A Guide to Visiting Rosh Pinna in Israel
Read our travel guide on Rosh Pinna in Israel. Includes best things to do and see, tips on where to stay, how to get, or when to go.
Rosh Pinna in Israel is very different from your typical tourist destination.
It might even be strange to introduce a new travel destination you've probably never heard about by saying that there's not much to do and see.
But the secret of Rosh Pinna is hidden somewhere else. So why would you want to visit Rosh Pinna?
Forget now about the Holy Land, Crusaders, Jesus, Jewish sages, and the other trademarks of top Israel's attractions.
Rosh Pinna is about slowing down, living in the moment, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
It almost seems that this small town lives its own life outside the time.
The concept we quickly grasped after setting our feet for the first time in the cobblestone streets.
The difference between the busy beach strip and promenade in Akko we visited the day before and the deserted alleys of Rosh Pinna could not be more striking.
The town was so quiet and peaceful that we even had to ask ourselves if we were in the right place.
And quite honestly, we felt like in one of those south European vacation villages scattered along the Mediterranean Sea.
Minus the sea. Minus the crowds.
So what are the reasons to visit Rosh Pinna? Let's find out.
What to See and Do
Despite its small size, Rosh Pinna offers some exquisite accommodations and restaurants.
Add some splendid views of the Golan Heights towering as a massive barrier in the east, and you get a perfect mix of a leisure destination.
No wonder the town and the surrounding area are so popular among locals coming here from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem for their vacation.
The town was built upon the slopes of Mount Knaan in the Upper Galilee at the end of the 19th century by Jewish people from Safed and later reestablished by Romanian families who immigrated to Israel.
Like most similar settlements, it focused on agriculture, but today, tourism plays a vital role in the towns' growth.
We don't need to say that if you're visiting Israel on a budget, then Rosh Pinna won't be probably your favorite destination on your trip.
Old Town
Rosh Pinnas' Old Town is a fascinating mixture of reconstructed old stone houses, a few ruins, lush green gardens, pine tree forests, cypresses, olive tree groves, art galleries, small cafes, and exquisite views.
The historical part consists only of a few streets, so walking is the best way to get around.
Keep in mind that the tourist area is very tiny, so expect to find only a few of these places here.
So what is there to see and do in Rosh Pinna's Old Town? Well, this time, it will be a speedy tour.
The Baron's Garden, the Synagogue, the Professor Mer's House, Old Cemetery, and House of the Dignitaries, and that's about it.
Visit some galleries where you can buy some paintings, jewelry, or sculptures if you have extra space in your luggage.
And have a coffee and enjoy the serene atmosphere.
Nimrod Lookout
A short walk along the fairly steep Ha-Khalutsim Street brought us to the Nimrod Lookout, which offers fantastic views of the Golan Heights and Hula Valley.
Unlike when we were in Masada or Mount Tabor, the haze didn't obstruct our views so we could enjoy the scenery in its full glory.
The Golan Heights is a four million-year-old massive basaltic plateau with scattered dormant volcanoes and an average altitude of 1000 meters.
From here, you can even see Mount Hermon in the northeast, with 2814 meters, the highest point of the Golan Heights.
The scenic lookout also commemorates one of the Israeli soldiers who died during the war, but you can only read his story on the informative sign if you speak Hebrew.
You can use the binoculars for free there.
Accommodations
The best thing you can do in Rosh Pinna is to stay there overnight and enjoy the laid-back vibes and superb views.
And while we have a separate section on the best accommodation in this town, you might be looking even for something more intimate directly in the Old Town, something that would make the overnight stay an experience on its own.
There is a handful of small houses offering accommodation scattered around the entire town.
But we believe that places such as Home in Old Rosh Pina or Hameiri Estate directly in the Old Town will deliver the most intimate experience.
If you're not interested in staying in this area, then check the Where to Stay section below.
Day Trips From Rosh Pinna
Another interesting idea might be to use Rosh Pinna as a base for exploring Northern Israel, especially if you don't want to change hotels every day.
Places such as Tel Hazor National Park, Kiryat Shmona, Banias Waterfalls, and Nimrod Fortress are definitely worth visiting and not that far away.
Similarly, you can head out south and visit places such as the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, Nazareth, Tzipori National Park, Capernaum, or even Beit Shean.
Don't forget to bring your Israel Pass with you.
By the way, you can try here one of Israel's finest wines.
Less than a 30-minute drive from Rosh Pinna lies Golan Heights Winery, one of the best wineries in entire Israel.
Few more areas to taste wine in Israel are, for example, Galilee, Negev Highlands, Judean Foothills, Central Mountains stretching from Haifa to the Dead Sea.
How to Get There
The easiest way to get to Rosh Pinna is by car. It's not that you won't get there by public transport.
But having a vehicle and the freedom and flexibility that comes with it is hard to beat.
Israel has a good public transport network, but the problem usually arises once you want to visit more than just one place on your day trips.
Having a car made our lives easier, and we couldn't be happier with our choice.
For more information, read our guide on driving in Israel.
Car
Rosh Pinna is only 10 kilometers east of Safed via Road 8900 or 15 kilometers via Highway 89.
