Gorgeous 2-Story Villa in Northern IsraelN°001
North District, Israel
Air conditioning
From $737 per night
North District is Israel's verdant northern region, wrapping the Sea of Galilee, mystical Safed and the Rosh HaNikra grottoes. Renting luxury villas in North District places you amid lakeside calm, ancient heritage and Galilean vineyards, with private pools, space for groups and a concierge to arrange every detail.
- Lakeside and hillside luxury villas with private pools and generous space for groups
- Walking distance to history at the Sea of Galilee and the artist quarters of Safed
- Sea grottoes, vineyards and Jordan River valley within easy reach
- Galilean dining, from smoked brisket to authentic Yemenite kitchens
- Concierge service and direct booking through Smiling House
Known forSea of Galilee, Safed Kabbalistic heritage, Rosh HaNikra grottoes, Galilee wine and olive country
Best time to visitApril to June and September to October, for warm, dry days and lush landscapes
Nearest airportBen Gurion Airport (TLV), Tel Aviv, roughly two hours by road
Ideal forFamilies, multi-generational groups and couples seeking heritage, nature and lakeside calm
Stunning, Modern 2 Bedroom Villa for 9!N°002
North District, Israel
Air conditioning
From $245 per night
Wonderful family villa for 9 - 5Min to the beachN°003
North District, Israel
Air conditioning
From $245 per night
3homes available
2–5bedrooms
up to 9guests
North District in pictures
Events not to miss in North District
- May or June
Jacob's Ladder Festival
Israel's long-running folk, country and bluegrass festival gathers on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for a friendly weekend of music. Family-run and famously welcoming.
- July, at Kfar Blum
Voice of Music Festival in the Upper Galilee
Israel's foremost chamber music festival brings international ensembles to the Hula Valley each summer. Combine concerts with kayaking on the Jordan and Golan wineries.
- September or October, during Sukkot
Acre Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre
Fringe theatre takes over the Crusader halls and alleys of Old Acre's UNESCO-listed port. One of the country's most atmospheric cultural events.
- October to November
Olive Harvest Season Festivals
Galilee villages celebrate the olive harvest with press visits, markets and tastings across the region's Jewish, Arab and Druze communities. A delicious way to meet the north's food culture.
North District through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Wildflower carpets across the Galilee
Anemones, lupins and orchids carpet the hills, waterfalls run full in the Golan and hiking weather is perfect. The north's most beautiful weeks by some margin.
- Summer (June – August)
Kayaking, wineries and Galilee evenings
Raft the Jordan, swim in the Sea of Galilee and tour Golan Heights wineries, then retreat to a villa pool in the hills where evenings stay cooler than the coast.
- Autumn (September – November)
Harvest festivals and holiday tables
The olive and grape harvests coincide with the Sukkot holidays and the Acre theatre festival. Warm days and festive tables make it a rich season for food-loving travellers.
- Winter (December – February)
Green valleys and snow on Hermon
Rain turns the Galilee green, Mount Hermon opens Israel's only ski slopes and cosy zimmer country comes into its own. Fireplace villas and hot local food suit the season.
The Area
North District unfolds across the Galilee, a green, water-rich landscape unlike anywhere else in Israel. At its heart lies the Sea of Galilee, also called Lake Kinneret, a freshwater lake ringed by historic sites, palm-fringed promenades and gentle hills. Above it sits Safed (Tzfat), the hilltop city celebrated for its Kabbalistic heritage, cobbled lanes and artist studios. In the far northwest, Rosh HaNikra offers dramatic white sea grottoes where the Mediterranean carves into chalk cliffs. Between these landmarks run vineyards, olive groves and the Jordan River valley. A luxury villa here lets you settle into the rhythm of the region, with privacy, space and easy access to both nature and antiquity.
Where to Stay
Luxury villas in North District range from lakeside retreats near Tiberias to hillside estates set among vineyards and orchards. For lake views and proximity to historic shoreline sites, the area around the Sea of Galilee is hard to better, with promenades, cafes and boat departures close at hand. Those drawn to art, spirituality and cooler hilltop air gravitate to Safed and the surrounding Upper Galilee villages. The Western Galilee, near Rosh HaNikra and Acre, suits travellers seeking coast and countryside together. Smiling House curates a collection of villas with private pools, expansive gardens and room for families and groups, each supported by concierge service to handle transfers, chefs and excursions.
Things to Do
The region rewards the curious. Take a boat tour across the Sea of Galilee to reach historic sites from the water, or kayak the Jordan River through reed-lined channels. At Rosh HaNikra, a cable car descends to luminous grottoes carved by the sea. Safed invites slow wandering through its synagogues, galleries and Kabbalistic alleys. Beyond the headline sights, the Galilee is wine and olive country, with cellar visits and tastings among the hills. Cultural moments punctuate the calendar, including the Klezmer Festival in Safed, the long-running Tiberias Marathon along the lake, and village olive harvest festivals that celebrate the season's pressing. Your villa concierge can arrange private guides and reservations throughout.
Dining & Nightlife
Galilean tables draw on Middle Eastern tradition and contemporary craft alike. Brisket is a relaxed favourite for slow-smoked meats, while Lahuhe Original serves authentic Yemenite cooking in an intimate setting. For something hands-on, GalilEat hosts cooking classes and dinners that immerse guests in local culinary heritage, ideal for groups travelling together. Evenings here run gentler than in Israel's big cities. The Kabbalah Music Club in Safed stages live performances in historic surrounds, the Tiberias promenade lines the waterfront with bars and cafes, and Haifa's German Colony, just beyond the district, offers a leafy stretch of restaurants and wine bars. A villa chef can also bring the Galilee's flavours to your own terrace.
When to Visit
Spring, from April to June, is the Galilee at its finest, with wildflowers, full reservoirs and warm, dry days perfect for hiking, the lake and vineyard visits. Autumn, September to October, brings the olive harvest, milder temperatures and the festival season, including Safed's cultural calendar. Summers are hot, particularly around the low-lying Sea of Galilee, making villas with private pools especially welcome. Winters are cool and green, with the occasional rain that keeps the landscape lush. For a balance of pleasant weather, active vineyards and lively local events, the shoulder seasons are the most rewarding times to rent a luxury villa in North District.
Getting There
Most travellers arrive via Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) near Tel Aviv, the main international gateway, roughly two hours by road from the heart of the Galilee. From there, a private transfer or hire car is the easiest way to reach lakeside Tiberias, hilltop Safed or the Western Galilee coast. Haifa, on the Mediterranean, serves as a regional hub closer to the district's western edge. Distances within the region are short, so a villa makes an ideal base for day trips to the Sea of Galilee, Rosh HaNikra and the surrounding wine country. Smiling House concierge can coordinate airport transfers, drivers and bespoke itineraries before you arrive.