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Freshwater lake in Israel
Photo: Israel_photo_gallery, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Sea of Galilee (Hebrew: Yam Kinneret) is the largest freshwater lake of Israel.
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An old Talmudic town overlooking the Sea of Galilee, featuring the remains of a lovely basalt synagogue. The nearby Jewish settlement to the west has the same name.
Sometimes considers as the top three Christian sites; Capernaum, Tabgha and Mount of Beatitudes can be found about 12 km north of Tiberias and close to each other.
Capernaum, Kfar Nachum, The Town of Jesus
The house of Peter and a marvelous ancient Roman synagogue.
A Greek Orthodox complex on the site of a Byzantine monastery that was destroyed by the Persians in the 7th century. Since then the complex has been rebuilt and destroyed numerous times; the buildings standing today date from the late 19th century but have been restored as recently as 1975. Three monks live here and they'll usually admit visitors who ring the bell. There are four chapels beyond the pleasant, walled courtyard. One chapel is dedicated to St Peter, one to the disciples, and one to Mary Magdalene; the one in the ancient round tower is dedicated to St Nicholas.
Great view of the lake. And a good place for an evening drink-out and BBQ in a small group.
Benedictine Monastery of Tabgha
The Primacy Church and a church retelling the Gospel account of the miracle of Jesus Feeding the Multitude.
Ancient tel.
Khirbat al-Minya
Remains of a palace from the Umayyad period (8th century). North of Genossar.
Site of Jesus Boat Museum.
A magnificent viewpoint over the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding areas. A steep trail leads from the peak to the Sea of Galilee. A castle dating to the Roman period is nestled in the cliff, partway down the trail. Beautiful, but not for those scared of heights.
Overlooking the See of Galilee. A number of early Zionist leaders and pioneers are buried here, including Berl Katznelson.
Khirbet Kerak
Ancient tel.
Christian site not to be missed. The baptismal site described in the Gospels is a few miles away in Jordan though. Bring swim wear and a robe if you plan on having a baptism in the river. An excellent restaurant is on premises: "Tmarim" fuses French cooking techniques with local ingredients.
The first Kibbutz. It houses Gordon House which is a regional museum of nature and prehistory.
A small museum documenting the Levant's most prominent Neolithic culture. Located in Kibbutz Sha`ar Hagolan.
Gadara hot springs
The hot springs here have been a tourist magnet since Roman times. Current attractions include Israel's largest spa complex, Roman ruins, a large crocodile and alligator farm, and a water park. Hamat Gader very close to the Jordan border (but is perfectly safe). The Roman city of Gadara is in Jordan (see Irbid), in the hills above Hamat Gader; there is no access between the two. As a mnemonic, Hamat Gader is where you can see 'gators.
Kayaking and other water activities on the Jordan River.
Staying in an outdoor yurt. Grumpy owner and sheets are extra. But seems to be a good (family) experience staying. Member of ILH.
One of the largest resorts in the area with 166 rooms.
The Sea of Galilee region is mainly served through Tiberias by buses from most of the nearby Israeli cities like Afula, Nazareth, Karmiel, Nahariyya, Akko and Haifa, as well as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
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Articles and travel topics about Sea of Galilee region and Israel.
ItinerariesThe Jesus Trail is a 65-km hiking and pilgrimage route in the Galilee region of Israel, connecting many sites associated with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
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ItinerariesThe Israel National Trail (Hebrew שביל ישראל, Shvil Yisrael) is Israel’s best-known long-distance hiking trail. It runs for about 1,000 km from the northern edge of the country near Kibbutz Dan to Eilat on the Red Sea,…
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Travel tipsBuses are the most common form of public transportation in Israel for Israelis and foreigners alike. They are generally frequent and modern, but often slow.
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Nature & adventureIsrael's national parks and nature reserves, of which there are about 75, are managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Wikivoyage
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