A Guide to Visiting the Beit Alfa Synagogue in Israel
Read our travel guide on visiting Beit Alfa Synagogue National Park in Israel. Includes tips on what to expect, entrance fee, opening hours, how to get, and much more.
Located on the way from Beit Shean and Nazareth in Lower Galilee, Beit Alfa Synagogue National Park is a quick stop that not many international visitors know about.
In fact, Beit Alfa Synagogue (sometimes spelled Bet Alfa or Beth Alpha) is one of the off-the-beaten places that travelers usually skip as there are far more exciting places to visit in Israel.
But visiting less-traveled places has its specific charm, even though these sites usually lack the grandiosity of their more famous counterparts.
One of the practical things to know about Israel is that they use the phrase 'national park' very loosely. Beit Alfa Synagogue is living proof of this fact.
It's technically just a fairly small hall featuring a zodiac mosaic that you can see in less than 30 minutes, including the educational movie.
Still, you can find one of the best mosaics in Israel here (with quite an interesting story) that has inscriptions in Aramaic and Greek, depicts the binding of Isaac, a Jewish adaptation of the Greco-Roman zodiac wheel, and a synagogue scene with Torah Ark.
So it might be a shame to miss it, especially if you have a flexible travel itinerary and travel to the Sea of Galilee area.
But the question is, is Beit Alfa Synagogue worth visiting? Let's find out.
A Quick History of Beit Alfa Synagogue
Beit Alfa Synagogue was built in the Jewish village of Bet Ilfa at the end of the 5th century CE.
Later on, a strong earthquake destroyed the settlement at the end of the 6th century leaving the synagogue buried for centuries.
The three-paneled colorful mosaic was left intact due to this natural disaster for roughly 1500 years.
Fast forward to the 1920s, the members of the Kibbutz Heftzibah accidentally discovered a synagogue during their work on an irrigation channel.
The first excavations began immediately, but it was the excavations in the 1960s that proved that the synagogue once stood in the center of a Jewish village during the Byzantine era.
How to Visit Beit Alfa Synagogue
After spending the whole morning exploring the ancient Roman ruins of Beit Shean, we wanted to visit the iconic Mount Tabor before reaching Nazareth.
We knew that there is also Beit Alfa Synagogue with a zodiac mosaic not far from here.
Even back home, when we were planning our Israel itinerary, we discussed whether Beit Alfa is worth visiting or not.
The site looked a bit unimpressive at the first look, at least compared to what we're supposed to see in Tzipori National Park.
Or what we've already seen in the Hisham's Palace on our West Bank Tour when we were already in Israel.
As we still had some time and had curious souls, we decided to give it a go.
Visitors Center
The small visitor center in Beit Alfa Synagogue was empty when we got there, and it looked that the clerk was quite happy to see some visitors who would interrupt his boredom, at least for a while.
We should have known that the empty parking lot was not a common appearance or something we've seen very often in Israel.
Movie
After the clerk at a modest and a bit dim visitor center scanned our Israel Pass, he asked us whether we would like to see the movie in Hebrew, English, or four other languages.
We felt not very adventurous that day, so we settled on English, even though there wasn't anyone around, and we had a pretty free hand.
The synagogue was completely dark, and we clumsily shuffled our feet around for a few seconds before the movie started.
The educational movie we saw before the lights turned on was highly entertaining, and we were a bit disappointed that it was so short (about 12 minutes).
It's a hidden gem, and we believe that all fans of B-movies will love it.
On a more serious note, we're not sure how accurately the film depicts the history, but the story is probably quite loose.
While the actors gave the performance of their lifetime, we also appreciated the explanation of selected mosaic parts.
The lights went on and off as a single light moved from the specific mosaic images, and we really enjoyed this feature.
Knowing the meaning of depicted pictures made the orientation easier for us, and we actually knew this time what we were looking at.
Mosaics
As soon as the movie ended, during which we learned the story behind the origin of the mosaics, the lights went back on, and we could spot the mosaic in its full glory for the first time.
It's definitely different from the other mosaics we had the opportunity to see on our trip to Israel.
The mosaic in Beit Alfa Synagogue looks more cartoonish, if not childish. At least in terms of the artwork, not in what the mosaic actually depicts.
If you watch the movie carefully, you might notice that the authors didn't have the same budget and experience as their colleagues in Tzipori National Park.
