--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Tiberias, Israel | Wimup" description: "Tiberias on Wimup: the Sea of Galilee shore, Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes, the Hamat Tiberias mosaic, Mount Arbel, and where to eat St Peter's fish." url: https://wimup.com/city/tiberias type: City guide updated: 2026-10-05 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Tiberias Tiberias, Israel · Asia · By Wimup Editorial, 14 min read Tiberias sits about 200 metres below sea level on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, a Roman spa town that became one of Judaism's four holy cities. It is also the only base that puts the lake, Capernaum and the Golan within a morning's drive. ## Quick answer Spend one day on the shore and one above it. Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes sit within ten kilometres of each other on the north side, with Magdala's first-century synagogue between them. In town, Hamat Tiberias keeps a fourth-century zodiac mosaic and the hot springs the city was built for. Mount Arbel is the view that ties the whole lake together. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** March to May, October to November - **Ideal length:** 3 to 4 days - **Budget per day:** $110-200 - **Language:** Hebrew and Arabic, English widely spoken - **Getting around:** A hire car for the lake circuit, buses in town - **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://www.gov.il/en/departments/general/visit-israel-info?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Tiberias ### 1. Hamat Tiberias and its zodiac mosaic Ruins · Route 90, southern Tiberias The floor of a fourth-century synagogue survives here with a zodiac wheel at its centre and Hebrew and Greek dedications around it. Seventeen hot mineral springs surface beside it, which is why Herod Antipas put his city on this stretch of shore. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** ₪14 adult - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Pair with the tombs above Links: [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/hamat-tiberias-national-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. Capernaum, the town on the north shore Archaeology · Route 87, north shore of the Sea of Galilee A white limestone synagogue stands on the black basalt walls of the one before it, and an octagonal church on stilts covers the house identified as Peter's. It is the densest site on the lake and the first stop for most groups, so arrive at opening. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** ₪10 - **Best at:** Opening - **Tip:** Shoulders and knees covered Links: [Website](https://www.custodia.org/en/sanctuaries/capernaum/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 3. Mount Arbel and the cliff over the lake Viewpoint · Route 7717, near Kfar Hittim A basalt wall dropping to the lake, with the Golan and Mount Hermon behind it. The cliff descent uses fixed handholds and cables and is for confident walkers; the plateau lookout needs no scrambling and holds the same view. - **Time:** 1-3 hrs - **Cost:** ₪24 adult - **Best at:** Sunrise - **Tip:** Last cliff entry is 3 hrs before closing Links: [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/arbel-national-park-and-nature-reserve/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 4. The Mount of Beatitudes Church · Route 90, above Tabgha An octagonal church of 1938 on the slope where the Sermon on the Mount is placed, with a colonnade looking straight down at the water. Entry is free and the gardens are the reason to climb: the lake reads as one sheet from up here. - **Time:** 45 min - **Cost:** Free, ₪30 parking - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Closed 11:30 to 14:00 ### 5. Magdala and its first-century synagogue Archaeology · Migdal, Route 90 A lakeside town uncovered in 2009 during hotel foundations, including the best preserved synagogue in the Galilee and the carved Magdala Stone found inside it. Duc in Altum, the prayer hall on the shore, is part of the same ticket. - **Time:** 1-1.5 hrs - **Cost:** ₪20 adult - **Best at:** Afternoon - **Tip:** Open daily 08:00 to 18:00 Links: [Website](https://www.magdala.org/plan-your-visit?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 6. Sail the lake from Tiberias marina Boat trip · Tiberias marina, off the promenade Wooden boats built to the lines of first-century fishing craft run 45-minute crossings from the marina, engines cut in open water. It is the one way to see the shore the way every site along it describes it. - **Time:** 45 min - **Cost:** About ₪120 shared - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Book ahead at Easter and Passover ### 7. The tomb of Maimonides Shrine · Ben Zakkai Street, central Tiberias Moses ben Maimon, the physician who codified Jewish law in the Mishneh Torah, was buried here in 1204, with the graves of Yohanan ben Zakkai and Isaiah Horowitz alongside. It is among the most visited Jewish pilgrimage sites in the country. - **Time:** 30 min - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Modest dress, separate entrances ### 8. Tabgha and the loaves and fishes mosaic Church · Route 87, Tabgha A fifth-century mosaic floor of herons, ducks and a basket of loaves between two fish, kept under a Benedictine church built on the Byzantine plan. Half an hour is enough, and the Church of the Primacy of St Peter is a few hundred metres downhill. - **Time:** 30 min - **Cost:** Free, ₪20 parking - **Best at:** Late morning - **Tip:** Closed Sundays ### 9. The Galilee Boat at the Yigal Allon Museum Museum · Kibbutz Ginosar, Route 90 A fishing boat from the first century BCE, found in the mud in 1986 when the lake dropped, now sitting in a climate-controlled hall after eleven years of conservation. The rest of the museum covers Galilee settlement history. