When to Visit-Because Tiberias is so far below sea level, the climate is mild in the fall, winter, and spring, but torrid when Tiberias is busiest in July and August.
Getting There
By Bus -- There is direct service from all major cities.
By Car -- From Jerusalem via the Jordan Valley, it's a 2 1/2-hour drive; from Haifa, 1 hour and 20 minutes. Four main roads lead to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee: from Safed, from the Jordan Valley, via Mount Tabor, and from Nazareth.
Visitor Information
The area code is 04. The Tiberias Tourist Information Office is in the archaeological park in front of the Sheraton Moriah Hotel, Ha-Banim Street (tel. 04/672-5666; open Sun-Thurs 9am-4pm, Fri 9am-12:30pm). There are often extended hours in July and August. The office gives out free maps and information and can direct you to lists of bed-and-breakfast accommodations.
Special Events - The Ein Gev Music Festival takes place at Kibbutz Ein Gev in spring during Passover Week. Israeli folk dance and song festivals are organized along the waterfront in summer; ask the Tiberias Tourist Information Office (see above).
Orientation - Tiberias (pop. 45,000) spreads out along the Kinneret shore and climbs the hillside to the west. The very center of Tiberias is Kikar Ha-Atzma’ut, or Independence Square, in the Old City. Surrounding Ha-Atzma’ut Square is what little is left of historic Tiberias.
Tiberias’s main street changes names as it winds through the city. As it descends from the mountains to the lake it’s called Ha-Nitzahon Road; in the residential district of Kiryat Shmuel up on the hillside it becomes Yehuda Ha-Nassi Street, and as it descends to approach the Old City its name changes to Elhadeff (or El-Hadeff or Alhadif) Street. After passing Ha-Atzma’ut Square, it becomes Ha-Banim Street, and this name serves it all the way to the southern limits of the city. South of the Old City about 1.5km (1 mile) is the section called Hammat, or Tiberias Hot Springs. Ruins of an ancient resort center and synagogue, a national park, a museum, and the Tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness are located near the springs.
North of the Old City, Gdud Barak Road skirts past several beaches on its way to the newly excavated site of Magdala (where Mary Magdalene came from), Tabgha (where the miracle of the loaves and fishes took place), the Mount of Beatitudes (where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount), and Capernaum (Kfar Nahum), a fishing community that was the hometown of Peter and the center for Jesus’ ministry. <![endif]-->
There are several places where you can rent a bicycle in town, such as the Astoria Galilee Hotel. You can rent a car at any of the major rent-a-car companies with offices in Tiberias. Many of them are located in the block of Elhadeff Street north of Ha-Yarden Street. If you plan to pick up a rental car in Tiberias, it’s a good idea to reserve online in advance.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
