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Haifa

Haifa, Israel · Asia

About Haifa

Haifa is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Tirat Karmel, 33km from Rosh HaNikra Grottoes.

Haifa is a city located in Haifa, Israel. With a population of 285,316, it is an important destination in Asia.

On a road trip, Haifa sits in Israel, where you drive on the right. It's in the Asia/Jerusalem time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Haifa to your route.

About Haifa

Haifa ( HY-fə; Hebrew: חיפה, romanized: Ḥayfā, IPA: [ˈχajfa]; Arabic: حيفا, romanized: Ḥayfā, IPA: [ħaj.faː]) is the third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of 297,082 in 2024. The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropolitan area in

Read more Israel. It is home to the Baháʼí Faith's Baháʼí World Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and destination for Baháʼí pilgrimage. Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, the settlement has a history spanning more than 3,000 years. Over the millennia, the Haifa area has changed hands: being conquered and ruled by the Canaanites, Israelites, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Hasmoneans, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British. The earliest known settlement in the vicinity was Tell Abu Hawam, a small port city established in the Late Bronze Age (14th century BCE). In the 3rd century CE, Haifa was known as a dye-making center. Haifa el-Atika, 5km northwest of Tell Abu Hawam, is the former site of Haifa as it existed between the 11th–18th centuries. In the late Ottoman period, in the 1760s, Haifa el-Atika was relocated 2.5 kilometres (1+1⁄2 miles) to the east as a new, fortified town, today known as the Old City of Haifa. During and after the Battle of Haifa in the 1948 Palestine war, most of the city's Arab population fled or were expelled and the Old City was subsequently demolished. That year, the city became part of the then-newly-established state of Israel. As of 2016, the city is a major seaport located on Israel's Mediterranean coastline in the Bay of Haifa covering 63.7 km2 (24.6 sq mi). It lies about 90 km (56 mi) north of Tel Aviv and is the major regional center of northern Israel. Two respected academic institutions, the University of Haifa and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology the oldest and top ranked university in both Israel and the Middle East, are located in Haifa, in addition to the largest K–12 school in Israel, the Hebrew Reali School. The city plays an important role in Israel's economy. It is home to Matam, one of the oldest and largest high-tech parks in the country; and prior to the opening of Tel Aviv Light Rail, Haifa is the only city with underground rapid transit system in Israel known as the Carmelit. Haifa Bay is a center of heavy industry, petroleum refining and chemical processing. Haifa formerly functioned as the western terminus of an oil pipeline from Iraq via Jordan. It is one of Israel's mixed cities, with an Arab-Israeli population of c.10%.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Haifa

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Haifa?

Haifa offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Haifa?

Plan your road trip to Haifa with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Haifa as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Haifa located?

Haifa is located in Haifa, Israel, Asia. The coordinates are 32.8130 latitude, 34.9993 longitude.

What is the population of Haifa?

Haifa has a population of approximately 285,316 people, making it a city in Israel.

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Quick Information

Population
285,316
Continent
Asia
Country
Israel
Region
Haifa
Timezone
Asia/Jerusalem
Coordinates
32.8130, 34.9993

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Israel

Police
100
Ambulance
101
Fire
102
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Israel

Tags

AsiaIsraelHaifaCity

Worth the detour from Haifa

6 notable places within an hour's drive.

ancient ruins

Akko (Acre)

A UNESCO-listed Crusader city with remarkably preserved underground knights' halls, Ottoman bazaars, and fortifications on the Mediterranean coast.

14 km · about 25 min drive

natural wonder

Rosh HaNikra Grottoes

Sea-carved tunnels running 200m through white chalk cliffs on the Lebanese border, reached by a cable car advertised as the world's steepest at a 60-degree gradient. The water inside glows electric blue.

33 km · about 40 min drive

ancient ruins

Caesarea Maritima

A spectacular Roman-era port city with a grand amphitheater, aqueducts, and crusader fortifications on the Mediterranean coast.

36 km · about 40 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Mount Arbel

A cliff dropping 380m to the Sea of Galilee, with fortified caves cut into its face by Jewish rebels and a lookout taking in the whole lake to the Golan. Israel's only base-jumping mountain.

47 km · about 55 min drive

ancient ruins

Tyre (Sour)

A UNESCO-listed ancient Phoenician port city with one of the best-preserved Roman hippodromes in the world and extensive archaeological remains.

54 km · about 65 min drive

natural wonder

Sea of Galilee

The largest freshwater lake in Israel, central to Christian scripture and surrounded by important biblical sites including Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes.

55 km · about 65 min drive

Driving roads near Haifa

  • 47 kmMount ArbelA cliff dropping 380m to the Sea of Galilee, with fortified caves cut into its face by Jewish rebels and a lookout taking in the whole lake to the Golan. Israel's only base-jumping mountain.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Haifa.

Tirat Karmel

🇮🇱 Israel

7 km awayPop. 27,822

Nesher

🇮🇱 Israel

7 km awayPop. 24,148

Qiryat Yam

🇮🇱 Israel

8 km awayPop. 39,897

Qiryat Motsqin

🇮🇱 Israel

8 km away

Qiryat Bialik

🇮🇱 Israel

8 km awayPop. 43,955

Megadim

🇮🇱 Israel

10 km awayPop. 1,329

Qiryat Ata

🇮🇱 Israel

11 km awayPop. 59,030

Yagur

🇮🇱 Israel

11 km awayPop. 1,617

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence