Caesarea National Park

Overview

An archaeological goldmine, Caesarea National Park has 125 acres of archaeological finds including King Herods’ Palace, the Hippodrome, Crusader ruins, the restored 5,000 seat amphitheater and the harbor port.

In the museum, see a 10-minute multimedia account of the ports’ history called Travel Through Time. Next to it is a hall with 4 screens, introducing 12 historical figures from various periods of the city’s history such as King Herod, Rabbi Akiva, Baron Rothschild and Hannah Senesh.

Next proceed to the Tower of Time display in the nearby reconstructed fortress. Take in a view from the top of the tower and take a virtual tour of the city on a giant screen all of the ancient structures that have been excavated. Enter virtual buildings, visit streets, roam around market booths, receive ships in the harbor and see chariot races in the hippodrome.

See the new archaeological exhibit at Caesarea Harbor in which remains that were previously scattered around Caesarea have been brought together for a unique presentation. A recently discovered find is a 1700 year old stone sarcophagus (coffin) decorated with a carving of the head of the mythological Medusa.

Swim at the Caesarea Port beach, one of the most beautiful and clean beaches in Israel, which boasts several amenities such as lifeguards, locker rooms, first aid station, beach bar, diving, lawn areas and rest areas. For the more adventurous swimmer, there is a place for diving (both snorkeling and scuba) to view the rare underwater archaeological park. See ancient port construction methods, ship wrecks, and ruins.

Take 5 different hiking routes to tour the site. The Port to the Hippodrome (1400 meters) and the Observation Trail (900 meters) takes you to most of the archaeological sights. The Footsteps of the Pilgrims (900 meters) highlights many of the religious sites, Along the Beach (2200 meters) takes in the sights along the beach and the bay, and Through the Walls (500 meters) takes you to a trail along the walls of the city. All of the hiking tours include the Travel Through Time introductory movie and a visit to the Time Tower.

Don’t miss the large 5th century bird mosaic floor in one of the most impressive palace ruins in Israel. The mosaic contains fruit trees and animals native to Israel and 120 medallions each containing a different bird. The mosaic was found in an exceptional palace that had a very advanced water system, columns, an open roofed yard, and a second floor.

Walk the promenade, visit galleries, and enjoy the various restaurants and cafes. Take part in various tours such as the Dramatized tour, the Musical tour and “Extreme Activities” for large groups.

Note: Beach is currently closed for construction, call 04-626-7080 for updated information.