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Home , Atlit, Cable cars in Haifa, Ein Hod, Haifa, Mount Carmel, Rosh HaNikra (kibbutz)

Top attractions in Shalom Maccabi delegates and family members! I would like to share some of the top attractions to visit during your stay in Haifa area. Haifa is a beautiful, modern, and attractive city built on the slopes of the picturesque more than 3000 years ago. Today Haifa is the third largest city in with a mixed population of , , , and many other ethnicities and religions. Haifa is the “Capital city” of northern Israel with a large seaport, ever-expanding cultural and gastronomic scene, some top universities, and lots of attractions both for tourists and locals. Beyond the list below, there is much, much more to do and to see in Haifa and the surrounding area. Places like the “Madatech” museum, the city of , Habonim-Dor beach, Ein-hod village of artists, and many other will make your stay in Haifa area an unforgettable experience. It’s easy to navigate in Israel using the maps or WAZE apps, and GETT taxi. If you need more information, guidance, or directions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Have a great trip; I’m sure you will enjoy it!

Daniel Gurevich Maccabi World Union Shaliach [email protected]

Here are some of the top “must see’s” in Haifa and the Haifa area 1. Baha'i and Gardens

The extraordinary Baha'i Gardens is the top attraction in town. The Baha'i Shrine, with its golden dome, is the city's landmark monument. It contains the tomb of Iranian Mirza Al Mohammed, who declared himself "Bab" ("gateway" to God) in 1844 and founded the Baha'i faith. Ali Mohammed was assassinated in Tabriz () in 1850, and his successor, Mirza Hussein Ali, who became known as Bahá'u'lláh, fled to the where he proclaimed himself Imam in 1868. He died in 1892, having been held in captivity at Akko for 24 years. His followers secretly brought the remains of his predecessor, Mirza Ali Mohammed, from Iran to Haifa and built his tomb here. Today, the terraced gardens and shrine are an incredibly tranquil and beautiful memorial as well as an immaculate example of garden landscaping. UNESCO has declared them a World Heritage Site for their cultural and natural beauty. For those of the Baha'i faith they are also an important place of . The Shrine of the Bab, towards the top of the , contains the tomb of Mirza Ali Mohammed. Address: Off Yefe Nof Street, Central Haifa Official site: www.ganbahai.org.il

2. Cable Car

The Haifa cable car is the easiest way to get the steep hill to the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery and by far the most fun. There are excellent panoramic vistas over the city and its major points of interest all the way up, making this an excellent activity for photographers. Even if you're not interested in visiting the monastery itself, the views from the lookout point at the top of the hill, across the sprawl of Haifa and out to the Mediterranean, are well worth the ride to the summit.

Address: Entry from HaHaganah Street, Galshanim Beach 3. Downtown

Before the modern State of Israel, the Ottoman Empire established the industrial , and the British Mandate government followed suit, making the downtown area their center of business and commerce.

Many of the buildings here look new but date back to the 18th century. In the springtime, orange trees blossom inside the complex of a pretty convent turned children’s home. This was once the headquarters of the Ottoman government.

These days the Downtown is the BEST place for shopping, food, and nightlife. Outdoor concerts and live music make it a cool and young place to be in both day and night.

You may also consider visiting the Waddy Nisnas area while you’re already going to the Downtown.

Address: just ask for the downtown or get to Paris square and start your tour

4. Beaches

Haifa has two main beaches. Bat Galim Beach is a favorite with water sports enthusiasts. Windsurfers and kiteboarders take to the waves on sunny days, and you'll find water sports operators here who rent equipment and give lessons. Hof HaCarmel Beach is more about laid-back sunbathing and general lounging and is a favorite spot for local families on sunny weekends. Both beaches have excellent facilities, with cafés along the shore. Sun shades and lounge chairs are available for rent.

You may also enjoy the Dado beach and it’s Israeli dance party. It’s every Saturday at 11 am.

If you are ready to drive just a couple of miles down south, you can easily get to Habonim-Dor nature reserve. It is a beautiful and picturesque beach, a coastal strip with more bays and inlets than any other in Israel. Wild, primeval scenery and unique natural values are intertwined here, and walking trails and campgrounds have been set up for visitors. Alongside this nature reserve are the Dor Habonim marine nature reserve, and National Park.

5. Mount Carmel If you have your own wheels, cruising around the slopes of Mount Carmel makes an excellent day trip from Haifa. The big historic sightseeing attraction here is the Carmelite Monastery of St. , where according to tradition, Elijah set up an altar during his conflict with the priests of . The small settlements that speckle the slopes of the mountain are just as interesting as the church, if not more so. is an artists' village riddled with galleries. Bet Oren, on the lower slopes, is where the remains of the "Carmel Man" (a skeleton unearthed in caves six kilometers west of the actual village) was found. The remains, and other finds from the site, are now in 's Rockefeller Museum. Address: off Tchernikovsky Street, West Haifa

6. Akko (Acre) and Rosh- Hanikra Akko is a great place to visit and spend half a day. As well as the amazing history the city can boast, the has a large number of incredibly popular style restaurants specializing in the fish caught by the local fishermen. It’s easy to get to Akko and you can even take a boat tour from Haifa’s seaport. If you decide to drive to Akko don’t miss Rosh-Hanikra! The Rosh HaNikra grottoes are cavernous tunnels formed by sea action on the soft chalk rock. The total length is some 200 meters. They branch off in various directions with some interconnecting segments. A tunnel was built by the British for the Haifa- railroad line, and in 1968 a second one was dug, both connecting the grottoes with each other and allowing access (currently: only exit) along the former route of the British railroad. For many years though, the only access to the grottoes was from the sea and the native swimmers and divers were the only ones capable of visiting. The 400 meters long tunnel dug in 1968 between the grottoes and slightly above sea level improved the situation, and soon after a cable car was built to take visitors down from the top of the cliff to the tunnels

Here are several ideas for unusual places to visit while you are in Israel: - Ortal chocolate shop and some of the greatest boutique wineries in Israel. The city os Zefat- Just stroll the old city! - Try (not) to get lost in the zodiac sign alleys. Ha- and the seaport of Tel-Aviv- great place for a nice evening walk. Jerusalem- try to visit the small villages around the city: Zuba, Ora, Aminadav, Ein- Karem, Even-Sapir, Beit-Zait, Abu-Gosh. You will love it! Ha-Ella Valley- a Beautiful area with lots of boutique wineries and nature sites. Don’t miss the Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve. Mitzpe Ramon- Great place to enjoy the beauty of the desert. Sde Boker- Visit the residence of Ben Gurion, the first prime minister of the state of Israel and one of it’s founders. You’ll be surprised how “fancy” it is.