Old City of Safed (Tzfat)

Safed’s old quarter lies on the slopes of Upper Galilee, with narrow lanes, stone buildings, synagogues and artists’ galleries. The town is strongly associated with Jewish mystical scholarship, especially the Kabbalistic tradition that flourished here in the sixteenth century.

A walk through the historic neighbourhood reveals courtyards, views over the Galilean mountains and a blend of religious and artistic life. Some places are working synagogues or private properties rather than museums.

What to see

• Historic synagogues and lanes of the old quarter
• Art galleries and local craft workshops
• Views over Upper Galilee from the hillside streets

Visitor information

Plan a walking route that takes the hills and stairs into account. Observe synagogue visiting rules, and check opening times separately for galleries and individual heritage sites.

Official visitor information

Photo: Herman1975 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source. Resized and converted to WebP.