Pampering Double Suite with JacuzziN°001
Shoreline, Israel
Hot tubGardenAir conditioning
From $361 per night
A relaxed seaside town on Israel's northern Mediterranean coast
Nahariyya is the northernmost seaside town on Israel's Mediterranean coast, laid out along a eucalyptus-lined boulevard where the Ga'aton stream runs to the sea. It makes an unhurried villa base for the Western Galilee: sandy beaches on the doorstep, the sea grottoes of Rosh Hanikra minutes north, and the UNESCO-listed old city of Akko a short drive south.
- Long sandy beaches and a palm-lined seafront promenade
- The Rosh Hanikra sea grottoes, reached by cable car down the white chalk cliffs
- Akko's UNESCO-listed old city, with Crusader halls, a lively souk and fishing harbour
- Achziv's beaches and lagoons just north of town
- The Western Galilee's wineries, villages and hill country within easy reach
Known forSandy Mediterranean beaches, the Ga'aton boulevard, Rosh Hanikra grottoes, day trips to Akko and the Galilee
Best time to visitMay to June and September to October for warm seas without peak heat; July and August for full beach season
Nearest airportBen Gurion (TLV), about 90 minutes south; Haifa (HFA) for limited regional flights
Ideal forFamilies and couples wanting beach time with Galilee touring, food and history
Out Of A Fairytale Suite With A Lovely JacuzziN°002
Shoreline, Israel
From $193 per night
2homes available
1–1bedrooms
up to 5guests
Nahariyya in pictures
Events not to miss in Nahariyya
- July or August
Karmiel Dance Festival
Israel's largest dance festival fills the Galilee town of Karmiel, about 30 minutes inland, with three days and nights of performances and mass folk dancing.
- September or October, during Sukkot
Akko Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre
Fringe theatre takes over the Crusader halls and courtyards of old Akko during the Sukkot holiday, an atmospheric way to see the ancient port at its liveliest.
- September or October, during Sukkot
Haifa International Film Festival
The country's oldest film festival screens hundreds of features across Haifa, half an hour down the coast, with an open-air holiday buzz on Mount Carmel.
Nahariyya through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Wildflowers and green Galilee hills
The hills behind the coast turn green and flower-strewn, the best season for walks around Montfort castle and touring the wine villages before the heat.
- Summer (June – September)
Full Mediterranean beach season
Hot, dry days and warm seas keep the town's sandy beaches and promenade busy from morning to night; villa pools earn their keep in August.
- Autumn (October – November)
Warm seas and holiday festivity
The sea stays swimmable well into autumn while the Sukkot season brings festivals to Akko and Haifa and comfortable weather for old-city wandering.
- Winter (December – February)
Mild days, markets and quiet coast
Bright spells between rains suit Akko's souk, Galilee food touring and storm-watching walks along the promenade, with the coast at its quietest.
The Area and Where to Stay
Nahariyya was founded in the 1930s and grew into a genteel resort town, its identity fixed by Sderot HaGa'aton, the broad central boulevard where the Ga'aton stream flows between cafes towards the beach. Villas sit in the quiet residential streets between the boulevard and the sea and in the neighbourhoods along the coast, most within walking or cycling distance of the sand. It is an easy town to inhabit: mornings on the promenade, afternoons in the pool, evenings over grilled fish. As a base it commands the whole Western Galilee. Rosh Hanikra and the Lebanese border cliffs lie ten minutes north, Akko fifteen minutes south, Haifa and its Baha'i Gardens about half an hour, and the vineyards, moshavim and hill villages of the Galilee spread inland. A private villa with a pool suits families here far better than the town's hotels.
Things to Do
Start with the sea: Nahariyya's beaches are sandy and family-friendly, with the Sokolov and Galei Galil stretches closest to town. North of town, Achziv National Park pairs sheltered swimming lagoons with the ruins of an ancient coastal settlement, and beyond it the cable car at Rosh Hanikra descends the chalk cliffs to luminous sea grottoes carved by the waves. Akko, one of the oldest continuously inhabited port cities in the world, deserves a full day for its Crusader halls, Ottoman khans, souk and sea walls. Inland, walk in the Montfort castle woods, tour Western Galilee wineries, or continue to Safed's artists' quarter and the Sea of Galilee. Haifa's Baha'i Gardens make an easy half-day. Your concierge can arrange guides, drivers and market tours.
Food and Local Flavour
The Western Galilee is one of Israel's best eating regions, blending Jewish and Arab kitchens with outstanding coastal produce. In Nahariyya itself, cafes and grills line the Ga'aton boulevard, and fresh fish and hummus are local staples. Akko's souk is the area's culinary heart, famous for its hummus houses, seafood restaurants by the harbour and stalls of spices, olives and knafeh. Inland, family wineries, goat-cheese dairies and olive presses dot the Galilee hills, many welcoming visitors for tastings. Villa stays make the most of it: shop the markets, grill on your own terrace, or have the concierge arrange a private chef for a Galilean feast at home.
When to Visit
Nahariyya enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate. Summer, June to September, is hot, dry and reliably sunny, with warm seas and full beach life; villa pools and sea breezes take the edge off August. May, June, September and October are the connoisseur's months, warm enough to swim but comfortable for touring Akko and the Galilee hills. Winters are mild and green, with rainy spells between bright days, and spring carpets the hills in wildflowers. Jewish holidays, especially Passover in spring and the autumn holiday season around Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot, bring lively domestic crowds to the coast, so those weeks are worth booking well ahead.
Getting There
Most international visitors fly into Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) near Tel Aviv, roughly 90 minutes to two hours from Nahariyya by car along the coastal Highway 2. Haifa Airport (HFA) handles limited regional flights and lies about 30 minutes away. Nahariyya is the northern terminus of Israel Railways' coastal line, with direct trains from Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv and Haifa arriving in the town centre, one of the easiest arrivals in the country. A hire car remains the best way to explore the Galilee, and your concierge can arrange private transfers and drivers.