And we both agreed that it shows.
However, whether you prefer a more realistic or cartoony approach is totally up to your artistic preferences.
We already mentioned what you could see on the mosaic earlier in the blog post.
What we didn't say was that you can actually walk around the entire mosaic and enjoy it from different angles.
The dimensions of the synagogue were 20 x 14 meters, and the mosaic is even smaller, so it won't be the longest walk.
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Beit Alfa Synagogue is 22 NIS ($7) per adult, and we believe it's probably an adequate price for the ticket.
Make sure to have Israel Pass with you, so you can save some money on the ticket.
It comes in very handy not only here but other sites too, especially if you're visiting Israel on a budget.
Opening Hours
Beit Alpha Synagogue is open year-round and has similar opening hours as most of the other sites that the Israel Nature and Parks Authority maintain.
Beit Alpha Synagogue National Park is open from 8 AM to 5 PM in summer from Sunday to Saturday (Friday 8 AM to 4 PM).
In winter, the synagogue is open 8 AM to 4 PM (on Fridays it's 8 AM to 3 PM).
Here you will find more information on the best time to visit Israel.
How to Get There
Beit Alfa Synagogue is located in the Beit Alfa Kibuttz along Road 669, less than a 10-minute drive from Beit Shean.
Once you reach the roundabout in the kibbutz, take the third exit to get to the parking lot.
If you're using Google Maps, it's better to set Beit Alfa Synagogue parking into your GPS navigation unless you want to drive around the kibbutz longer than it's necessary.
Driving in Israel didn't prove to be difficult, and while you can get to Beit Alfa Synagogue by bus, it's not very time-efficient.
Beit Alfa is 110 kilometers from Tel Aviv and 150 kilometers from Jerusalem.
Here you can find the best deals on rental cars in Israel.
Getting to Beit Alpha by bus is doable, but it's not very convenient and time-efficient.
Here you will find more information on how to get around Israel.
Is Beit Alfa Synagogue Safe to Visit?
Beit Alfa Synagogue is a safe place to visit. 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!
Parking
There is free parking right in front of the Beit Alfa Synagogue entrance.
It's not the largest parking lot we've come across while in Israel, but you probably won't have a problem finding an empty space here.
Where to Stay
We decided to stay in Tiberias the night before and end our day in Nazareth. Another valid option is to stay in Beit Shean or any other accommodation you'll find along the way.
It's also possible to spend the night directly in Beit Alfa or nearby Nir David.
Staying outside the large cities gives you a perfect opportunity to escape the hectic city life and see Israel from a different perspective.
So, here's our choice of the best hotels near Beit Alpha.
Beit Alpha | Pina Bagilboa - This country house is located directly in Bet Alfa, so it's a perfect place to stay overnight if you arrive at the synagogue late. You'll find BBQ facilities, a living room, kitchen, private bathroom, and a terrace here.
Nir David | Nir David Country Lodge - Located in a kibbutz on the Asi River near Beit Shean, Nir David Country Lodge features rustic wooden cabins with hydromassage baths and patios. An indoor heated pool and views of Mount Gilboa are just something extra.
Nazareth | Ramada Olivie Nazareth - You can expect clean rooms with AC, excellent breakfast, a wellness area, a heated indoor pool, or a rooftop bar with superb views in Ramada Olivie Nazareth.
Tiberias | The Scots Hotel - Set in a historic building, this luxurious hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with views of the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee, a swimming pool, an on-site art gallery, and a gourmet restaurant.
Is Beit Alfa Worth Visiting?
As we made it to the end of the blog post, we now have to conclude the story of Beit Alfa Synagogue.
Visiting places that are under the radar of most international travelers is always a welcome change to otherwise hectic travel experiences.
However, we can say with a clear conscience that the world won't collapse if you don't make it to Beit Alfa Synagogue.
We understand that the Knights' Halls in Akko or the Bahai Gardens in Haifa has a more significant appeal for first-time visitors to Israel.
There is nothing wrong with that.
But if you're tired of the crowds that you can come across at more popular places such as Masada, Sea of Galilee, or Caesarea, then this tiny synagogue might be an excellent alternative for you.
And as it's so accessible and the visit won't take you long, Beit Alfa Synagogue might become one of the hidden gems that you won't forget about any time soon.
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.
