A Complete Guide to Avdat National Park
Are you visiting Avdat National Park in Israel soon? We created this useful travel guide that includes what to see and do in Avdat, how to get there, when to go, entrance fee, and opening hours.
Visiting a UNESCO site is always an extraordinary experience regardless of the location or country. And as Avdat National Park in Israel combines history, heritage, and nature, you're for sure in for a treat.
Perched on a hilltop and overlooking the vast and endless Negev Desert, Avdat is a stunning fortress that shares Nabatean, Roman, and Byzantine history.
And it's a perfect stop on the way from Eilat to Beer Sheva, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or vice versa.
This country is full of historical sites, and it is almost impossible to fit them all in your Israel itinerary. So we are going to also look more closely into whether it's Avdat worth a visit or not.
Avdat played an essential role on Incense Route due to its location near Petra and the Mediterranean Sea, and the entwined history of three empires makes this place a great stop on your journey across the Negev Desert.
Moreover, Avdat is one of the best-preserved Nabatean cities in entire Israel.
Lastly, Avdat National Park and nearby Ein Avdat National Park are different places. Avdat is about history, while Ein Avdat is about nature. Either way, both of them are worth a visit.
So here's everything you should know about Avdat National Park before you go.
Incense Route
Before we visited Avdat, Lucie never failed to mention that Avdat lies on Incense Route.
She was like, yeah, Avdat, that's the site on Incense Route. Or did you know that Avdat lies on Incense Route?
And I was still wondering what was so special about it and why she always mentioned it.
My interest picked up when I learned at the museum that Nabateans used this 2400 kilometers long ancient trade route from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE.
If the word Nabateans still doesn't ring any bell to you, then know that it was the civilization that built the Lost City of Petra and Little Petra in Jordan, one of the new seven wonders of the world.
We happened to visit Petra last year, so you can clearly see that my memory of this fact was missing. But that's what is so great about visiting different sites that were connected centuries ago.
Being able to connect the dots (no matter how slowly, in my case) will allow you to understand this region's history a bit better.
Nevertheless, Incense Route was divided into 65 stages, and the 2380 kilometers long journey from Thomna to Gaza took exactly 65 days.
Each day, the caravan consisting of 10 to 20 camels, riders, guards, and supervisors had to cover more than 35 kilometers per day.
The camels carried between 150-200 kilos of spices, dyes, incense, herbs, or precious metals each, so a working network of waystations was much needed for the caravan to arrive at a destination safely.
History of Avdat
So why we're still talking about the Incense Route? Because without it, there wouldn't be any Avdat in the first place.
Nabateans used this route that connected Arabian Peninsula with the Mediterranean Sea for trading. As the dangerous journey took a couple of months, the caravans needed some safe places to rest.
So Nabateans built a settlement here, and despite the harsh living conditions, they made good use of it.
When the Romans took over the Nabatean empire, the settlement continued to flourish, and even agriculture here was established.
Like some other historical sites in Israel, a massive earthquake destroyed Avdat in the 7th century CE, resulting together with some other influences in the complete abandonment of the town.
One of the things to know about Israel is that even remote places in the middle of the desert are full of history.
It should not go unnoticed that in 2005, vandals damaged Avdat site.
A big restoration project was launched, and the local authorities restored the ruins with the help of the Israeli government.
How to Visit Avdat
Before we dive into what you can see in Avdat, we can't fail to mention that you have two options to choose from to visit the site.
Car
The easy and comfortable way is to drive from the parking lot to the upper parking and explore the site from there.
We weren't sure how long is the trail or how much time we would need if we walked, so we decided to get around the complex by car.
But don't worry. Even if you don't want to hike the trail, you will still do some walking around the fortress and other archaeological structures.
And by the way, as this trail is a loop, you can decide at the upper parking lot whether you want to hike or not.
Hike
If you are looking for a way to stretch your legs after a long drive or just love hiking, then you can walk from the lower parking lot to Avdat and back via a nice, well-maintained loop.
Moreover, after spending so much time driving and sitting, walking is a great way to stay fit while traveling.
After being in Avdat ourselves, we would say that driving up there is more convenient and slightly faster. Well, that's not the most shocking discovery, is it?
However, it might be a bit better idea to explore this entire area on foot. If we had a chance to go back in time and revisit this place, we would have opted for the walk.
