A Guide to Tel Hazor National Park, Israel
Read our travel guide on visiting Tel Hazor National Park in Israel in Upper Galilee. Includes helpful tips on what to see and do while there, what to expect, how to get, entrance fee, or opening hours.
Many exciting places in Israel are overlooked by international travelers who simply don't have enough time to see it all.
It's a shame because visiting off-the-beaten sites can often be especially rewarding.
Tel Hazor National Park in the Northern District of Israel is one of the best examples of this matter.
Even though Tel Hazor (sometimes spelled Hatzor) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (you've read right), only a fraction of tourists goes there.
At least those who are visiting Israel for the first time.
How is that possible? We hopefully find some answers throughout this article, so stay tuned. We'll also try to find out whether Tel Hazor is worth visiting or not.
One thing is certain, though, the former Canaanite city of Hazor has an intriguing ancient history and is also mentioned in the Bible.
Whether you're a history buff or a Christian on a pilgrimage and have already seen everything in the Sea of Galilee, this tiny national park might be an interesting option to other more famous sites in Israel.
So here's everything you should know about Tel Hazor National Park before you go.
History
While the eye-catching structures such as the theater in Caesarea, the Western Wall in Jerusalem, or the promenade in Beit Shean that would attract crowds are missing, Tel Hazor's history dates back to 3000 BCE.
Tel Hazor was the capital city of the Canaanite Kingdom in the 14th century, long before the arrival of the Israelites.
But due to its strategic location on the way to Syria and Babylon, archaeologists found the first mention of Hazor in the Egyptian execration texts from the 19th century BCE.
Hazor was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the millennia until the King of Assyria, Tiglath Pileser III, destroyed the city once and for all (together with other towns in Galilee).
So why does Tel Hazor not get more credit from tourists, despite being on UNESCO's World Heritage List?
Honestly, there is not much left there today. The importance of Tel Hazor is primarily historical.
Hazor is together with Meggido and Beer Sheva among the Biblical Tels in the Levant.
Tel is a prehistoric settlement mound characteristic of the Middle-East region, and these three places are the best places that still have some remains.
We also recommend visiting Tel Jericho in the West Bank, also known as the oldest settlement in the world.
What to See and Do
Visiting Tel Hazor National Park is very easy and straightforward, and it was a nice stop on our way from Safed and Rosh Pinna to Hermon Stream Nature Reserve and Nimrod Fortress.
We arrived at the main entrance gate just before noon, and despite the fact that it was almost mid-November, it felt like an oven outside.
We left the car under the tree at the first parking lot, showed our Israel Pass to a guy in the small office, and walked toward the site.
The Tel Hazor parking lot was relatively small but free. We also noticed another parking inside the complex, but it seemed inaccessible at the time.
Some of the trails in the park are wheelchair accessible, so it might be worth a shot of asking the worker at the gate if needed.
By the way, there is also a small Tel Hazor Museum near the entrance to Ayelet Hashahar Kibbutz, but it's only for tours.
Upper City
The accessible area with the remaining structures is called the Upper City, and as the name suggests, it's situated on an elevated hill.
It's relatively small, and it won't take too much time to walk around the entire site. The looks can be deceptive, though.
The views we get while standing on the northern edge of the complex and overlooking the vast barren space in front of us don't tell the whole story.
The Upper City only covers about one-eighth of the former Hazor settlement, so it's not very surprising that the Lower City was the area where most of the 15000 people lived during its peak.
By the way, the area that was once a Lower City is today a large farm field, and it's inaccessible.
At least, you can enjoy the lovely views from several different points scattered along the northern side.
The Palace of the Canaanite Kings of Hazor
Once you walk through the remains of the 10th-century BCE Solomonic Gate, which had six adjacent rooms and two towers back in the days, you will appear in front of The Palace of the Canaanite Kings of Hazor.
Today a massive roofed construction protects what little is left from the ceremonial palace from the 14th and 13th centuries BCE.
While the excavations revealed some clay tablets with cuneiform writing and plenty of other things, there is not much to see inside the palace today.
Not even some mosaics that you can admire in places such as Tzipori or Beit Alfa Synagogue.
While we love visiting sites independently, this palace was one of the places where we agreed that hiring a knowledgeable guide would bring back this place to life a bit better than the official brochure and scarce English informative boards.
When you look across the courtyard toward the east, you might notice the remains of several massive stone walls.
It seems that this was an earlier structure, probably a palace of Ibni-Addu, according to records found in Mari.
Water System
Built during the reign of King Ahab, Tel Hazor's water system is something that took us completely by surprise.
A trip to Tel Hazor was a bit of a spontaneous thing, as we decided on the morning of our visit to include it in our travel itinerary.
We didn't know much about Tel Hazor, but being that close to the UNESCO site was simply too tempting.
As we walked toward the western end, we stumbled upon a 45-meter deep water shaft that could be seen from inside.
We had a chance to see more water cisterns in Masada or Avdat later, but this one was our favorite.
Water is a scarce commodity in this region, but this giant reservoir was built with another purpose in mind.
When Hazor expanded and flourished, King Ahab fortified the city and having access to drinking water was crucial to surviving during an eventual siege.
Today, a (one-way) metal staircase can take you to the bottom of the pit, so be sure not to miss it out.
