Haifa Port Cruise Terminal

Israel is a compact country and has effective public transportation between its main cities; however, most travelers who dock at Haifa make the most of their time by booking shore excursions that seamlessly link sites that would be time-consuming to reach by public transit.

In addition to the Baha’i Gardens, Haifa highlights include Nazareth, where Jesus supposedly grew up and preached, and places where Christians believe miracles happened, such as Cana, Capernaum, and the Sea of Galilee. Nearby Acre (Akko) is notable for its medieval center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• The Haifa Port Cruise Terminal offers cafés, duty-free shops, transport links, restrooms, and more.

• Haifa is a hilly city; wear practical shoes if you plan on doing much walking.

• Galilee can be cool and rainy in winter (December to February), so bring a warm layer and a waterproof jacket.

• Historic churches and old towns are often difficult to navigate by wheelchair or stroller; check with your tour provider for accessibility information.

• Most travelers opt to stay focused on the sights in northern Israel; however, Jerusalem is less than a 2-hour drive away.

The passenger terminal bridge brings you to HaAtsmaut Road, close to the Haifa Merkaz-HaShmona train station. It’s more than a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk uphill to the HaCarmel area, your starting point for the historic center, so you may want to ride the Carmelit underground funicular from downtown, a few minutes’ walk away on Paris Square. Many shore excursions also depart directly from the port.

Haifa is a popular stop for Mediterranean cruises, and many Israelis embark here. Israel’s official language is Hebrew, which has its own script, but signs are written in Roman and Arabic letters as well, and English is widely spoken. The local currency is the shekel (NIS).