Tiberias is 30 kilometers south of Rosh Pinna, and the drive takes about 30 minutes.
Depending on the traffic, you can reach Nazareth (located in the southwest) from Rosh Pinna in less than an hour.
Tel Aviv is about two hours southwest of Rosh Pinna, and Jerusalem is about two and half hours south of this town. Keep in mind that you have to pay the toll if you take Highway 6.
Here you can find the best deals on rental cars in Israel.
Bus
Several direct buses connect Rosh Pinna with nearby towns.
From Safed Central Bus Station, take bus 73, 450, 511, or 522 to Rosh Pinna. The bus stops either at Rosh Pinna Center, Rosh Pinna Junction, or Rosh Pinna Central Bus Station.
Buses 59 and 541 regularly leave Tiberias, and it takes either 20 or 40 minutes to get there.
Bus 451 goes from Nazareth to Rosh Pinna every hour.
Most buses going in and out of Kiryat Shmona via the Hula Valley stop at Rosh Pinna.
Here you can find more information on how to get around Israel.
Tours
Lastly, you can find a tour that also visits Rosh Pinna, among other places in the Golan Heights.
This guided Golan Heights Tour from Tel Aviv goes to Safed, Rosh Pinna, Mount Bental, or Katsrin Talmudic Village.
Parking
We knew that Rosh Pinna's town center was tiny, and parking in these areas could be problematic, if even possible.
So we decided not to take any risks and left the car outside the Old Town.
Leaving the vehicle near the Yaakov Garden southeast of the town center on David Shuv Street turned out to be okay, though it was a 10-minute walk from there.
We later found out that there was adequate parking on Ha-Boulevard Street directly in the Old Town. It seemed to be free and for everyone.
Where to Stay
We've already mentioned some of the accommodations in the town.
But what if you're looking for the very best that Rosh Pinna offers? Don't worry. We've got you covered.
Before we dive into individual accommodations, we can't fail to mention that staying in Rosh Pinna overnight doesn't come cheap.
In fact, when we saw some of the prices, we realized that most places in Rosh Pinna are entirely out of our budget.
And we did not even start to talk about the spa treatments that many of these accommodations offer.
Nevertheless, you might have a different perception of costly services, so here are the best hotels in Rosh Pinna.
Budget | Miki's Rosh Pinna - One of the best-rated budget accommodations in Rosh Pinna, this small bed and breakfast set in a lovely garden has air-conditioned rooms, free on-site parking, modern rooms with a spa bath, and an excellent location close to the Old Town.
Mid-range | Boutique Hotel Tamarin - Boasting a spacious terrace with a hot tub, swimming pool, stylish rooms, and stunning views of the Golan Heights, Boutique Hotel Tamarin is a place that caters to all needs.
Luxury | Bayit Bagalil Boutique Hotel by Herbert Samuel - Often regarded as the best hotel in Rosh Pinna, Bayit Bagalil Boutique Hotel is undoubtedly a place that's hard to miss. The hotel features a beautiful garden, an outdoor swimming pool (heated in winter), charming decor, a buffet breakfast, a Kosher restaurant serving Israeli meals, spa treatments, or on-site tennis courts.
Staying Safe
Rosh Pinna is probably one of the safest places we've had the opportunity to visit in Israel and during our travel around the Middle East.
Even though the town is very safe, it's still better to use common sense as opportunistic crime can happen anywhere in the world.
The feeling of security resulting in leaving your guards down is something you should avoid regardless of the destination.
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!
When to Go
Expect hot summers and cold(er) winters in the upper part of Northern Israel. In our opinion, the best time to visit Rosh Pinna is late spring or early autumn.
It's better to avoid summer holidays (and some major Jewish holidays) as the prices can skyrocket during this period.
By the way, spring and summer are often considered the best time to visit Israel in general.
Winters are probably colder than you would expect to find in this region.
So make sure to bring some extra layers to stay warm and a lightweight rain jacket to stay dry as it can rain here during this period.
Is Rosh Pinna Worth Visiting?
Rosh Pinna is one of those places that you either immediately fall in love with or leave confused about what you've just seen.
The combination of the stone houses, cafes, galleries, and quiet streets set amid the lush gardens is hard to resist, and it is definitely a photogenic stop.
So is this lovely town worth visiting? The answer is not that simple.
Firstly, the Old Town is tiny, and there is not much to see and do, at least for most international tourists thriving for new experiences.
Also, it's not exactly cheap to stay here.
However, one of the things to know about Israel is that it's an expensive country, and you'll face similar issues regardless of your location.
So we can cut Rosh Pinna some slack this time.
The bigger problem we have with Rosh Pinna is that the vast majority of tourists don't have three extra days to sit idle.
If you're one of the lucky ones who can afford to stay at the same place for a few days, then Rosh Pinna should be high on your list of must-visit places in Israel.
We had a packed Israel itinerary, and time was a luxury we could not afford.
Therefore, we spent only a couple of hours in the town before leaving for Tel Hazor National Park, Hermon Stream Nature Reserve, and Nimrod Fortress.
And while it was effortless to spend only a few hours in the town, we feel like we missed out on the completely relaxed Rosh Pinna experience.
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.
