Ein Hod – Artists Village near Haifa – Visitors Guide

At artists village Ein Hod on Carmel mountain, you can see exhibitions, join workshops, visit galleries, go to concerts, and more.

Map

Ein Hod is located about 15 km south of Haifa, on the Carmel mountain. And the easiest way to reach it is by entering “Ein Hod” into Waze (link to the east entrance on Waze).

Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit

Interactive map of the area:

And here is a map of outdoor sculptures:

Note: you can click on the image of the map to enlarge it.

Parking

There are several entrances to this village, and there is a parking lot near each entrance. We visited on a weekday during Passover vacation, and by the time we arrived, the east parking lot (higher on road #7111 – called the main entrance on the map above) was full. Thus we returned to the western parking lot (two-minute drive downhill) and parked there.

In other words, we parked at the first parking we met when driving uphill on road #7111 (from road #4).

At the western parking (near #81 on the map), you can see the Nisco Museum to your right (the building with triangles on its roof) and the path to the Ein Hod amphitheater to your left.

Nisco Museum

At Nisco Museum, you can see and hear one of the world’s finest collections of antique music pieces – including musical boxes, an automatic organ, a piano that can imitate famous pianists, ancient gramophones, and antique records.

Guided tours and private concerts are held on demand. Please, book ahead.

Source: official site

Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Sunday – Saturday: 10:00-15:00.
There is a tour every round hour (when there are enough people). But better make reservations at 052-4755313 – Nisan.

Entrance fee: 30 NIS per person.

I wanted to visit the Nisco museum, but unfortunately, we did not arrive in time. We were told that the next tour would be in 45 minutes. We decided not to wait.

From the Nisco museum, we took the Israel National trail uphill toward the village center.

After about seven minutes, we reached Aba Khushi Square (near #7 on the map). And near this square, you can find art galleries and Janco Dada Museum.

Janco Dada Museum

This museum is marked by the letter “M” on the map.

The Janco-Dada Museum was opened in 1983 in the Ein Hod Artists’ Village to display the work of Marcel Janco and continue his vision for promoting art. One of the founders of the international Dada movement, Janco’s efforts led to the establishment of Ein Hod in 1953. The Museum, erected by a group of the artist’s friends, operates as a public association. It lies in the center of the village in the Carmel Mountains, some 20 km south of Haifa near the old Haifa-Tel Aviv road.

Source: official site

Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Monday – Saturday 11:00-14:00

Adult – 28 NIS
Senior citizen, child, and student – 14 NIS

During Passover (the time of our visit), Hapoalim bank offered free entrance for its clients. Hence we entered for free.

At Janco Dada Museum

The museum has three floors, and you can find contemporary art and various installations.

We (including my two-year-old daughter) spent around 40 minutes in the museum, which was a lovely visit.

After exiting the museum, we headed toward the gallery.

Ein Hod Gallery

This gallery s marked by the letter “G” on the map.

Feel the local creative pulse at the Central Art Gallery. Shared by all of the Ein Hod artists, it is one of Israel’s largest galleries. It opened with the village in 1953 – definitely a mythological establishment.

Source: official site

Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 – 14:00
Saturdays and Holidays: 11:00-16:00

Free Entrance.

It is a lovely gallery with several rooms, and we spent about twenty minutes there.

Note: I mention durations to allow some time estimations. But it was a family trip, and the kids were impatient. You might spend the same time or twice more depending on your interest and restrictions.

Restrooms

There are several public restrooms in this village. One is near the back entrance to the Ein Hod gallery, and the other is by the amphitheater.

Outdoor Sculptures

The map at the top of this article shows where you can find outdoor sculptures. And I wanted to show several photos of those art installations.

Ein Hod is filled with dozens of public artworks, mainly sculptures, that can be found at roundabouts, along streets, on house walls, inside green gardens, and in other surprising places. The sculptures were all created by local artists from metal, stone, recycled materials, and more. Though most works are found around the village center, quite a few can be seen in the southern, less touristic sections of the village, adorning streets and house entrances.

Source: official website

Restaurants

There are several restaurants and coffee shops in this village. But the variety is not wide. You can find Dona Rosa, an Argentinian meat restaurant at Aba Khushi square. Near the back entrance to Ein Hod gallery, you can see Yanukis Tavern. And there are several other places, but many are open only in the evening.

During our visit, I also saw a restaurant at the top of the amphitheater, but I could not find it on the internet.

Amphitheater

It is an active theater, and you can find the timetable of the concerts here.

The Amphitheater has been the venue for numerous performers and bands, including local ones, over the years. Being of a rather modest size, performances here are quite intimate, so artists and audiences connect directly. Sitting there, you see them up close, listen to their stories and tunes, and even sing along.

With only 450 seats, the Amphi offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing the finest artists up close. The combination of music in nature and the local liberal atmosphere helps create an unforgettable experience.

Source: official site

Many people confuse a theater and an amphitheater. Do you know what the difference between the Roman Theater and Amphitheater is? For a full explanation, check out Is Caesarea Amphitheater really an amphitheater?

On the last day of Passover each year, the women, men, and children of Ein Hod gather in a merry parade, led by a sculpted gold calf – a reminder of the calf that the People of Israel cast of their jewelry in the Sinai Desert, after receiving the Torah. A local artist whose identity is kept secret is commissioned to create a giant calf first presented on Parade Day, leading the singing and dancing crowds through the village alleyways.

When the joyous parade arrives at the Amphi, one of the village elders dressed as Moses angrily stops the celebration and orders the crowd to destroy the calf, which they do happily, cheering and chanting.

Source: official site

Additional Activities

Besides what I already mentioned, you can join tours, and workshops, go shopping, visit galleries, and wander the streets.

Summary

We spent about four hours in the village and did not participate in all activities we wanted (like the Nisco museum). It is a picturesque and lovely village, and we will return.

This area has many attractions, and you can explore them using the interactive map above.

Have you visited Ein Hod? Tell us in the comment below about your experience.

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.