“Should I visit the North or the South of Israel?” – That’s a hard question, and lately, I’ve heard many people ask it. Almost all people include Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea in their travel plans. But then they might have a couple more days and wonder where to spend them… The North or the South? Here are some pointers which might help you decide if you want to visit north or south Israel!
The northern part of Israel includes Haifa, the Galilee, and the Golan. The southern part includes the Negev and the Arava. I’ve lived both in the North and in the South of Israel. Both are charming in their own way. Here are the main differences between the North and the South.
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Green vs. desert
If you like to venture through green plains, forests, and blossoming flowers, you’ll find plenty of it in the North. On the other hand, if you like the beauty and quietness of the desert, you should head South. Many travelers that I met were amazed by the desert in the South. It seems like in most places, especially in Europe, there’s no desert like this one. So if you come from a place with no desert, I highly recommend the South!
More Christian sites vs. less
If you’re coming to Israel to visit as many Christian sites as possible, you’ll find the most in the North. You can drive around the Sea of Galilee and see the places where Jesus might have walked; you can visit Nazareth, the childhood town of Jesus; and you can also visit Yardenit, where you can baptize in the Jordan River. In the South, there are barely any Christian sites. The only main Christian site is Qasr el Yahud, which according to tradition, is the place where Jesus got baptized in the Jordan River. There are also some ancient monasteries in the Judean Desert. The Judean Desert is not too far from Jerusalem, so it is not really so southern.
City touring vs. hiking
Although there are many hiking trails in the North, I believe the more exciting trails are in the South. If you choose to hike, make sure that it’s not too hot and that there’s no danger of flash floods. There are also many kibbutzim in the South and Bedouin camps, which you can visit.
If you prefer city touring, there are much more cities in the North, amongst them Acre, Haifa, Tzfat, and Caesarea. In the South, there are almost no major cities to tour. The two major cities that do exist in the South are Be’er Sheva, the capital of the Negev, and Eilat, the southernmost city in Israel.
The Mediterranean vs. the Red Sea
If you’re interested in snorkeling or diving, you should go to the Red Sea at the most Southern point of Israel, right next to Eilat. The Red Sea is the home of the northernmost coral reef in the world and is full of amazing fish. You won’t find corals in the North because coral reefs cannot exist in the Mediterranean Sea.
Colder vs. warmer
The weather in Israel is overall very nice and rarely really cold. Though, you should know that the temperatures in the South can get very high – around 45 degrees Celcius in the summer. So, if you don’t like to feel like you’re in an oven, you should think about visiting the North instead. There, the temperature in the summer rarely climbs over 35 degrees Celcius. But if you still want to visit the South in the summer, you might be cheered up by the fact that there’s not so much humidity. So even if the temperature is high, you won’t sweat too much. In the North, on the other hand, there’s a lot of humidity, especially near the Mediterranean Sea.
What’s similar between the North and the South of Israel?
Public Transportation – Improvement Needed
Do you plan to travel through Israel by public transportation? Well, the truth is that both the North and the South are not so accessible by public transportation. Buses run quite regularly to major cities (like Haifa, Be’er Sheva, and Eilat) and to major touristic sites (like the Dead Sea and Masada). But if you want to get to smaller towns and more off-road sites, it could take you a long time to get to your destination. Here are some examples:
- If you want to get from Jerusalem to Nazareth, a direct bus leaves only twice a day (and late). So you will have to take two buses to reach Nazareth if you don’t want to wait for the afternoon. And either way, it will take you about 2 hours.
- There are no frequent buses between the Christian sites around the Sea of Galilee. If you want to get from one site to the other, you might need to wait around 2 hours for a bus. In this case, it’s sometimes better to hike around the Sea of Galilee!
- Many hiking trails in the South are not accessible by public transportation.
Want to use public transportation in Israel? Check out my full guide to public transportation in Israel.
So what can you do about it?
If you have plenty of time in Israel, you can use public transportation. But if you don’t have much time and want to see as much as possible, don’t let public transportation stop you! I see two main options for you:
- Join an organized tour. There are many companies in Israel that offer organized tours to different areas of Israel, including the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, and the Judean Desert. The budget companies usually offer self-guided tours, which include only transportation. The most popular company is Abraham Tours. Those companies limit the time you have at each location, so if you’re the type that likes to spend a long time wherever you visit, this might not be the best option for you.
- Rent a car. There are many car rental companies in Israel. If you have an international driving license, you can check them out and see if it is economical for you. Don’t rent a car for Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Rent only for the places you need it.
Main cities/ attractions in North and South Israel
In the North: Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Haifa, Acre (Top Free Things to do in Acre), Safed (Top Free Things to do in Safed), Caesarea, the Golan Heights, Mount Hermon.
In the South: Masada and the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, Be’er Sheva, the Ramon Crater near Mitzpe Ramon, Sde Boker, Timna Park, and Eilat.
Masada, the Dead Sea, and Ein Gedi are a day trip from Jerusalem, so they can easily be combined in any trip.
Suggested 5-day itineraries
In the North of Israel
1- From Jerusalem, take a bus or drive to Nazareth. Stay in a hostel in Nazareth. Walk around the old area of the city and visit the churches.
2- On the second day, drive to the Sea of Galilee (if you come with a rented car) or take one of the day tours offered by various companies.
3- On the third day, take a bus or drive to Haifa. Stay in a hostel in Haifa. You can spend your day in Downtown Haifa, see the Bahai Gardens and eat something in the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood.
4- On the fourth day, use public transportation or drive to Acre (Akko). Explore the Old City, visit the Hospitaller Fortress, wander around the old port and if you have time, stop to enjoy some time on the beach. Return to Haifa.
5- On the fifth day, drive up to Rosh Hanikra, one of the most beautiful natural spots in Israel. It would be a bit complicated to get there by bus. After visiting Rosh Hanikra, drive back to Haifa or continue all the way to Tel Aviv.
If you don’t have much time, you can take an organized tour to Rosh Hanikra, Haifa and Acre. They do it in one day, though you can do it in 2-3 days on your own.
In the South of Israel
1- From Jerusalem, take an early bus or drive to Be’er Sheva. Visit the Well of Abraham, the small Museum of the Islam and the British War Cemetery. From Be’er Sheva, continue by bus or rented car to Mitzpe Ramon. Stay in a hostel in Mitzpe Ramon.
2- On the second day, go hiking in the Ramon Crater or enjoy the wonderful desert around the little town of Mitzpe Ramon. If you need another day in the area, you can add it.
3- On the third day, drive to Kibbutz Lotan in the Arava region. It is also possible to get there by bus, but you will need to change buses in Dimona and it will lengthen your trip. Explore this unique ecological kibbutz and the hiking trails around it. Stay in Lotan.
4- On the fourth day, drive or take a bus to Timna Park, the most famous natural park in the area. You can rent a bike there and travel around the trails to visit the different sites, including the most ancient copper mine in the world and an Egyptian temple. Read more about Timna Park here – Saturday Morning in Timna Park. From Timna park, continue to Eilat.
5- Spend your day in Eilat and its surroundings. For ideas, check out – Top Free Things to do in Eilat.
Need help planning your trip?
I offer itinerary-building services! I can help you plan your trip, including what to do each day, where to stay, and where to eat. Learn more here.
Conclusion
So where should you go, to North or to South Israel? As you can see from the post, it depends on your personal preferences. If you’re more of a city person, the North is a better fit. If you want to discover the desert, the South is the perfect place to go. But no matter what you choose, whether it is north or south Israel, I’m sure you’ll have a great time!
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Yours,
Lior