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Haifa itineraries for nature walks

The tour itineraries enable you to enjoy nature, tour some of the green Haifa wadis and encounter rich flora, running water, fruit orchards and sites of historic interest. All itineraries are marked by the Nature Protection Society standard signposts.

AHUZA RIVER

This is a circular itinerary, beginning and ending at the junction of Freud and Vitkin Streets. The tour is suitable for all ages, all year round, although the last section towards Lachish Street is steep. Parking – on the streets nearby or indoor parking at the Horev Center. On route you will see diverse Carmel flora and enjoy the spectacular vista as you approach the small Ahuza Springs and the remaining orchards.

SIAH RIVER

Length of tour – about 3 hours. It is suitable for all ages, all year round. The walk begins near building no.12 on Lotus Street and ends at the beginning of the Siah River or at the ascent to the Kababir village. Main sites – Siah River Gorge, Ein Meshotetim, the ancient Carmelite ensemble, the 2 floor cave, Ein Siah and the orchard. The route passes through one of the most beautiful and important gorges in Haifa, which offers a wonderful combination of nature, rare and special flora, historical sites, running springs and panoramic views.

LOTEM RIVER

Length of tour – about 2 hours. It is suitable for all ages, all year round. Parking – along Hanassi Avenue, Dafna Street or Yefe Nof Street. There is also organised parking in the Panorama Center, accessible from Yefe Nof Street. The walk starts in Gan Ha’em and ends on Derech Hayam Street. Return to the Carmel Center by bus no. 3. The Lotem River is one of Haifa’s most beautiful natural sites. It has abundant flora and after only a few minutes walk you will feel in the heart of nature far from the bustle of the city. Enjoy the quiet and the chirping of the birds, get an impression of the rich flora and after a short rest, climb back to Gan Ha’em.

WALKING TOUR ITINERARIES CITY SITES

KABABIR AHMEDI VILLAGE

Length of tour – 30 minutes, including entrance to the mosque or about 2 hours including descent to the Siah riverbed, tour and return to the village. Parking-in Kababir. Main attractions – the village mosque and houses, panoramic views southwards from the public gardens. Kababir’s location on the western end of one of the most beautiful Carmel spurs is a convenient descent point to the Siah River for a tour of the springs, the orchards and the Carmelite Monastery. The climb back to the village is NOT an easy one.

CARMEL CENTER

Length of tour – about 60 minutes at a normal walking pace without entering sites. Parking – as for itinerary , start and ending points near the Kaiser Monument on Yefe Nof Street. The excursion includes a large choice of possibilities, with a delightful combination of nature and city panoramas and clean air, commerce, culture and entertainment centers. From the Kaiser Monument, turn left to Dafna Street and from there to Hanassi Avenue for a left turn to the Japanese Museum, on to the Museum of Prehistory on Hatishbi Street – to the Biological Institute and to the Zoo through Gan Ha’em (the starting point for itinerary no.3). From here continue to the Carmel center to the Rothschild Theater Complex and the nearby Mania Shohat Garden. Cross Moriah Avenue, return to the Carmel Center and stroll through the Panorama Shopping Mall to the Mane Katz Museum and back to the Kaiser Monument.

FROM THE SCULPTURE GARDENS TO THE BAHAI SHRINE

This is a short walking tour. Parking – on the 2nd of November Street, just below the Sculpture Gardens. After a stroll around the sculptures in the Garden, descend to Zionut Avenue to the Bahai Temple and Gardens. This is a short walk, no more than 500m. each way, but the return is a steep one.

STELLA MARIS, CAPE CARMEL

Parking at the site. This itinerary includes a tour of Cape Carmel sites with the option of descent by foot to Elijah’s Cave or by cablecar to the Bat Galim seafront promenade. Cape Carmel offers panoramic views, a visit to the Carmelite Monastery and a visit to the Sacred Heart Chapel (the short tour). From the Chapel there is a footpath. marked by the Nature Protection Society, to Elijah’s Cave. This longer tour is about 1 kilometer from the parking lot to the Cave.

HADAR

The starting and ending point is at the Haifa Museum. Length of itinerary – about 90 minutes normal walking, without entering the sites. Parking – either along Shabtai Levy Street, in front of the Haifa Museum or at one of the parking garages in nearby Levontin St. Start the tour at the Haifa Museum which includes three types of exhibitions: ancient and modern art, music and ethnology. Further on, climb the Dor Steps to Herzlia Street and then via the Ben Shemen Steps continue to the Technological Museum (Daniel & Mathilde Recanati Center) situated in the old Technion building. in the nearby garden, Albert Einstein planted a palm tree during his visit in Israel on February 11,1923. Continue along Jerusalem Street to the Binyamin Gardens, return along the Nordau Pedestrian Mall to Balfour Street and then along Bialik Street to the City Hall and the Remembrance Gardens overlooking Haifa Port, past Hanevi’im Tower and back to Haifa Museum through Shabtai Levy Street.

THE GERMAN COLONY

Length of tour is about 30 minutes. Park along Ben Gurion or Hameginim Avenues, close to the junction between the two as the starting and ending points of the tour is the north eastern corner. The tour runs along many mansions and sites which are milestones in the development of the German Colony: No.5 Meir Street – an educational institution built in 1870 by George David Hardog, one of the founders of the colony. Between 1888-1948 it was used as a German – Catholic Hospital. No.11 Ben Gurion Avernue – The People’s House built in 1869. Before reclaiming, the sea shore extended to the junction of Ha’atzmaut Road and Ben Gurion Ave and it is here that Kaiser Wilhelm II disembarked in 1898. No.12 Ben Gurion Avenue – The mansion of Yaakov Schumacher, who was the U.S. consul in the Templar days. No.16 Ben Gurion Avenue – The residence of Sir Laurence Oliphant. No.24 Ben Gurion Avenue – A typical courtyard from Templar days.

