The closest airport to the city of Tiberias is the Haifa International Airport located 37 miles west of the city. There are a few options to choose from when traveling to the city including buses, taxis, and rental cars.

If you have not booked a private transfer through us then your options for transportation to reach your hotel are as follows; There are buses available at the airport with bus numbers 430 and 23 travel to the city. Rental cars with several international companies are available for the short drive to the city. Taxis are available outside the airport terminal.

Public transportation in Tiberias is mostly made up of public buses run by the transportation company Egged. Bus tickets cost around NIS2.80 and can be paid to the conductor when entering the bus. The central bus station in the city has buses traveling north and south along the Sea of Galilee coastline. Bus line number 5 stops at most of the tourist attractions in the city, as well as most hotels. And the Big Fashion Danilof Mall.

Taxis are another way of getting around the city but can be expensive.

There are cars available to rent at the airport and some locations in downtown Tiberias. However, a car is not needed when strictly staying in the city. If you wish to travel to city’s nearby or other destinations then hiring a car to make the trip is a good idea. Tiberias is over 2 hours driver from Tel Aviv.

Taxis are available in Tiberias and can be found on the streets, outside main attractions and shopping centers, or called and ordered over the phone. Taxis start at around NIS12.50 and can cost up to NIS50 for a trip between downtown locations.

The city is walkable with most of its major attractions easily accessible on foot. A popular walk is along the Tiberias Promenade, a great place to capture a stunning sunset and views of the Sea of Galilee. The promenade is lined by many food stalls and artists, with music and a light show in the evenings.

There are guided walking tours in the city on Tuesdays, with a local guide taking visitors through the archeological park, to the promenade, past the Turkish Citadel, on to the famous Etz Hachaim synagogue, and the Scottish Compound. On Friday’s the tour guide offers a free tour of the historical sites in the city and every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday the walking tour group leaves from the Tiberias Tourist Information Center. On Saturday mornings the walking tours leave from the Tiberias Hotel Association and reveal the history of the walled Ottoman city.

Mount Arbel is a great location for hikers and climbers who want to scale the cliffs via land tracks to enjoy irresistible views of the old city. Views from the top go as far as Golan Heights, and Mount Heron the tallest peak in the country.

There are some pleasurable cruises offered in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. There are sailing companies all over the city offering scenic cruises on the waters. There are small boats, sailboats, ferries, and more to choose from with several different companies. The Lido Sailing Company runs a ferry between Lido Beach and Kibbutz Ginosar traveling towards the northeastern corner of the lake with a round-trip costing NIS28. They also offer evening party boat rides and sailboard rentals, the boats leave from the docks at the parking lot at the Pagoda and Decks Restaurant, just off Gdud Barak Street.

There are bicycle rentals available in Tiberias at Hotel Aviv which is located at the southern end of Ha Galil Street. The rates for a standard bike for a full day start around NIS65, there are hourly and half date rates available.

Tiberias is a very safe destination for tourists with crimes against visitors being very rare. Although the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is ongoing, most travelers will see few sights of it aside from Israeli soldiers going about their business. There is no need for travelers to take any further precautions when traveling here other than common sense in a foreign country. Be aware of pickpockets in crowded areas especially on board public transport. Keep your valuables close, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t wander around alone at night. If you rent a car be sure to take extra precautions and lock your vehicle and remove any valuables.

Shopping options in the city of Tiberias include the open-air shopping center Big Tiberias, which is the largest traditional shopping mall in the city covering a large area of land. A popular center for the entire family offering a varied and broad mix of 35 stores that include international fashion brands, one of the largest supermarkets, housewares, restaurants, and cafes in a vibrant atmosphere. The center is located in a central strategic junction (Poria Junction) at the main entrance to the city.

There is a famous fish market in the city where visitors can head out early to see dozens of fishing boats heading in from the lake just after dawn and unloading their fresh catch of the day. The Shuk marketplace is where the fresh catch is taken, and close to the market is a popular falafel area.

Galilee is a special place for shopping with all kinds of unique items on sale such as woven carpets, unique souvenirs, specialty gifts, jewelry, crafts, antiques, and more.

