When driving to northern Israel, most people are looking for a place for a break. And here is a list of attractions on the way.
Northern Israel is a broad definition, and you might be driving to Beit Shean, Sea of Galilee, or Kiryat Shmona. Thus, I will list all places north of Netanya and south of Safed.
Notes:
- There are many attractions in Northern Israel. If you want ideas, see Northern Israel – Best Attractions by Region and City.
- For most Israelis, the drive to northern Israel is the second-longest after the drive to Eilat. And if you are planning on driving to Eilat, check out 41 Attractions on the way to Eilat.
- The table below is sorted by the attraction’s location (from south to north).
- All attractions that are listed below are suitable for kids. Thus instead of adding a column suitable for kids, I added: “Do Kids Love It?”. It is a number between 1 and 10. 1 means that some children like it (depending on how good a storyteller you are), and 10 indicates that most kids will enjoy this place. This number is based on my children. But there is nobody who knows your kids better than you. Therefore, treat the number only as a suggestion.
| # | Name | Description | Location | Is it Free? | Do Kids Love It? | Rating on Google |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havat Noy Botanical Garden | Botanical gardens and a lovely place for a picnic | Kfar Monash (near Ruppin Academic Center), Emek Hefer. Near road #4. | Yes | 6 | 4.6 based on 449 reviews |
| 2 | Utopia Orchid Park | Botanical gardens with orchids, carnivorous plants, and animals | Kibbutz Bahan, Emek Hefer | No | 9 | 4.2 based on 5041 reviews |
| 3 | Crusader Castle in Qaqun | A short trail to the castle and back | Near Utopia Orchid Park | Yes | 7 | 4 based on 375 reviews |
| 4 | Agamon Hefer | Bird Watching Park with an artificial lake | Near Ein Hahoresh, Emek Hefer. Near road #4. | Yes | 7 | 4.4 based on 1744 reviews |
| 5 | Turtle Bridge at Alexander River | The viewpoint of softshell turtles and a lovely place for a picnic | Near Kfar Vitkin, Emek Hefer. | Yes | 7 | 4.4 based on 1995 reviews |
| 6 | Hadera River Park | Seaside park with a promenade around Alexander river. There is also a playground for kids and a picnic area | Near Hadera and east of Orot Rabin power station. Near road #2. | Yes | 7 | 4.3 based on 2334 reviews |
| 7 | Caesarea National Park | National park with significant archeological remains | Caesarea, by road #2 | No | 6 | 4.6 based on 18886 reviews |
| 8 | Ralli Museum | Art museum | Caesarea, by road #2 | Yes | 5 | 4.7 based on 2025 reviews |
| 9 | Taninim Stream Nature Reserve | Taninim Stream Nature Reserve is full of nature, wildlife, and archeological remains. | Near Jisr al-Zarqa, by road #2 | No | 7 | 4.4 based on 1473 reviews |
| 10 | Ramat HaNadiv | Nature park with memorial gardens. | Near Zichron Yaakov, by road #4 | Yes | 7 | 4.7 based on 7369 reviews |
| 11 | Tel Megiddo National Park | Presents the remains of the ancient city Megiddo (Armageddon). | Not far from Afula | No | 7 | 4.6 based on 2396 reviews |
| 12 | Agricultural circus | Various attractions for children | HaYogev, Near Megiddo | No | 10 | 4.5 based on 821 reviews |
| 13 | Beit Alfa Synagogue National Park | Presents one of the most preserved and beautiful mosaics in Israel. | Beit Alfa, not far from Beit Shean | No | 6 | 4.4 based on 651 reviews |
| 14 | Japanese Garden at Kibbutz Hephzibah | Japanese Garden | Kibbutz Hephzibah, not far from Beit Shean | No | 5 | 4.1 based on 193 reviews |
| 15 | Gan Garoo | Thematic zoo in Beit Shean Valley. | Nir David, not far from Beit Shean | No | 10 | 4.5 based on 2975 reviews |
| 16 | Beit Shean National Park | Has the best-preserved remains of an ancient Roman city in Israel. | Beit Shean | No | 7 | 4.7 based on 2801 reviews |
| 17 | Jordan Star National Park | Belvoir Fortress is an almost complete Crusader castle in Israel. And it is part of Jordan Star National Park (Kokhav HaYarden). | About halfway between the Sea of Galilee and Beit Shean National Park | No | 6 | 4.6 based on 1502 reviews |
| 18 | Nahal HaShofet | Trails with stunning nature and a picnic area. | Near Yokneam | Yes | 7 | 4.5 based on 675 reviews |
| 19 | Butterfly Nursery | Learn about butterflies and feed them | Not far from Atlit | No | 9 | 4.3 based on 36 reviews |
| 20 | Nahal Mearot Nature Reserve | Home to a group of prehistoric caves in which humans lived for 500,000 years. | Hof Hacarmel, not far from Haifa. | No | 6 | 4.5 based on 1945 reviews |
| 21 | Ein Hod | At the artist’s village Ein Hod on Carmel mountain, you can see exhibitions, join workshops, visit galleries, go to concerts, and more. | Carmel Mountain | It depends on the chosen activity. | It depends on the chosen activity. | It depends on the chosen attraction. |
| 22 | Karta Ruins | You can find a short-loop family track at Karta Ruins Nature Reserve. You can enjoy nature and archeological remains on this track. | Near Atlit | Yes | 6 | 4.1 based on 14 reviews |
| 23 | Finger Cave Trail | Finger Cave is a lovely loop and short track leading to a stunning cave. | Carmel Mountain | Yes | 6 | 4.7 based on 159 reviews |
| 24 | Nazareth | Nazareth has many attractions, and you will see the top sights by clicking the link. | Nazareth | Yes | 4 | |
| 25 | Dvorat HaTavor | It is a silk and honey farm with a visitors center. | Moshav Shadmot Dvora, not far from the Tavor mountain | No | 9 | 4.5 based on 611 reviews |