There are three official trails in Avdat, a short red trail, a red and blue intermediate trail, and a red, blue, and green long trail.
What to See and Do in Avdat National Park
Avdat National Park is like many other archaeological sites in Israel, all about the history and ancient structures.
Add sweeping vistas of Negev Desert, and you won't sure be bored.
Museum - Gift Shop
The first steps lead us to a small museum that also serves as a ticket counter or gift shop. The museum itself is very small, there are only a few displays, and it takes about five minutes to see it all.
In front of it, there is a small free parking lot.
A Short Movie About Avdat
Once we purchased our entry tickets, the lady working in the visitors center offered us to see a short movie about Avdat.
As the movie was less than ten minutes long, we decided that it might be good to see it to understand Avdat and its history better.
We sort of knew what to expect as we had already seen similar movies in places such as Madaba or Beit Alfa Synagogue.
While the movie is relatively informative, it's not mandatory to see it to understand Avdat's history.
And as usual, we were given together with the ticket a very informative brochure that contains everything you need to know about this place, including the Avdat map.
As we decided to drive up there, the lady also gave us a small ticket with a barcode that opened the gate next to the parking.
Parking Lot
The upper parking lot at Avdat is one kilometer from the entrance gate, so it took us only a few minutes to get there.
Parking at Avdat is free, and the parking lot was almost empty.
Caravan Statues
A silhouette of metal statues of caravan traders and camels greet you as soon as you enter the complex. More statues can be found throughout the site.
While they might seem a bit cheesy, they help you imagine what life might look like here more than two thousand years ago.
Roman Tower
When standing at the parking lot, you can't miss the view of the Roman Tower.
The lookout tower that stands at the Avdat's south entrance served as a guarding post. When you climb the rock stairs to the top, a beautiful view of the entire complex and Negev Desert opens up.
Don't miss the inscription on the tower's external wall (above the entrance door) that mentions Zeus Oboda, the deified king after whom the Avdat site was named.
According to the inscription, the tower was built in the year 188, which relates to 294 CE in our calendar.
Byzantine Quarter
Once we left the tower, we walked through the Byzantine Quarter.
Unfortunately, there is not much left from the Byzantine Quarter today. The arches were damaged, and you'll get the best overview of the quarter from the Roman Tower anyway.
Roman Army Camp
While you might be tempted to see the courtyard and churches in the fortress, make sure to take a short detour to Farmhouse, the Nabatean Settlement, and Roman Army Camp.
Once again, there is not much else left from these structures apart from piles of rocks, so you need to use some of your imagination or pictures from the informative boards.
When we saw what was left from this part of the complex, we both remembered Umm ar-Rasas in Jordan.
Not sure how this part of the complex will look like in the upcoming years, but right now it is not that interesting.
Winepress
Just before you enter the fortress, you can see a winepress. When the Romans arrived, they started to grow wine here.
While the conditions might seem arid, their ingenious irrigation system made their agricultural attempts successful. And the endless supply of sunshine ensured that the grapes were ripe and sweet.
The Romans created storage rooms from the caves on the slopes of the hill and kept their wine there.
Fortress
Obviously, the fortress was built to defend the city from intruders. When we entered the walled fortress through the main gate, we turned right and walked towards the southeastern end.
Here we climbed another tower through narrow stairs.
If you've been in the Roman Army Camp or early Nabatean settlement, now you have the chance to see them from above.
We also immediately noticed some fenced-off areas in the east part of the courtyard. One of the biggest problems to solve for every human to survive in the desert was finding water.
Therefore, they built large cisterns in the ground where they collected the rainwater. Never cross the fence for your safety, as there are big holes underneath you.
For illustration, you can notice a channel made of rock slabs that brought water from the tower to the cistern.
The cisterns can also be found in other places such as Caesarea or Tel Hazor, and they never fail to amaze us.
By the way, if you wonder what the bright light that hovers in the air above the horizon north of the Avdat is, then know that this is a massive solar power plant.
We passed by on the way to Beer Sheva, and it looked like something from a sci-fi novel.
Churches
While you're still in the Avdat's fortress, two Byzantine churches can be found there.
The southern Church of St. Theodorus features some walls and pillars, and it's hard to imagine what the place looked like back in the days.