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** ₪25 adult - **Best at:** Midday - **Tip:** Ten minutes north of town ### 10. Berko Archaeological Park Ruins · Southern entrance to Tiberias, Route 90 The Roman theatre held 7,000 before the earthquake of 749 flattened it, and the park around it runs from Herod Antipas's city gate through a Byzantine bathhouse to a Fatimid-era street. It is the quietest ruin in Tiberias. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Small fee - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Almost no shade ## Best holy sites in Tiberias The Christian sites on the north shore and the tombs that made Tiberias a holy city. 1. **Capernaum** (Franciscan site · ₪10 · North shore): The synagogue, the octagonal church over Peter's house, and the lake at the end of the path. [Website](https://www.custodia.org/en/sanctuaries/capernaum/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Mount of Beatitudes** (Church · Free · Above Tabgha): Free entry, paid parking, and the clearest view of the lake from any church above it. 3. **Church of the Multiplication** (Church · Free · Tabgha): The loaves and fishes mosaic, fifth century, under a Benedictine church. Closed Sundays. 4. **Church of the Primacy of St Peter** (Church · Free · Tabgha): Black basalt chapel on the water, built over the slab known as Mensa Christi. 5. **Tomb of Maimonides** (Shrine · Free · City centre): Free, open through the day, and one of the busiest Jewish pilgrimage sites in Israel. 6. **Tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness** (Shrine · Free · South shore): Blue-domed complex above the hot springs, with separate entrances for men and women. 7. **Yardenit** (Baptismal site · Degania): The baptismal site where the Jordan leaves the lake. Robes and towels are hired on site. [Website](https://www.yardenit.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best restaurants in Tiberias The promenade is a fish row, and several kitchens on it share an owner. Here is what differs. 1. **Decks** (Grill · $$$ · Lido beach): Meat and fish grilled over citrus and olive wood on a pier built out over the water. [Website](https://www.decks.co.il/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **The Pagoda** (Asian · $$ · Lido beach): Chinese, Thai and sushi in a pavilion on the lake, under the same roof as Decks. [Website](https://www.decks.co.il/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Galei Gil** (Fish · $$ · Promenade): Eight fish on the board, grilled or fried, at tables set on the old promenade. 4. **Avi's Restaurant** (Kosher · $$ · Old city): Kosher cooking in a stone room off the promenade, stained glass and a long menu. 5. **Nof Kinneret** (Fish · $$ · Promenade): Waterfront fish house sharing a kitchen and a price list with Galei Gil. ## Best lake & beaches in Tiberias Where to get into the water, from the municipal beach to the far shore. 1. **Sironit Beach** (Free entry · Tiberias): The town's own swimming beach, walkable from the promenade and lifeguarded in season. 2. **Ganim Beach** (Paid · Water park · Tiberias): Municipal beach of shaded lawns south of the centre, with a floating water park in summer. 3. **Berniki Beach** (Free entry · South of Tiberias): Two and a half kilometres of quiet western shore, on the marathon route out of town. 4. **Ein Gev** (Paid entry · East shore): The east shore, reached by boat or the long way round. Kayaks, pedaloes and a fish restaurant. 5. **Tzemach Beach** (Paid entry · South shore): The southern tip of the lake, wide and shallow, and rebuilt in recent seasons. ## Best archaeology in Tiberias Roman, Byzantine and Talmudic Galilee, none of it more than an hour away. 1. **Hamat Tiberias National Park** (National park · ₪14 · South Tiberias): The zodiac mosaic and the springs, at the southern edge of the modern town. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/hamat-tiberias-national-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Berko Archaeological Park** (City park · South Tiberias): Roman theatre, city gate and bathhouse across 100 dunams at the southern entrance. 3. **Korazim National Park** (National park · North shore): A black basalt town on the ridge above the lake, with a synagogue and its carved Seat of Moses. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/korazim-national-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **Beit She'an National Park** (National park · Beit She'an valley): One of the largest excavated Roman sites in the country, 35 km south, levelled in 749. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 5. **Zippori National Park** (National park · Lower Galilee): Mosaic floors including the portrait known as the Mona Lisa of the Galilee, 35 km west. