From Wikitravel

Haifa [1] is the third largest city in Israel, with a population close to 300,000. It is a seaport located on the north coast of Israel's Mediterranean shoreline, lying below scenic Mount Carmel.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By train 1.2 By bus or taxi 2 Get around 3 See 3.1 Landmarks 3.2 Museums and Galleries 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Get in

By train

Haifa is well connected to Tel Aviv, Akko (Acre), Beer Sheva and the by a train line. The trip takes a little over an hour and during peak hours there are as many as 3-4 services hourly. The Israeli train company is notorious for unpredictable timing, especially during peak hours. There are 4 train stations in Haifa:

• Hof ha-Carmel - close to bus terminal that serves the lines connected to the cities south of Haifa and local buses.
• Bat Galim - close to Elija's Cave and the cable car to Stella Maris Carmelite monastery.
• Haifa Merkaz - near city downtown and Carmelit underground funicular.
• Lev ha-Mifraz - close to bus terminal that serves the lines connected to the North area of Israel.

By bus or taxi

Alternatively, you can take Egged buses from Tel Aviv (900, 901), Jerusalem (940,974) or almost any city in the region to Haifa. During the Sabbath, you'll have to resort to a shared taxi (sherut), most of which leave from near Tel Aviv's central bus station.

Get around

Use the Carmelit funicular subway. It is must, as Haifa is very mountainous, and walking can become tiresome, especially in the intense Israeli heat. The Carmelit has 6 stations listed here going downhill:

• Gan Ha'em : In the Carmel Center, adjacent to the Haifa zoo, a panoramic promenade, the Haifa Auditorium, and many shops and hotels.
• Bnei Zion: in Golomb street, Near the Bnei Zion (Rothschild) hospital and the Bahá'í World Centre (see below).
• Massada: upper Hadar Hacarmel, near Massada st. and Nordau st., with their galleries, antique shops, cafes and restaurants. Close to the National Science Museum.
• Hanevi'im : Near Hanevi'im, Herzl and Hachalutz streets, and their shops, offices. Close to the Haifa Museum of Art and Vadi Nisnas pedestrian area.
• Solel Boneh: Near Ha'atzmaut park, and the Haifa city hall.
• Kikar Pariz: Downtown. Near government building and courthouse, Ha'atzmaut street, walking distance to Haifa Merkaz train station and Haifa port.

See

Haifa is largely a modern city.

Landmarks

• Bahá'í World Centre, on Mount Carmel's northern slope. Comprising the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, terraced gardens and administrative buildings, the World Centre is the holiest site of pilgrimage for the members of the Bahá'í Faith, as well as the faith's central administrative center. The gardens are stunning and well worth visiting if you are in Haifa. Tours must be booked, although they are free, and are limited (tel. 04-8313131).

• Cave of Elijah - Elijah is considered a prophet by both Judaism and Islam. The Carmelites have a tradition that they were founded by Elijah at this time. According to tradition Elijah lived in a cave on Mt. Carmel during the reign of King Ahab.

• Stella Maris, a French Carmelite church, monastery and hospice. This is the founding place of the Carmelite Order, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church. Located atop Mount Carmel, there is a hiking trail connecting it to the Cave of Elijah below.

• German Colony - in 1868 members of German Templar Society (not to be confused with the Knights of the Templars) purchased land that was far from the city and set out to build the first planned agricultural community in the Holy Land. Many of the original templar houses have preserved and undergone restoration in the last decade of XX century. Now the main street of the former colony (Ben Gurion Boulevard) is a promenade, with many restaurants and coffee shops. The City History Museum and the local Tourist Board are located here.

• University - located at the top of Carmel, the campus was originally designed by the architect of Brasilia and UN building in New York, Oscar Niemeyer. Newer buildings were added later. The top 30th floor of the Eshkol Tower, provides an incredible view of almost the entire North of Israel. The campus is also a home of Hecht Museum with its rich archeology and art collections.

• Druze Villages - 30min by sherut or longer by bus to the top of Mt. Carmel

Museums and Galleries

• National Maritime Museum, 198 Allenby Street, tel 04-8536622

• Haifa Museum of Art, 26 Shabtai Levi Street, tel 04-8523255 - presents rotating exhibitions of modern art.

• Hecht Museum - University of Haifa campus, tel 04-8257773, fax 04-8240724, email mushecht@research.haifa.ac.il, free admission. Features large archaeological exhibits and an art wing with 19th and 20th century painting and sculpture, including works by Corot, Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Van-Gogh, Soutine and Modigliani.

• Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, 89 Hanassi Ave., tel. 04-8383554. The museum was founded in the year 1959, at the joint initiative of Felix Tikotin, a known collector of Japanese art. The museum present rotating exhibitions of old and modern Japanese art.