Fortunately, you can find a beautifully done miniature of the monastery in its open courtyard (atrium) that will bring the remains alive.
In this temple, archaeologists also found human remains buried under the rock floor and slabs with inscriptions.
On the north side, you will find the earliest church in Avdat built upon the Nabatean Temple site.
Temple
When we walked through the temple gate in the western corner of the fortress, we appeared in the remains of a 3rd-century temple.
The Nabatean inscriptions found on the lintel suggest that the temple was dedicated to Zeus-Oboda.
At the further end of the temple, the views of Negev Desert open up in front of you once again.
Roman Villa
Less than 200 meters south of the main complex stands reconstructed Roman Villa.
The Romans who lived there couldn't find a better place to build a house as the view from the villa over the Negev Desert was pretty spectacular.
And the two restored arches make a fantastic photo spot from this place.
Burial Cave
On the way back, we also visited burial caves containing names of the woman buried there.
If there is space available, you can leave the car on the side road near the trailhead and walk about 100 meters from there.
If you want to see more tombs in Israel, don't forget to visit Beit Shearim.
Dwellings
One of the last stops for us in Avdat was the caves and dwellings. Nabateans used the caves as tombs, but Romans turned them into dwellings, stables, storehouses, or monasteries during the Byzantine era.
The caves in the hill were also a perfect place to store agricultural products and ferment wine. You can enter some of the caves that are hidden behind the Roman structures.
The dwellings are only 300 meters (though slightly uphill) from the bathhouse and less than another 300 meters from the fortress (more uphill)
Dwellings have their own parking lot, so you can drive right next to this attraction as well.
Bathhouse
We left the bathhouse for the end of our visit, but it probably makes more sense to go there before you drive all the way up to the site.
If you've decided to hike to the fortress via the hiking trail, the bathhouse and the well will be your first stop on your journey.
Either way, the bathhouse is well-preserved, and you can see here the exposed ingenious heating system.
It's not very different from the one we've already seen in Akko or Beit Shean National Park.
As soon as we saw the bathhouse standing in the middle of the desert (well, next to the highway and gas station with McDonald's), we could notice the similarities with Qusayr Amra, one of the most beautiful desert castles in Jordan we had visited last year.
Unfortunately, you won't find here any frescoes as in its Jordanian counterpart, but it's quite interesting to see the interiors anyway.
While you can't see it today, the rooms had different temperatures with stoves, and the Romans also had to build a 60-meter deep well to provide water into a bathhouse.
There is a metal door which you need to shut when you enter the bathhouse and when you leave.
How Much Time Do You Need for Avdat
So how long it will take to explore Avdat National Park depends on the way you'll get around. We spent at the Avdat complex about two and half hours, and we didn't rush at all.
The complex is relatively small compared to Caesarea, so it won't take you that much time.
Moreover, as the trail loop is not that long, it won't make much difference when getting around on foot.
It's recommended to add another hour when hiking the trail, but we believe you can do it in a shorter time (realistically, add 30 minutes).
To give you an example, we met a couple who walked the entire trail from the visitor center to the fortress and back, and they left the site before us.
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Avdat National Park is 28 NIS per adult.
If you plan to visit several national parks in Israel during your vacation, we always recommend you purchase Israel Pass to lower your expenses, especially if you're visiting Israel on a budget.
We visited Avdat National Park without reservation, but it's recommended to secure your spot online in advance.
At least check the reservation site if they still have spots available prior to your visit.
Opening Hours
Avdat National Park is open every day, and you should keep in mind that you're not allowed to enter the park less than half an hour before the closing time.
Avdat National Park is open from Saturday to Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM and on Fridays and holidays from 8 AM to 4 PM in the summer.
In winter, Avdat is open from 8 AM to 4 PM from Saturday to Thursday and Friday or holidays from 8 AM to 4 PM.
How to Get There
As we've already mentioned above, Avdat National Park is located on Highway 40 in the Negev Desert, about 62 kilometers south of Be'er Sheva.
Mitzpe Ramon is 22 kilometers south of Avdat, and Eilat is 172 kilometers south of here.
Car
The easiest and most convenient way to reach Avdat is by car. Renting a car in Israel is very easy and relatively affordable, and we believe that's the best way to get around this country.
Especially here in the Negev Desert, the car will make your life much easier.
