Kinneret Between Hot Springs and Bathing Culture

Kinneret can be explored through two very different experiences: the hot springs and traces of bathing culture at Hamat Tiberias National Park, and the elevated views and trails at nearby Arbel. Hamat Tiberias lies on the western shore of the Sea of Kinneret, south of Tiberias. If you want to combine nature and culture, you can include these highlights in your plans for your stay.

Springs, Hamam and the History of Bathing

At Hamat Tiberias National Park, 17 thermo-mineral springs flow at a temperature of about 60°C. At the Roman Spring, visitors can experience the warmth and salty taste of the water. So, alongside the number and temperature of the springs, there are also specific sensory experiences to enjoy.

The water from the hot springs of Hamat Tiberias flows through a system of underground channels to the hot baths of Tiberias. This means the story of the water extends beyond the spring itself: its underground route to the baths is also part of the experience.

The park’s architectural heritage includes a well-preserved Turkish hamam from the 18th century. The reconstructed Turkish hamam serves as a museum and documents the bathing customs of its visitors. A visit therefore connects the springs with the history of bathing. A mosaic from an ancient synagogue can also be seen in the national park.

Between the Springs and Arbel

Nearby is Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve. From the Arbel cliff, views extend across the Golan, Mount Hermon and the mountains of Galilee. Hiking trails lead to an ancient fortress and natural caves. Arbel offers a different focus from Hamat Tiberias: here, the emphasis is on views, landscape and trails; there, it is on springs, bathing customs and archaeological heritage.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Kinneret, this distinction can help guide your travel plans. Consider whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on the springs and bathing culture, or also make time for the landscape views and hiking trails at Arbel. This lets you choose your accommodation based on the experiences you want to shape your holiday, without treating the different places as a single excursion destination.

More Archaeological Sites in the Northern District

The wider Northern District destination includes other archaeological sites, such as Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell, preserving significant remains of a city with biblical connections. Visits focus on the upper city. Among the site’s notable finds is Solomon’s Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating from the 10th century BCE. A Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE.

Tel Hazor’s technical and architectural features also invite a closer look: the excavated shaft is 45 metres deep, with steps three metres wide cut into the walls of the vertical shaft. Tel Hazor also preserves significant remains of an underground water collection system, considered an example of engineering adapted to the geography for water storage. The Late Bronze Age palace is described as the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant.

Tel Megiddo has a different emphasis. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of its cult activities and its documented ritual practices. An orthogonal city plan dating from the Iron Age was discovered there, with few parallels in the Levant. These examples broaden the cultural context of the Northern District; they offer a distinct regional perspective alongside the springs and nearby Arbel at Kinneret.

More Destinations

You can also discover Poria Illit as another destination.

Discover more destinations: Kinneret, Yizrael, Akko.

Back to the regional travel overview: Northern District.