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/zippori-national-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best hikes & viewpoints in Tiberias The cliff, the lake circuit, and the trails that connect them. 1. **Mount Arbel National Park** (National park · ₪24 · West of the lake): The cliff route uses cables and handholds; the plateau lookout is a flat ten-minute walk. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/arbel-national-park-and-nature-reserve/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Kinneret Trail** (Long-distance trail · Around the lake): A marked circuit of the lake in seven segments, flat, and walkable a section at a time. 3. **The Jesus Trail** (Long-distance trail · Lower Galilee): Nazareth to Capernaum on foot, usually walked over four days through the Lower Galilee. 4. **Nahal Amud** (Nature reserve · North of Tiberias): A shaded stream gorge running down to the lake north of Tiberias, best in spring. 5. **Switzerland Forest** (Free · Above Tiberias): Pine slopes and lookouts directly above the city, ten minutes from the promenade. ## Best hot springs & spas in Tiberias The mineral springs the city was built on, plus two more within an hour. 1. **Tiberias Hot Springs** (Spa · Paid · South Tiberias): Indoor and outdoor mineral pools, saunas and a 25 metre heated pool, open daily from 08:00. 2. **Hamat Gader** (Spa park · Paid · Yarmouk valley): Thermal pools in the Yarmouk valley 25 km southeast, with Roman baths and a crocodile farm. 3. **Gan HaShlosha** (National park · Beit She'an valley): Spring-fed pools that hold about 28C all year, 30 km south in the Beit She'an valley. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best day trips in Tiberias Seven drives out of Tiberias, none of them longer than 70 km. 1. **Safed** (35 km north · Upper Galilee): Kabbalah's home town, 35 km north and 800 metres higher, with galleries in the old quarter. 2. **Nazareth** (30 km west · Lower Galilee): The Basilica of the Annunciation and a working market, 30 km west. 3. **The Golan Heights** (40 km east · Golan): A volcanic plateau of wineries, the vulture cliff at Gamla and the crater on Mount Bental. 4. **Beit She'an** (35 km south · Jordan valley): A Roman city 35 km south, still standing to head height and flattened in one night in 749. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 5. **Hula Valley** (50 km north · Upper Galilee): A rebuilt wetland on the migration corridor. Cranes fill it from October to March. [Website](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/hula-nature-reserve/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 6. **Akko** (60 km west · Western Galilee): Crusader halls under a walled Ottoman sea port, 60 km west on the Mediterranean. 7. **Haifa** (70 km west · Carmel coast): The Baha'i terraces and the German Colony on the far side of the Carmel ridge, 70 km west. ## Festivals & annual events in Tiberias (2026) - **Sea of Galilee Tiberias Marathon** (Early January): The lowest marathon course in the world, run out and back along the lake at about 200 m below sea level. - **Tu BiShvat** (January or February): The new year for trees. Galilee almond blossom is out and the hills are at their greenest. - **Holy Week and Easter** (March or April): Pilgrim coaches fill Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes from opening time. - **Passover** (March or April): Israel's busiest domestic travel week. Lake hotels sell out months ahead and the beaches are full. - **Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron** (May): A mass pilgrimage to the tomb of Shimon bar Yochai, 40 km north. Expect road closures across the Galilee. - **Sukkot** (September or October): The second peak week of the year. The promenade, the beaches and the national parks all run at capacity. - **Ironman 70.3 Tiberias** (November): A 1.9 km swim in the Kinneret, 90 km on the bike through the Galilee, then a half marathon. - **Hanukkah** (December): Eight nights of lights along the waterfront, and one of the few busy weeks in the winter low season. ## Must-try dishes in Tiberias, Israel - **St Peter's fish**: The lake's own tilapia, split and grilled whole. Priced by weight on the promenade. - **Hummus**: Warm, with whole chickpeas and olive oil. A breakfast in the Galilee, not a side dish. - **Falafel**: Fried to order and packed into pita with salad, pickles and tahini. - **Shakshuka**: Eggs poached in spiced tomato and pepper, served in the pan they cooked in. - **Maqluba**: Rice, chicken and fried aubergine cooked in one pot and turned out upside down. - **Kubbeh**: Bulgur shells around spiced lamb, fried, or dropped into a sour winter soup. - **Labneh with za'atar**: Strained yoghurt under Galilee olive oil, scooped up with bread at breakfast. - **Knafeh**: Shredded pastry over hot cheese in sugar syrup, cut to order at the counter. ## Tiberias transport & airports - **Ben Gurion Airport** (TLV): The country's main gateway, 140 km southwest. Under two hours by car, or by bus with one change in Tel Aviv or Afula. [Website](https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/airports/ben-gurion/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Rail to Afula** (Rail): Tiberias has no station. The Jezreel Valley line runs to Afula, 30 km southwest, and on to Beit She'an; buses cover the last leg. [Website](https://www.rail.co.il/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Intercity