• Haifa Zoo and Botanic Garden, situated in Gan ha-Em in Central Carmel.

Do

Buy

Haifa's mountainous location makes it quite unfriendly for pedestrian, therefore shopping avenues are rare . The shops that can be found in the city center offer a cheap and essential variety.

On the Other hand, Haifa has a well known reputation in Israel for its wide variety of malls and shopping centers such as the kiryon, kastra center, Kanyon Haifa and 'lev hamifrartz'. Grand Kanyon is considered to be the newest and biggest mall, including international brand names such as Armani, Lacoste Benetton and Zara amog local brands and a wide food court.

Eat

The city's selection of restaurants includes mostly cheap but tasty falafel counters and Arabic restaurants, located in the port area (lower city). 'hazkenim', 'michel' and 'orion' are some of the authentic and recommended counters. The local Turkish variation of turning kebab, Schwarma, is also very common and can be found in 'hazan' chain and 'jibli'.

Drink

Central Mount Carmel offers a decent selection of mid class restaurants, cafe's and bars, such as Fusion noodle house 'Giraffe', Japanese 'Tatami' and trendy cafe's such as 'Greg' and 'tut'. 'Frangelico' and 'barbarossa' are consindered to be the most popular bars in the city's chic carmal area while the legendery old fashioned 'Maayan Habira' on the lower part of it city is more popular amog adult crowd

Sleep

• Dan Carmel Haifa Hotel, 85-87 Hanassi Avenue, Tel: 972-3-5202552, Fax: 972-3-5480111, mailto:Reservations-T.DanCarmel@DanHotels.com, [2]. Centrally located for business and leisure, varied convention and meeting facilities. Online Reservation with instant confirmation. The Dan Carmel commands unforgettable panoramic views of the bay and the city of Haifa. Come and be charmed by this classically elegant hotel with its private gardens, verdant hillsides and endless coastline. An unmatched location on the crest of Mount Carmel, gracious service and an atmosphere both luxurious and soothing, provide an extraordinary setting for enjoying the beauty of Haifa and the Galilee.

• Dan Panorama Haifa Hotel, 107 Hanassi Avenue, Tel: 972-3-5202552, Fax: 972-3-5480111, mailto:Reservations-T.PanoramaHaifa@DanHote, [3]. Centrally located for business and leisure, varied convention and meeting facilities. Online Reservation with instant confirmation. Contemporary in style and young in spirit, the Dan Panorama rises high above Mount Carmel, offering thrilling views of Haifa bay and miles of coastline. Ideally located for business travelers, the hotel is directly linked to a stylish mall. Its convenient location also makes sightseeing so easy, such fun. With a myriad of things to do and see in Haifa - and with the Galilee and Arab villages close by - all you have to do is go.

• Dan Gardens Haifa Hotel, 124 Yefe-Nof St., Tel: 972-3-5202552, Fax: 972-3-5480111, mailto:Reservations-T.DanGardensHaifa@DanHotels.com, [4]. Centrally located for business and leisure, varied convention and meeting facilities. Online Reservation with instant confirmation. The Dan Gardens Haifa is a modern bed and breakfast hotel for guests who want to enjoy Haifa's special charms and stay within budget. Set on Mount Carmel in an exclusive neighborhood featuring richly wooded areas and a tranquil ambience, the hotel offers dramatic views of Haifa Bay. With its compact size and highly personalized attention, the Dan Gardens Haifa welcomes guests in true Dan Hotels tradition which means Israel's finest hospitality.

• Holiday Inn Haifa, Tel: 972-3-5390808. In the heart of the city with the largest variety of culture, you will find Holiday Inn Haifa, a hotel that caters to those who enjoy culture. The hotel is located on the green hills of the Carmel Mountain with a breathtaking view of the Haifa Bay. Holiday Inn Haifa is located just a stone’s throw away from the Carmel Center – a recreational district filled with restaurants and shops located at a 15-20 minute travel distance from the beach and very close to the Bahai Gardens.

• Holiday Inn Haifa Bayview, hi.gmsec@hiil.co.il. One of the best hotels in the north of Israel. Holiday Inn Haifa Bayview is located on the green hills of the Carmel Mountain with a breathtaking view of the Haifa Bay, just a stone’s throw away from the Carmel Center – a recreational district filled with restaurants and shops located at a 15-20 minute travel distance from the beach and very close to the Bahai Gardens. The hotel’s health club includes a covered pool, wet and dry sauna, Jacuzzi, fitness room and of course many types of spa treatments. Approx. 600 NIS/night. Check-In Time: 2:00 PM, check-Out Time: 12:00 PM

• Port Inn. On Jafa (Yafo) Rd in the old city. 55NIS/night for a dormatory room bed (Jan 2006)

Get out

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