Even though it might seem a bit scary, we felt perfectly safe during this experience
The Israelite Tower
When we reached the farthest end of the complex, the few last steps took us to a small platform at the remains of the Israelite Tower.
The tower offers arguably the best views of the surrounding Galilee region, so it's definitely worth visiting, even if it's just for the picture with the cool-looking statue.
There are a few more structures in Tel Hazor, such as the Citadel (where some cultic items were found) or a Private Dwelling worth seeing, so don't forget to stop by at those places as well.
Opening Hours
Tel Hazor has similar opening hours as most of the other sites that are under the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
Tel Hazor National Park is open from 8 AM to 5 PM in summer from Sunday to Saturday (Friday 8 AM to 4 PM).
The national park is open 8 AM to 4 PM (Friday 8 AM to 3 PM) in winter.
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Tel Hazor National Park is 22 NIS ($7), and you can use your Israel Pass here.
We believe that the Israel Pass is a great deal, even if you travel around Israel on a budget.
How to Get There
As with so many other places in Israel, the easiest way to get to Tel Hazor is by car.
Driving in Israel is pretty easy and straightforward, so you don't need to worry about that.
While it's not impossible to get to Tel Hazor by public transport, this option is far from being convenient.
Car
It's a 10-minute drive from Rosh Pinna and a 25-minute drive from Safed to Tel Hazor. The proximity of these places is very convenient as you can visit them in a day.
Tiberias is 33 kilometers south of Tel Hazor, and Nazareth lies about 60 kilometers southwest from here.
It takes about an hour to get to Tel Hazor from Akko, and add about twenty minutes to your driving time when heading there from Haifa.
Allow yourself at least two to three hours when driving to Tel Hazor from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, and don't forget that Highway 6 has an electronic toll.
Here you can find the best deals on rental cars in Israel.
Bus
Direct buses (54 or 522) run between Safed or Rosh Pinna and Tel Hazor, but they leave only a few times a day.
The bus stops at Ayelet HaShahar Intersection, which means you need to get to the site on foot. It's only a 10-minute walk from the stop, but it's on the road.
Here you will find more information on how to get around Israel.
Where to Stay
Tel Hazor National Park is located in Upper Galilee, so you have plenty of options to choose when it comes to finding a place to stay overnight.
Most travelers usually stay in the larger towns as they can easily find there a hotel that fits their preferences.
If you find the cities too hectic, then you can find many serene accommodations in the countryside, mostly in the kibbutzim.
So here is our choice of the best hotels near Tel Hazor.
Sede Eliezer | Halomot Naftali - Located only five kilometers north of Tel Hazor in the Galilee countryside, Halomot Naftali boasts modern suites, a lush garden, a heated swimming pool, and free parking.
Tiberias | David Hostel - One of the best hostels in Tiberias for budget travelers, David Hostel offers nice rooms with a private bathroom, a shared kitchen, free Wi-Fi, or a shared lounge.
Safed | The Way Inn Boutique Suites - Located in the heart of Artist's Colony, The Way Inn Boutique Suites boasts private rooms with charming decor and comfortable beds, a sun terrace with superb views, and a rich breakfast.
Rosh Pinna | Bayit Bagalil Boutique Hotel by Herbert Samuel - One of the best hotels in the Northern District, Bayit Bagalil Boutique Hotel is undoubtedly an amazing place to stay overnight. This luxury hotel features a gorgeous garden, an outdoor swimming pool (heated in winter), lovely decor, a rich buffet breakfast, a Kosher restaurant serving Israeli meals, spa treatments, or on-site tennis courts.
When to Go
The best time to visit Tel Hazor is usually in the spring, especially when the scenery in Hulla Valley turns green.
We visited the site in autumn, and the orange colors made a nice contrast with the blue skies.
Nevertheless, Tel Hazor can be visited year-round; just be prepared that it's sweltering here during the summer and relatively cold in winter.
For more information, read our guide on the best time to visit Israel.
What to Pack
The entire area is open, so make sure to apply sunscreen, bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and wear a hat against the sun.
Winters are colder in this part of Israel, so don't forget to take an extra warm layer with you.
We usually bring a down jacket and lightweight rain jacket to stay dry and warm when in doubt.
By the way, a nearby Hulla Nature Reserve is known for bird watching.
So if that's your thing, try to time your visit when the birds migrate (usually spring or autumn), and don't leave your mirrorless camera behind.
Staying Safe
Tel Hazor is a tourist attraction, and we felt very safe there.
The only thing you need to pay attention to is that the excavations at the site are still ongoing, so stick to the designated trails.
Security in the country can change in certain areas, so make sure to follow the news to stay 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!
Is Tel Hazor National Park Worth Visiting?
Tel Hazor is probably not the shiniest star of all Israel's attractions. And that's understandable, as the competition in the Holy Land is pretty stiff.
We all know that Jerusalem and Tel Aviv can consume a week easily out of your Israel itinerary, so picking the destinations that interest you the most is essential.
That doesn't necessarily mean that Tel Hazor is not worth visiting.
If you're a fan of inconspicuous places without crowds, this tiny park could spark your interest.
Moreover, you can't take away from Tel Hazor the fact that it's a UNESCO site, though not as impressive as its more famous counterparts.
You can see the entire site in less than an hour, plus the detour is not, in fact, a detour when heading north.
Therefore, we hope that we've raised some compelling points in favor of Tel Hazor in this article.
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.
