Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel. It's an attractive
seaport and one of the most culturally mixed and cosmopolitan
cities in the country. The Israeli saying 'Haifa works, Jerusalem
prays, Tel Aviv plays' hints at the city's blue-collar roots.
Regarding culture, the Haifa Theatre, the Krieger Centre for
Performing Arts, and the Ein Hod artists' colony are all
well-established and worth visiting. Haifa also hosts an annual
(and well-attended) International Film Festival.
There are numerous interesting attractions in the city,
including a wealth of museums, gorgeous temples and mosques, and
sunny, child-friendly beaches. For those fascinated with biblical
history, Tel Megiddo - the supposed site of the end of the world -
is located about 20 miles (32km) southwest of Haifa.
The majority of Haifa's visitors go there for the amazing
gardens of the Baha'í World Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
once known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa. This magical place has
a golden shrine and lovingly maintained terraces, and is deemed by
Baha'i followers as a 'gift to all humanity'. The beauty of the
gardens and the amount of care that goes into their upkeep is both
palpable and inspiring. They're one of Israel's most-visited
tourist attractions, welcoming over half a million visitors every
year.