Driving in Israel is easy, and the Negev Desert is no exception.
The traffic on Highway 40 is not traffic heavy, and the road is in good condition.
Here, you can search for the best deals on rental cars in Israel.
Bus
A bus 64 from Be'er Sheva should stop at Avdat National Park (Ovdat/Antiquities), but this option is not very convenient.
Firstly, you would need to get to Be'er Sheva and catch a bus to Avdat from there. The situation is very similar to Ein Avdat National Park and Ben-Gurion National Park.
While it might seem doable, it's not arguably worth the effort. If you have only a week or two for Israel, renting a car makes much more sense.
Here you will find more information on how to get around Israel.
Where to Stay
While the Negev Desert might seem like a desolate, empty area, finding a good hotel is not difficult. The popularity of Maktesh Ramon has some upsides that reflect good hotels options.
Of course, the best selection of hotels is in large cities such as Tel Aviv, Beer Sheva, Jerusalem, or Eilat. From all of them, Beer Sheva is the nearest large city to Avdat.
Here's our choice of the best hotels where you can stay before or after your visit to Avdat.
For some travelers, staying in Sde Boker kibbutz might be a good alternative to hotels in busy cities.
Either way, make sure to reserve your hotel room in advance to avoid increasing prices in the high season.
Sde Boker | Isrotel Kedma - This brand new hotel is a beautiful oasis in the Negev Desert. You will find everything you need in Isrotel Kedma and much more. It's not the most budget-friendly accommodation here, but it's only a small price to experience a true oasis.
Mitzpe Ramon | Even Derech - Centrally located hotel has nice decor, clean rooms, friendly staff, available parking, and lovely terrace.
Be'er Sheva | La Finca Luxury Suites Hotel - Despite its name, this hotel offers fairly affordable accommodation in the heart of Be'er Sheva. Rooms are air-conditioned, spacious, and clean, and there is also a shared kitchen and an outdoor jacuzzi.
When to Go
Avdat is open all year round, so the only thing you need to worry about are national holidays as the sites can be closed or opening hours are reduced.
It's often said that the best time to visit Avdat National Park is in the autumn and spring.
It's because the weather in Avdat during the summer can be unbearable, as the temperatures can exceed 40 Celsius.
However, Avdat is a historical site, so your arrival date does not make much of a difference, especially if you know what to expect and arrive prepared for the extreme weather.
As you would expect, it's better to arrive early to Avdat to avoid high temperatures.
Having said that, chances are that you will also want to see Ein Avdat and Maktesh Ramon in one day.
As Avdat is sitting roughly in between these places, it's usually the one where you will arrive around midday.
Even though it might seem like the worst time of the day, there might also be a bit fewer tourists.
Here you will find more information on the best time to visit Israel.
Is Avdat Safe to Visit?
Yes, Avdat is safe to visit, but make sure you're prepared for the extreme weather conditions of the Negev Desert.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Israel.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
What to Pack
Avdat is located in the Negev Desert, one of the hottest and driest regions in Israel. So make sure to come prepared.
There is barely any shade around the complex (not counting the tower, caves, and burial tombs), so don't forget to bring some kind of hat to protect your head against the sun.
Also, a good sunscreen with high SPF is a must-have.
Whether you decide to explore the site on foot or by car, make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day.
It's easier to do so if you have your own car, as you can leave it inside, and drink in between the short drives in the park. It's a different case for hiking, and you should bring the water with you.
A comfortable small daypack will come in handy here as well.
Even though the trail is well-maintained, wear proper footwear, at least runners, as it's a bit rocky, and there are also steps. Do yourself a favor and don't wear flip-flops.
Other than that, don't leave your mirrorless camera in your car.
Is Avdat Worth Visiting?
As usual, it depends on many factors. If it fits in your travel itinerary and you like historical sites, that we would say it's worth a trip.
We believe that this desert region is quite interesting, and hides many beautiful places.
We would definitely also include stops at Ein Avdat National Park and Maktesh Ramon to get the most of your trip.
But again, driving here from Eilat, Tel Aviv, or Jerusalem to see only this place is probably not worth the trip.
It's pretty time-consuming, and you can find arguably more exciting places in Israel.
Simply put, if you decide to travel to Avdat, make sure to visit other attractions on Highway 40 as well.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
