//
City in northern Israel
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Beny Shlevich assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Safed (Hebrew: צפת Tsfat) is a city in the Upper Galilee region of Israel, and is one of the oldest centers for Jewish learning and spirituality, home to the Kabbalah movement which is popular with celebrities.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
In memory of Rabbi Isaac Luria. Normally open for visitors on weekdays and boasts an ornate ark.
Considered the oldest synagogue in the city. Only open for prayers on the Sabbath.
Unique, beautiful, and most famous. It was built in the 1490s according to Kabbalistic architectural and spiritual beliefs.
Another popular landmark, established in the 16th century on the site of a yeshiva run by Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch (the most authoritative code of Jewish law).
the burial place of many famous Rabbis and is a common destination for visitors to Safed looking for answers to their prayers. Some famous Jewish personalities buried there include:
Ma'arat Shem Ve'Ever
According to Jewish sources, Shem (son of Noah) and his great-grandson Ever ran a yeshiva (house of Jewish study). There is a tradition that this unimpressive-looking cave in Safed was the site of their yeshiva. How did this cave come to be identified as such? The Torah is divided into two parts - hidden and revealed - and one might assume they were not studying the revealed Torah, since Moses had not yet been born. So they must have been studying the hidden Torah. And where better to do that than in Safed?
Citadel
Located at the very top of the Safed hill, the fortress is interesting to explore. The view from it is spectacular, overlooking Mount Meron, the Sea of Galilee, and far beyond. Bring a flash light for the hall/cave, with its entrance at the southern side of the little lower track circling the top.
The very best view in Safed. Essentially the same view as from the Crusader Fortress, but better because it includes ancient Safed itself.
In the Old City including the Exhibition Centre in Safed Big Mosque.
The former home of major Israeli-French artist: Yitzhak Frenkel, now a museum housing many of his works.
The former home of Moshe Castel, now a gallery of Safed artists.
Each year in mid-August, tens of thousands of people come to this festival celebrating klezmer music (Ashkenazi Jewish folk music). Free concerts by leading performers are held in the old city's ancient streets.
מחלבת קדוש
One of the famous producers, invites tourists for a tasting including tea. The price of the cheese seems fair, considering the small factory.
Guest apartment owned by an artist that only occasionally visits Safed. Apartment has large floor to ceiling windows in the living room and master bedroom with views of the Galilee and Sea of Galilee. There is an additional bedroom that has a window to the other side.
Dorms near the commercial district.
Accommodates up to 7 guests. Includes a kitchen with stove, bathroom, shower, two bedrooms, balcony, two dining tables, free WiFi, heating/AC, wood floors, and amazing views of Tzfat's major art galleries and Safed mountains. The accommodation offers both breakfast and non-breakfast rates. Prices vary per night depending on the time of year. The Tzfat Shabbat Experience can be arranged upon request.
The Artist Quarter Guesthouse (B&B) is centrally located in the heart of the Artist Quarter of the Old City of Tzfat. The guesthouse combines ancient Tzfat charm with modern amenities. It has newly renovated 200-year-old stone domed rooms, with Moroccan lights, stained glass windows, AC/heat, kitchenettes and free WiFi. The rooms are beautiful, clean, light and airy. Women's Swedish massage and catered Mehadrin Shabbat meals are available.
Boutique hotel, has four rooms with Jacuzzis or large showers, air conditioning, heating, inner courtyards, and views of the mountains of the Galilee, Meron Mountain and the Artist Colony. Large, comfortable beds, bathrobes, LCD televisions and a lobby with a cafe, library, and wireless internet connection. Their kosher Israeli breakfast (Rabbanut Safed Israel) includes locally-made cheeses and jams.
Inn owned and operated by Yoni Lipshutz of Simply Tsfat, a Jewish folk band.
In the Galilee Mountains. All rooms are air conditioned, have a cable television, private toilet and bath, telephone, and an internet connection. There is a restaurant and cafe, room service, and safe deposit boxes. Tours from the hotel are also available.
Villa Galilee Hotel
Villa Galilee has spacious penthouses with a terrace overlooking the view and is furnished with a Jacuzzi, a swimming pool and a flower garden. Also has a restaurant that offers French-inspired food and a bar. Spa treatments also available in-house.
Once upon a time (400 years ago) this magnificent home was part of a church. The space has been lovingly restored. Vaulted ceilings of ancient stone tower above the dining area. There is a kitchen and a cozy couch in front of a large fireplace. You can lounge on pillows in the spacious courtyard and watch the birds above as their flight path takes them between Africa and Asia each spring and fall. The house has four bedrooms and can sleep up to thirteen people.
Luxury hotel with stunning views of the rolling hills of Upper Galilee.
Safed Candles
Sells beautiful candles in every size, shape, and color, as well as displaying a number of scenes in wax, including David & Goliath, Noah's Ark, and a wedding.
A graduate of Princeton University, Safed artist, Sheva Chaya draws on her professional artistic training to bring Dreams and Visions to life through her vibrant artwork. Sheva Chaya utilizes glassblowing demonstrations and her lively watercolor paintings to elucidate Jewish mystical concepts and traditional liturgy which inspire her work. Small and large group presentation topics include: The Kabbalah of Glassblowing, The Precious Land of Israel, Expressionist Watercolor, and Women's Wisdom.
Keren SouzaKohn graduated from the Ravensbourne College of Art and has since been exhibiting her prints, drawings, watercolours and oils widely, both in London and internationally. Her work references among others that of El Greco, Titian, Rembrandt, Goya, Matisse, Hilton, Eva Hesse, Sandra Blow and Philip Guston. Keren is the daughter of the late Francis Newton Souza. Aware of her heritage she is able to forge new ground, speaking a new beguiling but poignant Language of our time. She is interested in abstracted figuration, in the co-existence of divinity within our physical planet. Her love of colour is evident. Hot, spicy or cool. A juxtaposition of the unexpected produces dramatic composition with a strong narrative, sometimes subliminal, sometimes overt, obvious and for the taking. Dreams and journeys, moments seen and caught, sometimes struggling to emerge, revisited through further drawings and paintings.
Safed's old city is built in a circular fashion around a hilltop, and new neighborhoods lie on adjacent hills.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Haifa · Regional · HFA
Loading places around the airport…
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.