Haifa is one of Israel’s major cities, nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the slopes of Mount Carmel. It is Israel’s main port.
Haifa’s location and the landscape quickly make it one of the country’s popular tourist destinations, with excellent beaches and breathtaking sea and mountain views. Haifa is also considered Israel’s most ethnically mixed city. It is the home of the Protestant German immigrants from Romania and assorted smaller communities of Indian and Southeast Asian ethnicities, apart from the larger Muslim Arab and Jewish populations.
All factors considered, Haifa can be a great and friendly place for the kids and the whole family to spend a weekend getaway. It offers a wide array of leisure activities that are perfect for the entire family.
The selection of activities is wide and varied that one would be hard-pressed to mention all of them, so we could only mention a few good suggestions:
1. Louis Promenade
Louis Promenade is located at the top end of the Baha’i Gardens, Haifa’s major tourist attraction. It is a lovely place to walk with the kids and the whole family. There is a small playground for the little ones and benches where you can savor fantastic views of the descending slopes of Mount Carmel and the Mediterranean Sea.
Whether daytime or nighttime, you can visit the Louis Promenade any time. However, it is especially gorgeous during the sunset hour.
2. Madatech (Israel National Museum of Science, Technology and Space Museum)
When in Haifa, don’t forget to check out Madatech, which provides hours of world-class exploration, learning, fun and excitement for the kids and the whole family.
Madatech is Israel’s leading science and technology museum. Visitors of all ages enjoy the hands-on experience and the interactive exhibits of this wonderful museum. They include, to mention a few, the “101 Inventions That Changed the World,” a summer exhibition which includes a 32-minute film that presents the inventions and is displayed on 22 huge screens and interactive touch screens. In addition, Madatech holds a variety of exhibitions touching on other scientific and technological fields such as biology, robots, dinosaurs, sport science, the Solar System, and the world the ships, marine life, and seamanship.
3. X Park
Action-loving kids will definitely love X Park, Israel’s biggest and most prestigious professional extreme sports park. The 13,000 square meter park features an Olympic-sized climbing wall, abseiling, a rope park, a giant omega, and a paintball. It also offers plenty of free parking.
4. Haifa Educational Zoo
For a change of pace, the Haifa Zoo provides a more relaxed but nevertheless fun activity. It is an ideal place for families and kids while visiting Haifa. It was established at a nature reserve in Mount Carmel in 1949 and underwent major renovations in 2002. Haifa Educational Zoo has just been recently made a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The 35-dunam zoo hosts over 100 species of wildlife – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and plant life.
The zoo also features a petting area where kids are allowed to come in close contact with some of the animals (not to mention lots of selfies!).
It also includes a prehistory museum, where visitors can check out displays of present-day excavations finding ancient and prehistoric ruins of burial grounds and ancient villages.
5. Nesher Park Hanging Bridges
Continue the outdoor fun with the whole family in Haifa with a day trip at Nesher Park, a little oasis in the midst of this busy industrial and port city. It offers plenty of options for shared fun and adventures, the highlight being the two large hanging bridges, both of which are entirely made of iron. Other park facilities include open-air sports and gym areas, picnic areas, viewing docks and an hour-and-a-half bridge walking trail.
6. Dado Beach
A family holiday in Haifa won’t be complete without visiting some of its gorgeous beaches, and Dado Beach is one of them. It is a sandy beach with lots of shady spots to rest while watching the other beachgoers and enjoying the views and the sea breeze. It’s another perfect place to relax and have fun in the sun, sea, and sand with the whole family.