The Templars Tunnel, Old Acre (Akko) – Visitors Guide

The Templars Tunnel is an underground passage connecting the fortress and the port. It was rediscovered in 1994 due to clogged sewage.

Note: for a city guide that includes all relevant information and attractions, see Acre.

Map

Old Acre is the old part of the modern city of Acre. And Templars Tunnel, like many other tourist attractions, is located within Old Acre.

Templars Tunnel has two openings. One on Asher Street 37 and the other on Ha-Hagana Street, not far from the lighthouse.

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

Interactive map of the area:

On Google Maps above, I marked both openings. And though the following plan does not identify the Templars Tunnel, you can see the lighthouse (#41) and Khan al-Umdan (#10) near the openings.

Also, I used the word openings deliberately. You can enter and exit on each side. Thus you can walk to the West or the East entrance.

Notes: you can click on the map to enlarge it.

Old Acre Development Company

Most touristic sites in the city belong to Old Acre Development Company (official site). That allows them to sell combined tickets to various attractions in the city and outside.

The sites under their management are Hospitaller Fortress, Okashi Art Museum, Turkish Bath, Templar Tunnel, Visitors Center (near the Hospitaller Fortress), Treasures In The Walls Museum, and Ramchal Synagogue.

Opening Hours

Sites managed by Old Acre Development Company are open seven days a week.
Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 9:00 – 18:00 (till 17:00 in winter).
Friday and holiday eve: 9:00 – 16:00

Notes:

• Winter time is November – March.
• Ramchal Synagogue is closed on Saturdays and holidays.

Entrance Fee

The basic combined ticket includes Hospitaller Fortress, Turkish Bath, The Okashi Museum, Templar Tunnel, the Treasures in the Walls Museum, and Ramchal Synagogue. It costs 49 NIS per person. On top of the basic combination, you can add additional sites like Rosh Hanikra, Haypark zoo, and others. So there is a variety of combo tickets.

Note: opening hours and ticket prices were updated in January 2023. In any case, recheck the official site before visiting.

Coupons

I revisited Akko in August 2019 and used this coupon for that visit. It allows purchasing the basic combined ticket with and without the Turkish Bath at a 15% and 18% discount, respectively. I bought it through their site and received an SMS and an email with an order number. Then I told this number to the cashier at Hospitaller Fortress and received the tickets. Moreover, since coupon processing is fast, you can probably purchase through it on-site (but keep in mind there is a delay risk).

History

The Templars were a military-monastic order which – in the name of the pope – aided pilgrims and the ailing coming from Europe to visit the holy sites of the Land of Israel.

They first settled in Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount, hence their name, “the Templars,” the guardians of the Temple. Following the conquest of Jerusalem by Salah Al-Din in 1187, the Templars made their home in Acre and began to build their quarter in the city’s southwest section.

Here, at the western edge of the tunnel is where the main fortress of the Templar order was built. “The Templar Fortress was the strongest one in the city and, for the most part, it abutted the sea line. As a strong fortress, its entrance was protected by two powerful towers with 28-foot thick walls. Two smaller towers were built on either side of the towers, and each tower was topped by a gilded lion” (as described by a Templar who lived in Acre during the siege of 1291).

Source: Old Acre Development Company

The Tunnel

And now, let’s enter the tunnel.

The length of the tunnel is 150 meters, and it connects the fortress and the port.

While inside, you can watch a short movie (around ten minutes long) telling us about the tunnel and the city’s history.

Note: most of the tunnel is a regular walk, but you must crouch in several places.

Templars Tunnel was discovered by chance. In 1994, residents of a house above the tunnel complained about clogged sewerage. And when the plumber looked into it, he found the tunnel.

Note: Templars Tunnel is fully accessible.

Summary

Visiting the Templars Tunnel takes about half an hour. And it is a lovely attraction. But if you want to see the bigger picture, I suggest combining it with Hospitaller Fortress (Knights` Halls). Moreover, there are additional sites in the city. You can see them in the guide to Acre.

Have you ever been to the Templars Tunnel? 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.