Haifa

From World travel guide

Shrine of the Báb

Haifa 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.

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 Beaches
5 Buy
6 Eat
7 Drink
8 Sleep
9 External links

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Get in

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By train

Haifa is well connected to Tel Aviv, Acre and Beer Sheva 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. 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.

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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.

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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.

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See

Haifa is largely a modern city.

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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.

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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.

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Beaches

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Buy

In Haifa's once elite Hadar neighborhood there is a Shuk (open market) which is a great place to find bargains on fresh fruit and vegetables.

At the Grand Kanyon(the largest mall in the ME) you can find a comfortable yet typical shopping mall experience. Other large shopping malls in Haifa are Kanyon Haifa and Kastra (both in the south entrance to Haifa) and Merkaz Horev (in Ahuza neighbourhood).

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