Travel Guide Haïfa

With some 280,000 inhabitants, Haifa is Israel's third-largest city and the capital of the north. It spreads out along the Mediterranean coast, beautifully tiered on the slopes of Mount Carmel, 300 m above sea level. Below is the port - the country's largest - lined with warehouses and functional buildings, contrasting with the residential part of the city, nestled on the mountain. Haifa is also home to a university and the renowned Technion research center. A modern industrial city, Haifa is also a city where relations between Jewish and Arab (mostly Christian) citizens are generally better than average. The city's cultural center organizes meetings on the theme of exchanges between Jews and Arabs. Further proof of tolerance: the city is home to the spiritual center of the Baha'i religion. If you're only spending a day in Haifa, be sure to visit the gardens surrounding the Bâb sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Carmel. The city also abounds in fascinating museums, unique in the country, and in recent years, trendy cafés and restaurants have sprung up all over the city. Boosted by a young, mixed, open-minded and student population, Haifa is becoming the new center of cultural life in Israel. Less frenetic than Tel Aviv, less religious than Jerusalem, more integrated and multicultural than all of them, Haifa is definitely a city to discover. Haifa is also a major tourist destination: its 17 km of fine sandy beaches are a major asset, with the possibility of practicing water sports or finding a deserted beach spot. It's also a good base from which to discover the nearby Galilee, a wonderful playground and exploration area with a rich and diverse nature and culture. It's easy to get to Haifa from Tel Aviv by train, bus or car: you'll appreciate its gentle way of life and perhaps discover a different urban face of the country here.