20 Best Hotels in Upper Galilee and the Golan, Israel

If relaxation is what you're after, look no further than this homey getaway, a good base for exploring the sights in the Golan Heights. The owner, Anat Cnaan, will greet you with open arms and a table filled with fruit and freshly baked goodies. Your well-designed suite will have a bottle of wine at the ready, which you can open on your personal patio overlooking the Sea of Galilee or enjoy during a relaxing soak in your suite's whirlpool tub. Spa treatments are available at very reasonable prices, and the lovely pool area was designed by Anat's architect-husband, Avi.

With a splendid view of the Sea of Galilee, this colonial-style hotel south of Rosh Pina specializes in pampering its clients. Its spa features such treatments as the olive-branch massage and other rubdowns with oils distilled from wildflowers. The organic restaurant is known throughout the region, and the lobby has an herbal-tea corner open around the clock. A gallery sells local artworks, and a gift shop offers homemade breads, cheese, and other products. About half the accommodations are suites with their own whirlpool tubs.

Nestled in the natural beauty of the Golan Heights is this gem of a hotel with an escapist feel, perfectly designed to complement the magical hilltop landscape. The exquisite Bauhaus design in a number of rooms pay homage to the building's origins as a French Customs House from the early 20th century.

Each of these distinctively designed suites offers all of the amenities you could want in a Rosh Pina retreat. The owner restored one of the historic homes built by Baron Rothschild in the late 1800s for the settlement's farmers. Taking it upon himself to be an ambassador for Rosh Pina, Kobi Kuperberg takes incredible care to make sure that you have a pleasant journey. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with wine, fruit, and chocolates. Breakfast is served in the peaceful gardens surrounding your suite, which have lots of stone and beautifully finished wood.

This stunning mansion has been in the Hameiri family since it was built in the late 1880s. The current generation has renovated the rooms and landscaped the grounds with an elegant touch. Most rooms have stained-glass doors and vaulted ceilings; it's worth asking for one of the pair with private terraces.

The four suites owned by Judit Sheraf and Avi Ram are the perfect place for a family weekend: each cottage has a double bedroom, a living room that sleeps three, a kitchenette, a heated outdoor Jacuzzi, and a very large private yard with grill and hammock or swing set. A generous Israeli breakfast can be brought to your cabin for an extra fee. The large private pool is open from April to October; the grounds also have an outdoor hot tub and massage room.

Orchards surround this small hotel, so the heady aromas of the peaches and nectarines will bring you closer to nature as soon as you arrive. Views of the Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, and the Lebanon Mountains can be enjoyed from the pool, which is never crowded because it's shared by just five suites. Freshly brewed coffee and snacks baked on the premises are served throughout the day. This place feels like home after even a short visit. The owners take you on orientation tours of the area and give you recommendations of activities that will enhance your stay.

Families with active kids will enjoy the enclosed green grounds of this hotel surrounded by forest. A basketball court, minigolf, and a large swimming pool can fill the kids' days, while adults can visit the spa for a soothing massage or a dip in the hammam. Nightly live entertainment and bonfires can cap off a full day of activities and kosher buffet meals. Book a room in one of the newer wings for a more luxurious experience.

The waters of the Hermon Stream flow through a glass-covered channel in the lobby of this laid-back lodging. It's the one place where nature has been corralled, as everywhere else you look you'll see the snow-covered peaks of Mount Hermon or the rolling Naftali Hills. Although the rooms are simply decorated, they are perfect for families. There's a health and wellness center with indoor and outdoor pool, as well as a soothing spa. Kayaking and walking tours are available.

This lodging's peculiar name (it means "The Last Supper") shouldn't stop you from enjoying its magnificent views of the Golan Heights, the Sea of Galilee, and the Galilee mountains. The owners have outfitted each of the suites in classic style with furnishings they collected while traveling through Europe. They are happy to prepare gourmet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, but many guests skip breakfast because each room has a kitchen stocked with a selection of cereals, yogurt, fruit, and other delicacies.