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Ben-Gurion Boulevard Haifa

German Colony is a historic, happening neighborhood where the Baháʼí World Center and its leafy terraces attract 1 million pilgrims a year. Ben-Gurion Boulevard is lined with hotels, cafes, and restaurants, some in renovated Templer buildings. Located near the harbor, Haifa City Museum displays exhibits in an 1890s building. There are many bars in the colony, making it a popular nightlife destination. There are restaurants, cafes, and boutique hotels on both sides of this boulevard, which starts in a small but beautiful shopping center and leads up to the Bahai Garden.

The Dor Tantura resort and Dor Beach

The Dor resort is located at the foot of Carmel on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in front of an island chain of natural islands surrounded with a stunning view of white sand and a chain of blue lagoons. One of the historical places in Israel is Dor, formerly an important port and fishing town, which has a lot of remains from previous periods. The Dor resort village includes a beach within walking distance of the holiday apartments, a promenade, green lawns, an amphitheater, a children's club, a beach restaurant, a fishing harbor, and seating areas. In front of the Mediterranean Sea, near the chain of natural and magical islands of the Dor coast, the Dor resort lies at the foot of Carmel. Among the apartments and holiday rooms available at the Dor resort are lawns, ornamental corners, sitting and barbecue areas, restaurants, a declared swimming area and a breathtaking sea view. Throughout July and August, a family-friendly entertainment program will include: artist shows, dance sessions, and karaoke nights. More in the immediate vicinity: A lovely, spring-like hiking trail starting at Bonim Beach along Dor Bonim Reserve, a magical nature reserve full of special bays and islands, a marked route along which you can see fascinating natural phenomena, a bay of oysters, the "Blue Cave" geysers, a sunken ship, and on these spring days also amazing blossoms. The path leads to the remains of Tel Dor - remains of a city from the Phoenician, Hellenistic and Phoenician periods, Tel Dor is mentioned in the Bible as one of King Solomon's capitals The glass museum in Kibbutz Nachsholim, established in 1891 by Baron Rothschild as a factory for glass bottles for use by the area's wineries, today serves as an underwater archeology museum and offers a variety of spectacular findings from different periods throughout the area's history.

City of Haifa - Special Attractions

Haifa is known as the capital city of the north of Israel, and has earned this title rightfully. With plenty of activities and attractions year round, whether you’re planning a day trip or a long-weekend vacation, a family trip or a romantic getaway, Haifa has much to offer. Haifa is the third largest city in Israel and is situated in the natural bay between the Mediterranean Sea and the Carmel Mountain. This unique “mountain city by the sea” offers breathtaking panoramas from almost anywhere. It enjoys the advantages of being the educational and cultural center of the north; hosting a mix of old and new urban architecture with the natural scenery of both water and forest; and a unique Mediterranean atmosphere and temperament. Home to 270,000 inhabitants, members of five different religions, living side by side in harmony, peace and mutual respect, Haifa offers a rich tapestry of contrasts and colors, varying cultures, and ethnic groups that make up the fabric of life in the city. Secular, Religious and Ultra-Orthodox Jews live side by side with Christians, Moslems, Bahai and Druze. The following is a shortlist of "Top Haifa Special Attractions": Bahai Gardens and Shrine Considered the eighth wonder of the world, this beautiful golden-domed shrine is located on the Carmel Mountain and is the site of the administrative and spiritual center of the Bahai religion. The remains of Said Ali Muhammad, one of the two founders of the Bahai religion, are buried inside the shrine. The shrine is surrounded by the spectacular Bahai gardens, planted in 1909 and nurtured ever since. The Stella Maris Carmelite Church and Monastery An impressive church of the Carmelite Order that serves as a pilgrimage center. The Church also houses a collection of antiquities. The monastery served as a hospital for Napoleon's soldiers and a monument to French soldiers was erected in front of the Church. Elijah’s Cave The focal point of Elijah the Prophet's activity, the cave has since become a pilgrimage site for believers of the three main religions. Visitors and pilgrims alike have recorded many inscriptions on the cave's walls, including Greek names and a Menorah. Gan Ha-psalim (Sculpture Garden) A beautiful setting for twenty two bronze sculptures donated to the city by the sculptress Ursula Malbin that are set in a garden overlooking Haifa bay and the Galilee landscape. Technion, Israel Institute of Technology The Technion is located in the Neve Sha'anan neighborhood. This institution for higher technological studies is famous worldwide for its scientific achievements. The Coler Visitors Center screens a film on the Technion's history. University of Haifa Haifa University is situated on one of the Carmel Mountain peaks. It is outstanding for its modern planning and three graduate buildings. For spectacular views of Haifa and the Bay area, visit the lookout point in the Eshkol Tower, the University's main building. The University also houses an art gallery with works displayed by artists, victims of the holocaust. A tour of the site includes the Visitors Center where a film is shown and a call at the Reuben and Edith Hecht Archaeological Museum. Wadi Nisnas Wadi Nisnas, with its colorful market and bustling streets is an authentic Middle Eastern neighborhood. The Wadi is also the heart of the “holiday of holidays” festival, an annual winter celebration of collaboration between the Christian, Muslim and Jewish religions.

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