Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Bus -- Buses run between Safed and Tiberias, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.

By Car -- Follow the main but winding roads from Tiberias, Haifa, and Akko.

Getting Around

Most city buses, such as no. 1, 13, 14, or 3, go from the center to the hotels on Mount Canaan.

Visitor Information

The Safed/Hazor/Rosh Pina Tourism Association Office is unfortunately not in Safed, but in the Galilee Mall at the entrance to Rosh Pina (tel. 1-800/323-223 or 04/680-1465; www.zhr.org.il, in Hebrew), open Sunday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm. Also, at the Safed Municipality Office, 50 Jerusalem St., there's often a shelf with maps and brochures, but no one in attendance.

City Layout

Safed is built on hilltops. The main part of town is compactly clustered atop one hill, while South Safed occupies another hilltop to the south, and Canaan perches on a hillside across the valley to the east. Although you may find occasion to go to Mount Canaan (a few hotels are there), you'll spend most of your time in the center of Safed. Jerusalem Street (Rechov Yerushalayim) is a circular street that girdles the hill, passing through the commercial street, the Artists' Quarter, and residential sections before beginning its circle again. Walking the circle should take only 15 minutes, and it is a good way to see most of Safed.

The Egged Bus Station (tel. 04/692-1122) is at the lowest point on Jerusalem Street's circle through town, where it intersects with Derech Jabotinsky. Walk up to Jerusalem Street from the bus station and go right, and after 360m (1,881 ft.) you will come to the tourism office. But if you come up from the bus station and go left, you'll be headed toward the commercial district. In any case, once you find Jerusalem Street you can't get lost in Safed.