Haifa and the Northern Coast Places

Nahariya

One of the region's most beautiful beaches is just at the end of the main street of Nahariya. Two others sit just north of town. The popular seaside town was built along the banks of a river, now dried up, lined with shady eucalyptus trees. The town's name comes from nahar, the Hebrew word for "river."

Although German was once the main language here, you're now just as likely to hear Russian or Amharic (spoken by Ethiopians), and blue-bereted U.N. soldiers from bases to the north are frequent visitors. In July and August, there's dancing in the amphitheater at the mouth of the river, and Israeli stars perform on the beach and in the town square.