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About Haifa
The modern city of Haifa boasts a unique combination of spectacular views, stunning nature, and European culture with distinct Middle East flavor.
In the early years of the State of Israel, there were only three large cities in Israel, and here’s how they were characterized: Jerusalem studies, Tel Aviv dances, and Haifa sleeps.
How times have changed! The huge, modern Haifa Port, the refineries, and the chemical, cement, and steel industries have turned Haifa into a highly industrialized city which still maintains its natural beauty- in fact, it can be argued that Haifa is one of the most beautiful cities in Israel!
Its dramatic descent from the Carmel Mountains to the sea, the Baha'i gardens and golden dome which are suspended on the slopes of the mountain, the surrounding sea, and a unique combination of spectacular views, stunning nature, and European culture with distinct Middle East flavor make Haifa a popular destination for tourists.
In addition to its beauty, the city also has several holy sites. Jewish and Christian pilgrims visit the Cave of Elijah the Prophet and the Carmelite Monastery near the Tower of Light in Stella Maris.
In earlier years, Haifa was one of the best maintained cities in Israel. It had many public parks, and the houses were adorned with flowers and gardens. The mayor, Abba Hushi, would wander the streets every day and collect buckets of cigarettes and other trash into the small garbage bins which lined the streets. Haifa was, in short, a pleasant, quiet town of laborers.
The city changed during the 1970’s, and it has turned into a vibrant academic city. The Technion, the first academic engineering institution in the Middle East, grew impressively, and it was followed by the University of Haifa and several other colleges. On the university campus near the port, there are housing complexes and many pubs and bars, alongside entertainment and cultural venues for the students and city residents.
And a bit of modern history... It is unclear whether Haifa would have become a large and prosperous city had it not been for the discovery of one of the largest oil fields in the world in Kirkuk, in southern Iraq. In 1927, the British began plans to connect the oil fields to a port in the Mediterranean, and Haifa was chosen as the port of departure for the oil pipeline for several reasons: the continuity of British rule from Iraq to the port of Haifa; the existing infrastructure for a new deep water port and refineries; and the suitability of Haifa Bay, with its many available areas along the shore, for the mooring of oil tankers. The train between Haifa and Damascus also ran along part of the route. When the job of laying the pipeline and building the port was completed in 1933, many of the German Jews who inhabited the upper region of the Carmel also arrived. With the end of World War II, there were moments when Haifa’s population exceeded those of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Start your tour of Haifa from the beautiful balcony above the Baha'i Gardens. You’ll have a great view of the city and the entire northern region. From there, walk down to the mausoleum with the golden dome located in the center of the well-kept Persian garden. As you enter, you’ll see the grave of the founder of the Baha'i religion, and there are materials which explain her story and the tenets of her faith.
Continue your descent from the Carmel until you reach the German Colony with its beautiful stone houses adorned with inscriptions from the Bible and the New Testament. Until World War II, German Christians lived in this area as they believed that hard work would pave the way to Christ and redemption. During the war, they were expelled from the country by the British, and the area is now one of Haifa’s main entertainment centers, full of restaurants, cafes, and boutique hotels. Many of the homes are owned by Christian Arabs, and for Christmas, the German Colony is festively decorated with lights and fir trees.
Walk down Allenby Street and you will reach the Arab neighborhoods of Wadi Nisnas. Along the way, you’ll pass a local pita bakery, the old-time and enjoyable Allenby Restaurant, and falafel and shawarma stands. Wadi Nisnas comes alive on weekends in December for the holiday festival – colorful events with music, shows, and street food to mark the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holidays - Hanukkah, Christmas, and (some years) Ramadan.
The Bat Galim promenade is near the port, and its route follows the sea to the western bathing beaches of the city. There are cable cars to take you up to Stella Maris- the location of the Carmelite church with a colorful dome of painted frescoes depicting the stories of the Prophet Elijah.
The center of the Carmel area is lined with cafes and restaurants, and the nearby Haifa Cinemateque hosts an international film festival every fall during the holiday of Succot (Tabernacles) that attracts many visitors from Israel and around the world.
Haifa University is located above the Carmel area. About 40% of the student body is composed of Arabs and Druze from the Carmel and the Galilee regions - a inspiring model for co-existence among the local population. Visit the archeology museum on the campus which displays the private collection of Dr. Reuven Hecht who was one of the founders of the university and an owner of the Dagon silos near the port.
Most of the Jews who immigrated to Israel at the end of World War II arrived through the Haifa port. Unfortunately, the British turned away a significant number of immigration ships, sending them back to Europe, Cyprus, and Mauritius. The most well-known ship is The Exodus, whose story is told in the historical novel Exodus by Leon Uris. Is Haifa reminiscent of San Francisco as Leon Uris writes? That’s an open question for its visitors!
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Looking for some interesting things to do in Haifa? Here are some recommended attractions and sights for you.
art & culture
tours, sightseeing & cruises
Attractions in Haifa
- Baha'i Shrine and Gardens, Haifa
- German Colony, Haifa
- City Center, Haifa
- Mada Tech (Israel National Museum Of Science), Haifa
- Stella Maris Monastery, Haifa
- Haifa Educational Zoo
- Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, Haifa
- Cave of Elijah, Haifa
- National Maritime Museum, Haifa
- Haifa Museum of Art
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