Bethlehem of Galilee – Visitors Guide – Attractions and More

Bethlehem of Galilee is a historical Moshav in northern Israel. Today, you can find Templer buildings and agricultural attractions there.

Map

As its name suggests, Bethlehem of Galilee is situated in the Galilee area, about ten kilometers from Nazareth and 30 kilometers east of Haifa.

Interactive map of the area:

Attractions at Bethlehem of Galilee

Most attractions are agricultural and located near Bethlehem of Galilee. Let’s start with an overview of the attractions and then visit the moshav.

1. Shvil Parot HaChalav

Shvil Parot HaChalav is a dairy farm that offers behind-the-scenes tours. The tours include various activities for kids, and you can read my Shvil Parot HaChalav guide to learn more.

2. Harvesting Olives at Galili Olive Oil

From September to November, you can join olive harvesting tours. And if you would like to know more, check out Harvesting Olives At Galili Olive Oil.

3. Ktofoti – Self-Picking

Ktofoti is a self-picking farm. If you want to visit it, check out my guide about Ktofoti.

4. Derech Hatavlinim

Derech Hatavlinim is not just a spices and herbs store. They also offer workshops and hold tours and festivals. And now they have food trucks and sell food.

5. The Rabbit Village

The Rabbit Village – Neger Farm is a tourist attraction in Bethlehem of Galilee. And the highlight is feeding rabbits.

6. Alonei Abba Nature Reserve

Alonei Abba is a small nature reserve in Lower Galilee. It offers lovely short trails that are perfect for families with children and are a good place for a picnic. You can find additional information at Alonei Abba Nature Reserve.

Bethlehem of Galilee

Basic Info

Bethlehem of Galilee is a moshav in northern Israel. Located in Galilee near Kiryat Tivon, around 10 kilometers north-west of Nazareth and 30 kilometers east of Haifa, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Jezreel Valley Regional Council. In 2016 it had a population of 788.

The modern moshav is located at the site of the ancient Israelite settlement known as Bethlehem of Zebulun or Bethlehem Zoria. The town existed as a Christian settlement in the classic era and was populated during the Middle Ages. It was reestablished as a Templer Bet Lam colony in the 19th century and turned into a Jewish moshav in 1948.

Source: Wikipedia

Much of the original Templer architecture survives and is similar in style to the homes built by the Templars in other parts of the country, such as Sarona in Tel Aviv and the German colonies of Haifa and Jerusalem.

In recent years, tourism has replaced agriculture as the main economic branch. A dairy, a herb farm, restaurants, and country-style accommodation are among the tourist-oriented businesses in the village today.

Source: Wikipedia

In the Moshav

Bethlehem of Galilee is a small moshav. You can drive along the main road (you continue straight from the entrance) till you see a big parking lot to your right. You can leave your car there and start walking.

All Templer buildings were converted to residential houses. All except this one:

And here are some other buildings:

If you walk along the street until the end, you will see a turn to the left (to the north). You will shortly reach Shvil Parot HaChalav by continuing with that dirt road.

Regarding Bethlehem of Galilee, the Moshav is small, and I cannot say it is a tourist spot. There is only one explanation sign, and almost all the houses are residential. Thus, I would not drive there only to visit the Moshav. But, if you are already there, you can take a short stroll.

Summary

There are many agrotourism attractions in this area. Most attractions are not big, and several hours will be enough to cover each one. Thus, you can combine several points of interest for a half-day tour.

What are your favorite attractions in the Bethlehem of Galilee area? Tell us in the comments below.

That’s all for today, and I’ll see you in future travels!

Stay Tuned!

Additional Resources

Here are several resources that I created to help travelers:

• Trip Planner with Attractions and Itineraries is the page that will help you create your perfect travel route.
• What is the Best Time to visit Israel? To answer this question, we will consider the weather, prices, holidays, festivals, and more.
• Information and Tips for Tourists to Israel will answer the most common questions tourists have about Israel (including safety, passports, weather, currency, tipping, electricity, and much more).
• Israel National Parks and Nature Reserves include a complete list, top ten, map, tickets (Israel Pass, Matmon, combo), and campsites.
• If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, Akko (Acre), Eilat, Nazareth, Safed (Tzfat), and Makhtesh Ramon.