on the shores of the Kinneret
St. Urban Bar at the The Scots Hotel
The St. Urban Wine Cellar & Bar is a cozy bar located in an ancient cellar inside the Scots Hotel in Tiberias. Its wonderful atmosphere, lighting, and music magically combine with exquisite dishes from the chef, which pair harmoniously with the list of wines from the best Israeli wineries.
A forest reserve called the Swiss Forest is located near Tiberias. It is crisscrossed by many walking trails and tracks. The hilltop location lets you enjoy the warm breeze coming off of the lake as well as its views.
Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret)
At an altitude of 217 meters below sea level, this unique biotope stuns the traveler’s imagination with its beauty. On the western shore of the lake is the city of Tiberias.
It is fed by the waters of the Jordan River, rain downpours, and mountain streams.
The Sea of Galilee is mentioned in the Bible and is shaped like an ancient musical instrument, the kinor, hence the name Lake Kinneret.
The Tomb Site of the Rambam
According to Jewish legend, during the funeral of Maimonides, a group of Bedouins, who were about to attack the cortege as it marched through the desert, "lowered their heads in shame" when they realized that it was the funeral of a traditional healer. Instead of carrying out their original plan, they arranged to provide security for the procession.
A modern memorial, with a metal structure symbolizing a crown, was created in the last century. The graves of revered rabbis Yohanan ben Zakkai and Isaiah Horowitz are also located here.
Moses ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides or Rambam, was an outstanding Jewish philosopher and Talmudic theologian, rabbi, physician, and scientist who lived in the 12th century. To this day, his grave remains one of the most important Jewish pilgrimage sites in Israel.
Hamat Tiberias National Park
Two synagogues have been excavated at Hammat Tiberias. They were built at a time when Tiberias had become the seat of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish highest court of religious law, from 193 CE until the end of the 4th century, when Emperor Theodosius I banned the Sanhedrin’s activities.
An ancient archaeological site and Israeli national park. The Hamat Tiberias natural hot springs are located within the park. According to the sages of the Talmud, the springs were heated as they flowed past the entrance to Hell. Archaeologists have concluded that Hamat Tiberias was built on the ruins of the biblical city of Hammat. However, finds from excavations are limited to the 1st–8th centuries CE.
The main city promenade — a boulevard from the Old Tiberias to the center, where there are shops, cafes and restaurants, live music sounds. Here you can also buy fresh fish at the fish market. The evening walk along the promenade with magical views of Lake Kinneret and the Golan Heights is especially pleasant after a long day at the water park and a delicious dinner.
Mount Arbel and Arbel National Park
The area was declared a nature reserve in 1967. The national park includes most of Arbel Creek (10 km long), which begins near Eilabun and flows into Lake Tiberias near the settlement of Migdal.
Near Mount Arbel are the ruins of an ancient Jewish settlement with a synagogue dating back to around the 4th century CE with preserved benches and columns.
Mount Arbel is near Tiberias and rises 181 meters above sea level, which is approximately 390 meters above the level of the Dead Sea. It towers above the surrounding area, which is mostly below sea level. From the observation deck at the top of the mountain, you can see almost all of Galilee and the Golan Heights, including Safed, Tiberias, and most of Lake Tiberias. There are four villages on the mountain: Kfar Zeitim, Arbel, Kfar Hittim and Mizpah.
Aqua Kef is located, or rather floats, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is Israel’s first floating water park. This adventure zone is divided into three sections — Family, Olympic and Extreme — to appeal to children of all ages.