transportation networks are highly upgraded and it’s a breeze going from one destination to another. So, the same way in Galilee, it’s only 2 hours from Tel Aviv where the Ben Gurion International Airport is. This is the usual jump-off point of international tourists, unless they’re coming from the Eilat airport, further down south.
By Plane
The best and conviniet way to see The Galilee in Israel is to take a flight and land in ben Gurion airport, than depending on where you’re going, you can take a train, a bus, a sherut taxi, a regular taxi or even drive a rental car.
By Bus
Buses are also a convenient way to travel across cities because they’re cheap, fast and reliable and they offer the most routes. The only constraint is that they don’t operate during the Sabbath, so for those times, you have no choice but to take a taxi.
By Train
If you’re heading to Western Galilee, the train runs along the Mediterranean coast to get to Nahariya.
By Ship
Taxis are also convenient but may get to be expensive unless you fix a rate before you leave for your destination.
Rent a Car
Renting a car will also work provided you have an international driver’s license, you’re familiar with the driving rules and regulations and you know the area like the back of your hand. It would be too much of a hassle to be lost.
If you truly want to enjoy the experience of being in Galilee, it is better to go around by busses and on foot.
The main attractions in the Galilee area is the view of the great mountain that srround the area. there are a places for all faiths the religious monuments that are the epitome of Judaism, Christianity, bahai and Islam.
a must see Sights and Attractions
The Galilee region has a lot to offer its visitors. Its bountiful natural resources provide a stunning backdrop of mountains, lakes, waterfalls and deserts complete with teeming wildlife and fauna. Aside from these, the area is also dotted with sites of religious significance for Christians, Jews and Muslims. You also can’t miss the gastronomic delights of Middle Eastern cuisine. All in all, the trick is to be able to savor the complete experience as only a trip to Galilee can imprint.
The Sea of Galilee, Tiberias – or Lake Kinneret or Lake Tiberias is the site of many of Jesus’ miracles, like His walking on the water, His feeding 5,000 people, His Sermon on the Mount (overlooking the Sea of Galilee) and His calming the storm.
Mount of Beatitudes, Tiberias – is a hill located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee that is believed to be the site where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. The Roman Catholic Franciscan chapel now sits on top of the hill.
Chapel of the Primacy of St. Peter, Tiberias – this chapel was believed to have been where Jesus Christ appeared for the third time after His resurrection and during which time he conferred on St. Peter the primacy over the Church.
Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth – was built on the site of the Virgin Mary’s original home in Nazareth. Many Christians went on a pilgrimage to this site believing that it is where the Angel Gabriel spoke with Mary and told her that she will bear the Son of God. It is considered the largest Church in the Middle East.
St. Gabriel’s Church, Nazareth – according to the Greek Orthodox Church, St. Gabriel’s Church is the site where Gabriel announced the future birth of Christ to the Virgin Mary. According to their gospel, the well from which Mary drew her water from stands on the very grotto within St. Gabriel’s Church.
Holy Places of the Baha’i Faith, Acre – are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. They are the first sites from a new religion to ever be included in the List. They include the Mansion of Bahji, their Qiblih, the House of Abbud, the House of Abdullah Pasha and the Garden of Ridvan.
Explore Galilee
there are many reasons to travel and explore galilee area, here you can see few important places to visit, stay in, and enjoy your visit there.
If it is a holy place or the view is amazing there, one thing is for sure, you will enjoy it!
What you can add to your trip in Galilee
Sderot Ga’aton
Is Nahariya’s main avenue that runs across the City from east to west. It is Nahariya’s main attraction and central business and entertainment districts. The beaches of Nahariya are a bustling activity center with their promenades, hotels and lively nightlife.
The City of Safed
Is Galilee’s capital, one of Judaism’s Four Holy Cities and is known as the center for Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism).
Tel Megiddo, Nazareth
Is an impressive national park containing the well-preserved remains of several civilizations. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Old City of Acre, Acre
Has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the presence of many archeological discoveries, like the underground passageway leading to a fortress of the Knights Templar.
Karmiel Dance Festival, Karmiel
Originally began as a celebration of Israeli folk dance, it has now encompassed many dance forms from around the world. The festival which is usually celebrated for 3 days and nights in July attracts thousands of dancers and spectators from different countries.
The geography of the galilee
The region occupies practically one third of Israel, its geographic borders naturally defined by the mountain ranges and bodies of water that surround it. The North is bordered by Lebanon. Its East side extends from Dan (in the North) down to the Sea of Galilee and even further down until you reach the Gilboa mountain range. Its west side is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea extending to the South until you reach the base of Mt. Carmel extending over the Jezreel Valley with the Gilboa mountains to its South.
Considering this extensive location, Galilee has been traditionally and geographically divided into three sub-regions:
Lower Galilee is bounded on the South by the Mountains of Carmel and Gilboa, and the Jordan River on the East. The cities in Lower Galilee include Nazareth and Afula that lie on the Beit Hekerem Valley.
Upper Galilee extends from where Lower Galilee ends. From Beit Hakerem Valley, it extends northwards until Southern Lebanon. This sub-region covers the cities of Tsfat (Safed), Shaghur, Karmiel and Tiberias with the Sea of Galilee on their East side.
Western Galilee covers the Northern Coastal plain that extends from the Mediterranean Coast off the Port of Haifa up to the Israel-Lebanon border. Nahariya and Acre are in this sub-region.
Natural Attractions
There are few places for every family to enjoy, therefore makes learning about its history fun for children through these tourist attractions and nature for kids.
Mount Meron – the highest peak in Upper Galilee that rises 1,208 meters above sea level.
Hula Lake Nature Reserve – is one place to see huge flocks of birds that migrate from the cold climate areas back to Africa passing through the Hula-Jordan corridor.
In each of the cities, there are always specialty shops that showcase each region’s handicrafts, delicacies and other potential souvenir items. You may either visit the shopping malls (for the airconditioning) or if you want to experience the culture and artistry of the area, it is best that you visit their markets to get the real flavor of Galilee.
For those with beachside attractions, it is naturally endowed with a lof of promenades that offer freshly caught seafood in their restaurants. Many cafes and bars are also lined up to take advantage of the relaxing ambience of the Mediterranean Sea. Families can also enjoy the different water sports activities available, from cruising, fishing, sailing and even health spas.