| 26 | Hamat Gader | Hamat Gader is a hot spring site. You can also find a crocodile farm, an archeological site, fishing ponds, and more. | By the Jordan border, not far from the Sea of Galilee | No | 8 | |
| 27 | Junge Fun | Zoo | Beit Zera, near the Sea of Galilee | No | 10 | 4.3 based on 1279 reviews |
| 28 | Galita Chocolate | At Galita Chocolate Farm, you can purchase handmade chocolate and join tasty workshops. | Kibbutz Degania Beit | No | 10 | 4.4 based on 1649 reviews |
| 29 | Rob Roy | Indian canoeing and other activities by the Sea of Galilee | On the Jordan River, near the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee | No | 9 | 4.4 based on 3447 reviews |
| 30 | Valley Museum, Kibbutz Yifat | Experiential museum showing the first days of the Kibbutz | Kibbutz Yifat | It depends on the day of the week | 7 | 4.4 based on 565 reviews |
| 31 | Beit Shearim National Park | Beit Shearim National Park is an archaeological site of an ancient Jewish town, a world-famous Jewish cemetery of the Mishnaic era. | Near Kiryat Tiv’on | No | 8 | 4.6 based on 2741 reviews |
| 32 | Little Switzerland | Hiking trails and picnic area | Mount Carmel Nature Reserve | Yes | 7 | 4.6 based on 73 reviews |
| 33 | Bethlehem Of Galilee | There is a variety of agricultural attractions in this Moshav. For example, Shvil Parot HaChalav, Harvesting Olives At Galili Olive Oil, Ktofoti, Alonei Abba Nature Reserve, etc. | Bethlehem Of Galilee | No | 7 | |
| 34 | Tzipori National Park | Presents many remains of the ancient Sepphoris, including numerous beautiful mosaics and an ancient water system. | Lower Galilee, not far from Nazareth. | No | 6 | 4.6 based on 3227 reviews |
| 35 | Hanging Bridges at Nesher Park | Lovely circular hike close to Haifa. | Nesher | Yes | 6 | 4.5 based on 81 reviews |
| 36 | Haifa | There are various attractions in the city. For a detailed list, see Haifa. | Haifa | Depending on the chosen attraction | Depending on the selected attraction | |
| 37 | Ein Afek Nature Reserve | Wetland with plenty of animals and accessible trails. | Near Kiryat Bialik | No | 7 | 4.6 based on 3152 reviews |
| 38 | Tel Yodfat National Park | Tel Yodfat and Mount Atzmon offer lovely loop trails that walk through the Hellenistic city of Jotapata and the surrounding mountains. | Near the modern Moshav Yodfat in Lower Galilee | Yes | 6 | 4.7 based on 47 reviews |
| 39 | Yodfat Monkey Forest | Monkeys and other animals | Moshav Yodfat in Lower Galilee | No | 10 | 4.5 based on 2894 reviews |
| 40 | Arbel National Park | Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve offer stunning views and a glimpse of history. | Mount Arbel near Tiberias | No | 7 | 4.7 based on 3318 reviews |
| 41 | Ein Keshatot (Umm el Kanatir) | An ancient Jewish village with an impressive synagogue from the Talmudic Period. | Golan Heights near Kibbutz Natur | No | 6 | 4.6 based on 1564 reviews |
| 42 | Tel Saki | Memorial site | Golan Heights near Ramat Magshimim | Yes | 7 | 4.7 based on 962 reviews |
| 43 | Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve | It offers a short, easy, lovely water trail that perfectly suits hot days. | The northern shore of the Sea of Galilee | No | 10 | 4.6 based on 4646 reviews |
| 44 | Korazim National Park | Chorazin was an ancient town in the Galilee | 4 km from Capernaum above the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee | No | 6 | 4.6 based on 917 reviews |
| 45 | Gamla Nature Reserve | You can see ancient Gamla, the highest waterfall in Israel, a vulture lookout, and more. | Golan Heights, not far from the Sea of Galilee | No | 5 – 7, depending on the trail | 4.6 based on 2273 reviews |
| 46 | Acre (Akko) | It is one of the world’s oldest cities, with a rich history and many historic structures. | Akko | No | Depending on the chosen attraction | Depending on the selected attraction |
| 47 | Yehiam Fortress | Fort from the Crusader and Ottoman periods. | Near Nahariya | No | 7 | 4.5 based on 2232 reviews |
| 48 | Mini Golf Parod | Mini Golf and other attractions for kids | Kibbutz Parod | No | 9 | 4.4 based on 115 reviews |
| 49 | Amud Stream Nature Reserve | Stunning nature hikes with a lot of vegetation, lovely ponds, and history. | Not far from Safed. | No | 9 | 4.6 based on 1103 reviews |
| 50 | Blue Valley Park | Blue Valley Park (Emek HaTkhelet) has easy trails for families and harder ones for experienced hikers. | Safed | Yes | 6 | 4.2 based on 562 reviews |
And if you are looking for additional ideas, browse the interactive map below.
Summary
I hope this post gave you ideas regarding what attractions you can visit on the way to or from Northern Israel. And if you have any suggestions, leave a comment below. Also, what are your favorite attractions on the way to Northern Israel?
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:- Israel Trip Planner is the page that will help you to create your perfect travel route.
- National Parks And Nature Reserves page lists and put all national parks on the map. There is also a top list, information about ticket types and campsites.
- If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, and Makhtesh Ramon.
- Wondering what events are there in Israel? Here is the Events And Festivals By Season guide.
Did not find what you were looking for? Leave a comment below, and I will do my best to answer your questions.
