How to Visit Knights' Halls in Akko
Read our guide on visiting the famous Hospitaller Fortress (Knights' Halls) in Akko, built by Hospitallers during the Crusades in Israel. Includes tips on what to expect, tickets, or opening hours.
The Hospitaller Fortress, also referred to as Knights' Halls, is a top attraction in Akko (Acre), and one of the most exciting places to visit in Israel.
And every visitor who's at least slightly interested in history should have it on their Israel itinerary.
It allows you to fully immerse into the Crusades era when the European Christian monarchs tried to establish their position in the Holy Land and reclaim their lost territories from Muslims.
They built many structures in this region, but Akko Fortress was one of the most significant ones.
The turbulent era between the 12th and 13th centuries made Akko one of the most important places in the Holy Land.
And today, we have the incredible opportunity to learn about the events that occur more than eight hundred years ago.
If the names such as Crusaders, Templar Order, Hospitaller Knights, Saladin, and Richard the Lionheart have you on the edge of your seat, you've come to the right place.
While there are plenty of things to see and do in Akko, Knights' Halls was definitely our favorite one.
For full disclosure, the history was not the only reason I was so excited to visit Akko.
I have to admit that I might have played Assassins Creed (and Age of Empires II) a few times back in the day.
Both games featured the medieval town of Akko during this period, so my expectations of Akko were slightly higher than Lucie's.
And I couldn't wait to visit the heart of medieval Akko, the Hospitaller Fortress.
So, what was the experience like, and is this site worth visiting?
Things to Know Before You Go
The first thing we immediately noticed once we started planning our trip to Akko was how confusing some of the names of the top attractions were.
They had different names and locations, but quite often, it seemed they referred to the same places.
Akko has a long and rich history, and the impact of those centuries is clearly visible there.
Some of the structures were built in different eras, and therefore, they have different names, such as Citadel, Akko Fortress, Hospitaller Quarter, or Knights' Halls.
Keep in mind that they mainly refer to the same place or least the structures within the same complex.
One of the most exciting things about the Knights' Halls is that the excavations are not complete.
Therefore, the overall experience gets better troughout the time, though we need to say it's really great as it is right now.
How Much Time Do I Need
It took us more than two hours to explore the Knights' Halls, though we wished we could have stayed longer.
As usual, it depends on how much time you have.
You can walk through the fortress in thirty to sixty minutes if you're pressed for time, but we don't think that's the best approach.
It's a genuinely unique place full of history that fully deserves your time and attention.
On the other hand, some people who want to get the most out of the fortress can easily spend three to four hours here.
In our opinion, the more attention you will give to the fortress, the more likely you will enjoy this place.
Entrance Fee
There are several combo tickets to Knights' Halls you can choose from.
They have different prices and combine the most popular places in the town, so choose the one that you like the most.
We decided to get the one that combined Knights' Halls and several other sites in Akko and Rosh HaNikra for 76 NIS.
The sites that are included in the various types of tickets, such as The Okashi Museum of Modern Art, Turkish Baths, Treasures in the Walls Museum, and Templars Tunnel, are located in the Old Town.
The cheapest combo ticket costs 49 NIS.
The Israel Pass is not valid here.
Opening Hours
Hospitaller Fortress is open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM in summer (and 5 PM in winter).
Be prepared that the last admission to the Knights' Hall is an hour before closing time.
On Fridays and holiday eves, the site is open from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Visitors Center
The entrance to the Akko Fortress is from Weizman Street 1 in Akko's Old Town, and you can easily get there on foot.
The Visitors Center is located in a well-kept Enchanted Courtyard, and that's where you should head first.
Here you can purchase a ticket to Knights' Halls and other attractions scattered around the Old Town.
If you're buying the combo ticket, make sure to have enough time for the rest of the attractions which are outside the complex, such as Templars Tunnels, Turkish Baths Museum, or Treasures in the Walls Museum.
Audioguide or Guided Tour
Once you step inside the fortress, you should grab a free audio guide. It really comes in handy here.
It also means that you don't need a guide but can explore the Knights' Halls on your own, which is great if you're visiting Israel on a budget.
The medieval fortress accounts for centuries of history, the entire site is nicely organized, and the displays are well labeled.
You can even watch an introduction movie at the entrance if you have time.
While it's not mandatory, a knowledgeable local guide can definitely bring this place back to life even more.
It really depends on whether you prefer to explore places independently or not.
Knights Hospitallers
So who were the Hospitallers, why were they important, and what was their role in Akko?
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitallers, was a monastic order founded in the Holy Land following the First Crusade that managed hospitals in Israel, mainly in Jerusalem and Akko.
They treated the sick and poor and helped Christian pilgrims on their journey, but they also became a military (religious) order to defend the Holy Land.
Hospitallers, together with Templars, were the strongest military orders in this region and built many fortifications during this era.
The Hospitallers Fortress in Akko was among the most impressive ones.
The city had a strategic location on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea long before the Crusaders arrived here.
But with their arrival, a new massive fortress was built here, and the city became even more important.
Now that you know a little bit of their backstory, the names Hospitaller Fortress or Knights' Halls suddenly start to make more sense.
If you're interested in the Crusader era, we recommend visiting Nimrod Castle in Golan Heights or Karak Castle in Jordan.
History
One of the most exciting parts of this site's story is that the Ottomans built their Citadel in the 18th century on the remains of the former 12th-century Crusader fortress.
The best part is that the Israeli archaeologists found hidden halls and premises below the newer Citadel.
The excavations started in the 1990s and revealed more than their probably expected.
To their surprise, these huge halls, quarters, and corridors were well preserved, despite being buried under the new layers of development for centuries.
As they started digging deeper, it became clearer that the entire site would require a lot of conservation efforts.
Today, we can explore these extraordinary areas, which allow us to get a glimpse of the past times.
And thanks to the massive restoration efforts, it's a truly magical experience.
It's no wonder that the Old City of Acre is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Knights' Halls
Back then, it was a big castle used by medieval knights as a fortress, hospital, and hospice.
Today, Knights' Halls is technically a big museum with beautifully restored underground areas that allows you to understand better what life was like back then.
As mentioned above, the excavations and conservation efforts allow us today to step back in time and walk through the maze of stone corridors, narrow escape tunnels, giant rooms with domed ceilings, and medieval courtyards.
One of the most important things to know about Israel is its full history, and there are still many unexplored places.
The vaulted halls hide incredible places, such as Dining Hall (Columns Hall) or Pillars Hall, with massive stone columns that support the entire structure above them and are very impressive.
The museum is suitable for all ages, and we believe that this is one of the best activities in Akko, even for families with kids.
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!
Are Knight's Halls Worth Visiting?
If you've made it to Akko and like history, then the Knights' Halls is by far the best place you can visit while in the city.
Seeing so much history combined with incredible architecture in one place is every visitor's dream come true.
It's true that Israel is packed with history, and it's tough to choose what sites to include in your travel itinerary.
Whether you travel to the Sea of Galilee to learn about the roots of Christianity or Masada to discover the Roman-Jewish past, you won't make a mistake.
But if you're interested in the Crusaders and all of the individuals and events connected to this era, Akko should be on the top of your list.
We believe that the Knights' Halls has plenty to offer to every person.
Yes, even to travelers who prefer the nature of the Negev Desert and the social life of Tel Aviv over medieval history.
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.
