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City in Israel
Photo: gugganij, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Be'er Sheva (also spelled Beersheba; Hebrew: באר שבע) is a desert city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants in southern Israel. It is the eighth-most populous (as of 2019) and second largest city in the country and the gateway to the Negev region of Israel. It is well known to readers of the Bible, but the modern city was founded only around 1900.
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The Old Town was planned by Turkish and German engineers at the end of the 19th century. Its streets form a grid (very uncommon in the region). Many buildings date from Turkish times and have secret gardens behind high walls. Rehabilitated Smilansky Street has the best preserved buildings. Additionally there is a wide array of cheap stores and excellent ethnic restaurants and bars.
Located at the edge of the Old Town and on the Wadi Beer Sheva, this small site contains the well where according to tradition Abraham made the oath with Abimelech.
Located between the Old Town and the central bus station is a vibrant market for any kind of merchandize.
Located in the residence of the Turkish governor in the Old Town, this small museum contains an art collection and has changing exhibits.
An old train station, built in 1915 by the Turks, featuring steam engine #70414 from the 1930s. You can walk around the station freely and eat at a restaurant. There are also paid tours and a small museum.
Located near Kibbutz Hatserim, 5 km to the west of Beer Sheva. The museum has a collection of ~150 historical airplanes of the Israeli Air Force (and a few foreign or enemy planes). Some of the planes you can climb into. You can arrange for tours in Hebrew or English. To get here, take bus 40 from the central bus station (about hourly).
Located on a hill to the northeast of the city, this large monument made out of concrete, commemorates symbolically the different aspects of the Negev Brigade which conquered the Negev region in Israel's War of Independence. There is a superb view on the city and its surroundings from this site.
Located near the northwestern entrance to the city, this zoo displays many local desert animals, as well as some others like baboons. For visitors, it's not worth the ₪30 entrance fee, as you can see much better zoos for a similar price elsewhere. It's also a 20-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.
Located just outside of the city on the Road to Eilat, this market takes place every Thursday morning. Bedouin merchandise can be found next to a wide array of other products.
Located outside the city to its east (next to Omer), this archeological park is a World Heritage Site and one of the top sites to explore how people have lived in Biblical times.
Located in the northern part of town on the road to Tel Aviv, this renowned university has a vibrant campus with many buildings designed by famous architects. There are two art galleries in the Senate Building and in the Library, a small museum of medical history in the building of the Medical Faculty and many small exhibits in the buildings of the different faculties.
Located just next to the Old Town, this cemetery is the resting place of British, Australian and New Zealand (ANZAC) soldiers who fought against the Turks in the First World War.
New in the Old City of Be’er Sheva, ‘Carasso Science Park’, the largest science park in Israel, featuring an interactive museum, scientific garden with games and hands-on activities for all ages.
Shvil Sovev Beer Sheva
If you're into hiking, there's a trail that goes round the outside of the city. The trail is 42 km, so it takes at least 2 days, and can even be broken up to 5 days, as it has 5 sections. Section 1 goes from the Negev Brigade Memorial through hilly terrain around Ramot neighborhood to the northern entrance to the city (10 km). Section 2 goes around the northern neighborhoods to Road 25 (7 km). Section 3 crosses Hatzerim Park (5 km). Section 4 goes along the Beersheba Promenade on the northern bank of the (usually dry) Beersheba River to Abraham's Well (8 km). Section 5 goes through the Beersheba River Park back to the Negev Brigade Memorial (9 km).
Mishkan HaTechelet is a Judaica company which manufactures items such as tallits and tefillin. They offer an hour-long tour of the factory where you can see these items being made. The tour is reputed to be very interesting, at least if you have some background in Jewish practice and know a little bit about the items already. Tours might only be in Hebrew. Call/email ahead of time to definitively reserve a visit.
Beer Sheva's river is dry except during occasional winter flash floods, but this park contains an artificial lake where one can rent a small boat, along with other recreation opportunities.
Mashabim Holiday Village
Mashabim is an excellent point of exit to a wide range of challenging, desert field trips.
By car
By plane
The closest airport is Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), located outside Tel Aviv near Lod.
By bus
Intercity buses begin/end their routes at the Beer Sheva Central Bus Station, which is next to the central train station, near the city center.
Beer Sheva is served by buses (₪4). Most of these depart from behind the central bus station (on your right when getting off from an inter-city bus).
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