At the entrance to the Hula Lake Nature Reserve, the Hotel Galilion is a luxurious haven for bird-watchers. Guests can book spa treatments (or include them in the rate), relax poolside with a drink from the pool bar, and enjoy abundant buffet dinners and breakfasts in the dining hall. The two-story buildings are in desert-stone yellow, and the guest rooms are done in warm red and brown hues and have photos of migrating birds. For stunning views, request a room with a balcony facing Mount Hermon.

Each room at this friendly kibbutz lodging is like a cozy studio apartment, with pine furnishings and chintz curtains. Clusters of rooms share private patios where you can get to know your fellow guests. Breakfast is served in the kibbutz dining room. Joseph's Well offers few activities, but is a good base for exploring the Upper Galilee.

With a view over the Galilee all to way to the Kinneret, the Levin Nof Marhiv will encourage you to stop and take a breath of fresh air. Order a relaxing massage, soak in your hot tub, or enjoy vegan delicacies from the neighborhood eateries. If you need a well-deserved break from touring the nearby sights, spend some time in one of the rustic rooms or cabins and enjoy the gentle rhythm of the peaceful countryside.

Part of Kibbutz Kfar Blum, this hotel in the Upper Hula Valley has spacious and elegantly appointed rooms. The spa offers unusual experiences, such as a rain cave and a Turkish-style steam bath. An Olympic-size swimming pool is a great place to relax after a day of exploring. The kibbutz offers kayaking on the Jordan River and a chamber-music festival every summer. It's 8 km (5 miles) southeast of Kiryat Shmona.

The stained-glass windows, wood furniture, and handwoven rugs make it hard to guess that this charming small boutique hotel used to house livestock. The Fridman family has lived here since 1876, and now operates a hotel, wine bar, and restaurant on the premises. With arched ceilings and stone walls, the rooms are rustic and subtly luxurious, and the food is lovingly prepared.

High in the foothills of Golan Heights, this hotel is only a few minutes from good beaches and a water park. Its main building has comfortable guest rooms with private balconies and fabulous lake views. The deluxe wood chalets have whirlpool tubs, saunas, entertainment systems, and other perks. Free guided tours of the area are available in summer.

Built 200 years ago for a Turkish sultan, this spectacular castle has been transformed into a hotel with a reputation for charming rooms. The stone-walled rooms, many of which have vaulted ceilings, are both comfortable and rustic; the former stables serve as a dining room. A third of the rooms have mountain views.

On the outskirts of Tzfat, the budget-minded Safed Inn caters especially well to families. There's a courtyard for barbecues, a pretty garden where kids can play, a fully stocked kitchen, and a homey dining room where breakfast is served. Standard rooms are simple but clean. Costing a bit more, the deluxe rooms have featherbeds, whirlpool tubs, and parquet floors. Three dormitory style rooms are also available at a low cost.  

In the Western Galilee, Tamar and Yaron Cohen created three lovely suites off their home, where they focus on their love of wine. The couple bottles wine in an underground cellar they built for themselves, combining Yaron's carpentry skills with Tamar's tasteful designs. Guests checking in receive a welcome tour of the cellar and a tasting. Naturally, the rooms are all stocked with a bottle, too. The kitchenette includes cold drinks, as well as Tamar’s homemade chocolate truffles, cheese crackers, and nut cookies. Complimentary bikes and a list of where to ride are included in the rates.

Amichai and Tehila Yisraeli bought this 19th-century farm and converted the former stables, storehouse, and dairy into a charming guesthouse. Three decades later, Villa Tehila retains its old-world character. The simply appointed rooms, which overlook a central courtyard, have the original stone walls and are decorated with antiques. Children will enjoy feeding the ponies, turtles, parrots, chinchillas, and llama. There's a pub on the premises, open only on weekends.