buses** (Bus): Egged and regional operators run to Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and Nazareth from the central station. Pay with a Rav-Kav card. [Website](https://www.egged.co.il/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Car and taxi** (Car): Route 90 runs the length of the lake, Route 77 crosses to Haifa. A car is the only practical way to the north shore sites on Shabbat. ## Tiberias at a glance - **Country:** Israel - **Region:** Lower Galilee, Northern District - **Population:** About 52,100 (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2024) - **Founded:** Around 20 CE by Herod Antipas, named for the emperor Tiberius - **Nickname:** One of Judaism's four holy cities, with Jerusalem, Hebron and Safed - **Language:** Hebrew and Arabic, English widely spoken - **Currency:** Israeli new shekel (ILS) - **Time zone:** UTC+2, UTC+3 from spring to autumn - **Calling code:** +972, area code 04 - **Airports:** Ben Gurion (TLV) 140 km southwest, Haifa (HFA) 70 km northwest - **Power:** 230V 50Hz, type H and type C sockets - **Emergency:** 100 police, 101 ambulance, 102 fire ## Interesting facts - The city sits about 200 metres below sea level, beside the lowest freshwater lake on earth. - The Jerusalem Talmud was compiled here after the Sanhedrin moved to Tiberias in the third century. - Tiberian scribes fixed the vowel points and cantillation marks still printed in Hebrew Bibles. - Herod Antipas built the town over a graveyard, so observant Jews avoided it for its first century. - The earthquake of 749 flattened the Roman theatre, and it stayed buried until excavations in 1990. ## Tiberias travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Tiberias? Three. One day for the north shore (Capernaum, Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes and Magdala), one for the town, Hamat Tiberias and Mount Arbel, and a third for Safed, Nazareth or the Golan. ### When is the best time to visit Tiberias? March to May and October to November. The lake sits below sea level, so July and August regularly pass 38C and the shore holds the heat overnight. Winter is mild and green, and the marathon runs in early January. ### Do you need a car in Tiberias? For the north shore, yes. Buses cover the town and the intercity routes well, but Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes sit along Route 87 with thin service, and nothing runs from Friday afternoon to Saturday night. ### What closes on Shabbat in Tiberias? Public transport stops from Friday afternoon until Saturday night, and most shops and kosher restaurants close with it. Hotels keep running, taxis work, and the Christian sites on the north shore stay open. ### Do you need a visa to visit Israel? Travellers from visa-exempt countries need an approved ETA-IL before departure, applied for online through the Population and Immigration Authority. It is valid for two years or until the passport expires. ## Nearby guides - [Ayia Napa](https://wimup.com/city/ayia-napa.md): Cyprus · 10 picks - [Limassol](https://wimup.com/city/limassol.md): Cyprus · 10 picks - [Aqaba](https://wimup.com/city/aqaba.md): Jordan · 10 picks - [All of Asia →](https://wimup.com/asia): 109 cities Part of the [Israel guide](https://wimup.com/country/israel.md) · [Asia](https://wimup.com/asia.md) ## Sources - [Tiberias tourism board](https://www.gov.il/en/departments/general/visit-israel-info?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Hamat Tiberias and its zodiac mosaic (official site)](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/hamat-tiberias-national-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Capernaum, the town on the north shore (official site)](https://www.custodia.org/en/sanctuaries/capernaum/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Mount Arbel and the cliff over the lake (official site)](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/arbel-national-park-and-nature-reserve/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Magdala and its first-century synagogue (official site)](https://www.magdala.org/plan-your-visit?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Yardenit (official site)](https://www.yardenit.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Decks (official site)](https://www.decks.co.il/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Korazim National Park (official site)](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/korazim-national-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Beit She'an National Park (official site)](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Zippori National Park (official site)](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/zippori-national-park/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Hula Valley (official site)](https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/hula-nature-reserve/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Ben Gurion Airport (official site)](https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/airports/ben-gurion/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Rail to Afula (official site)](https://www.rail.co.il/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Intercity buses (official site)](https://www.egged.co.il/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.