The Caprice Diamond and Jewelry Shop in Tiberias is one of the most advanced shops in manufacturing gold and diamond jewelry. The stones are imported from various parts of the world, then handcrafted and polished here to make exquisite fine jewelry. The shop sells beautiful bangles, anklets, wedding rings, earrings, and bracelets. The Tiberias Flea Market is a large open market held on teh weekends in the city, a good place to purchase local crafts, antiques, and vintage clothing in a vibrant, interesting atmosphere.

There are some great beaches found in Tiberias which is located on the shores of Israel’s only freshwater lake, the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) with ten beaches to choose from. There are three that are geared towards religious sunbathers that separate the sexes and enforce modesty codes.

HaTchelet Beach or Light Blue Beach is a very pristine location in teh city featuring a large swimming area and beach chair rentals, there is a NIS75 charge to use the lake facilities and it’s open from 9 am until 5 pm. Holiday Beach is a great beach to enjoy watersports along with a kid’s playground. The Quiet Beach features a children’s pool and is open daily from 9:30 am until 5:30 pm during the season, the charge is NIS 45. The Gai Beach stretches for just under a mile, past the Galei Kinneret Hotel featuring a water park with slides and a great piece of beach with all the requisite facilities. The charge is NIS70.

The official language spoken in Tiberias is Arabic and Hebrew. Many people speak English especially in the service industry at hotels and restaurants, and many locals speak Italian. We recommend you get a good English-Hebrew guidebook and learn the common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

The climate in Tiberias is Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The average temperatures vary greatly and feel nice most of the year, apart from a few cold weeks during the winter, and a low chance of precipitation throughout the year. The average summer temperatures average around 79 degrees, and the warmest time of the year is August when temperatures regularly soar into the high 80’s and rarely dropping below 69 F at night. The hot summer months are one of the most popular times to visit the city and a huge time for tourism when the hotels are at their highest prices, beaches and attractions are at capacity and the restaurants and bars are packed. January and July are the next busiest months to visit, the prices of flights and hotels will be the most expensive during this time. The best time to visit is from March until November when the temperatures are pleasant and warm with limited rainfall.

The currency of Israel is the Israeli Shekel (NIS or ILS). You will need to exchange your currency for the Israeli Shekel, which can be done upon arrival at the airport currency exchange desks or banks and specialized stores called Foreign Exchange Bureaus.

There are some great restaurants to choose from in Tiberias many of them have prime waterfront locations and along the bustling promenade. The specialty in Tiberias is Saint Peter’s fish which is the so-called fish that swam in the Sea of Galilee when Jesus called Peter away from his nets to become a “fisher of men”. The white fish is similar to bass and can be found at the restaurants along the Waterfront Promenade. The countryside surrounding Tiberias also offers some delightful restaurants to choose from with great menu items and a scenic setting. Ha Galil and Ha-Banim streets are other locations where you will find a string of tourist-oriented restaurants, at the north end of Ha Galil Street and Ha-Yarden Street next to Shimon Park, which are considered “Falafel Row”. This is the place for some of the best falafel and shawarma in the city with a great variety of salads and pita.

Avi’s Restaurant is famous in the city, well known for its delicious fresh fish from the Sea of Galilee and its delicious mouthwatering meats.

Decks Restaurant serves delicious barbeque and boats a wonderful waterfront location.

Nof Kinneret, Galei Gil, and the Roast of Fire are waterfront restaurants fun by the same management offering the same menus and delicious food. They all offer indoor and outdoor seating and offering fish cooked in a variety of ways, salads, fries, and pita bread.

The city of Tiberias has a few pubs and bars to choose from and offers visitors a bustling nightlife. There are many opportunities for fun after dark during the summertime with many performances held at the Bet Gabriel Amphitheater and the majestic Sherover Promenade. The hotels in Tiberias often host many folklore events and have nice bars and pubs for drinks, dancing, and entertainment. There are some great pubs, bars, restaurants, and cafes that are a great location at night for a quiet drink offering live music, many can be found along the Leonardo Plaza and the Jordan River, many have terraces.

In case of an emergency dial 100 for police, 101 for an ambulance, 102 for fire.

Hospital:

Baruch Padeh Medical Center tel.972-4-665-2211

Sha'ar Hair Medical Center tel. 972-4-664-7300