HAIFA

The Beach Text:
There is nothing like Haifa beaches for enjoying the atmosphere of a Mediterranean festival, just like the Riviera. Haifa's beaches stretch from quiet beach along the Bat Galim promenade all the way down to the cable car station. From there further to the Carmel beach and the entertainment center around the Meridien hotel and southwards to Dado beach and the wild coastline that continues down to Atlit. There are lots of places of entertainment, music and dancing, beach cafes, pubs, restaurants and a whole range of activities for the entire family.

Geography, Climate, etc.:
Haifa is the main city of northern Israel and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of about 267,800 (as of May 2006). It is a seaport, located below and on Mount Carmel, and lies on the Mediterranean coast. Haifa has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold, rainy winters. The average temperature in summer is 26 °C and in winter, 12 °C. Snow is rare in Haifa, but temperatures around 6 °C can sometimes occur, though usually in the early morning. The wet season is from October to April.

Lifestyle, People, Shopping, Nightlife, Festivals, etc.  A vacation in Haifa is pure pleasure entertainment, culture and Mediterranean tranquility. A city that never ceases to develop, never ceases to change. Haifa has many and varied entertainment routes, crossing the different quarters of the city.  There is room for every type of nightlife activities - pubs, clubs, discotheques, theatre, movies, live shows, concert cafes, restaurants and more - a real celebration in a city that sparkles around the clock.  The city of Haifa has become a symbol of peace and co-existence in Israel, a place where six different religions live together  in fellowship and cooperation - Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druse, Baha’is and Ahmedians.

Around Christmas time, Haifa celebrates a very special festival, the only one of its kind, incorporating the holidays of the three major religions - Hanukkah, Ramadan and the secular New Year - the Festival of Festivals.  Haifa's shopping centers are the most modern in Israel and provide a focus for activities and events for the whole family. Here you will find the very best of the latest fashion at attractive prices. Haifa offers the ultimate shopping experience. Every area is a cultural center offering, in addition to the best of world fashion, jewelry, art objects, food, bargains and a range of attractions and activities for both adults and children. Examples of this include the Grand Canion, the Castra center and many others. The shopping experience in Haifa is not complete without visiting the Massada Street area around which a unique collection of galleries, specialty stores and cafes have developed. In addition, Haifa has lively shopping and commercial districts and colourful markets along the streets of Carmel, Hadar Hacarmel and the downtown. Haifa is a city of culture, art and different festivals in all seasons of the year:

Spring - The international children's Theatre festival, The music festival, blossoms on mt. Carmel.
Summer - A celebration of events, activities and performances on the seashore and throughout the city.
Fall - the International Film festival.
Winter - The Festival of Festivals, an event that is unique not only in Middle-East but in the whole world.

Culture, History, Museum etc.
Haifa is a unique city of culture and art, nowhere to be found anywhere else in Israel. It provides visitors with an exciting selection of unusual museums. Such as the National Museum of Science, the Technology and Design, the National Marine Museum, the museum of Japanese Art, the Museum of Modern art, the museum of the History of the people of Israel in the Land of Israel and more. Haifa also has a vast range of art centers, galleries and centers of culture and music, including the city's Symphony Orchestra. Each one promises an aesthetic and cultural experience that is unique to Haifa and to Israel. The city boasts a large selection of museums dedicated to many different and fascinating subjects. There is modern art alongside archeology and ancient history, Japan and the Far East alongside Israeli art and culture, science and technology for adults and children. Visitors can walk through old streets and historic houses of the German Colony that have been transformed into a lively center of entertainment, shopping and dining, overlooking the stunningly landscaped of the Bahai gardens.  Come and enjoy the magical experience in Wadi Nisnas, traditional religious neighborhoods, Druze villages, historic monasteries and holy sites.