- Beaches for everyone, without exception
- Museums for the curious
- City Tours
- Where to go on your own?
- Travelers with children
- Shopping wisely
Netanya is a relatively young city, it was founded in 1929 as a small settlement, which grew, expanded, became rich and after a few decades acquired the right to be called a city. Nowadays, it is a popular Mediterranean resort, the main attractions of which, of course, are the sea with waves suitable for surfing, long comfortable beaches and bright sun that gives an even tan. For vacationers, long promenades have been created here, shady parks have been laid out, numerous hotels and cafes have been built. But a relaxing holiday by the sea will get bored in the very first days of your stay in the city, and then you will want some kind of entertainment, excursions, interesting trips out of town. Where to go in Netanya for an adult tourist, what to visit with a child?
Netanya, like any world-class resort, offers its guests many options for recreation. Excursions to the local Diamond Center, where jewelry of amazing beauty is produced, is very popular with tourists. Both adults and children will be delighted with the horse rides that are organized on the farms closest to the city. In no case should you miss concerts of world stars and numerous music festivals. But this is all the standard, traditional entertainment that any hotel will offer you. What else can you see in Netanya?
Beaches for everyone, without exception
Netanya is one of the main Israeli resorts. It is famous for its 13.5 km long beaches, which have everything for a lazy, unhurried rest: changing cabins, showers, playgrounds, sun loungers and umbrellas. There are 25 hotels on the first line, with a view of the seaside boulevards. Millions of dollars have been invested in the development of tourism infrastructure in Netanya. We did not spare funds for the construction of five embankments. Each promenade is decorated in its own special style. From the high cliffs, along which the walking paths go, you can go down to the beaches by elevators.
There are 9 beaches in Netanya. The most famous of them:
- family-friendly Tamnon beach. On the shore, right by the sea, there are several attractions that children will surely enjoy. Parents can go surfing or scuba diving;
- Poleg beach, divided into two parts. The southern sector of the beach is intended for swimming and sunbathing, the northern one is at the mercy of active tourists, surfing and loving discos;
- Sironit beach, which is open all year round, while other beaches are closed during the winter. The beach, bounded by two breakwaters, is considered suitable for small children, because there are very rarely strong waves;
- Onot beach, where young people prefer to relax. There is a bar and a disco for her;
- Laguna Beach, located near Ben Ami Promenade, is famous for its picturesque views.
Museums for the curious
There are several good museums in Netanya where you can go on your own or with a guide.
The collection of the City Museum, consisting of archival documents, photographs, drawings, is dedicated to the history of the creation and development of Netanya. The museum is located in one of the first buildings built in the city, which is called the "House with a Well".
The Kaspi Silver Museum contains silver jewelry and various valuable items related to the culture of Judaism. This museum can be visited only by prior agreement with its management.
Museum "The Pearl of the Tribes of Israel" tells about the heritage of the Yemeni Jews. It is located on the main square of the city - kikar-Atzmaut, which translates as Independence Square.
The Museum of the Jewish Legion is a military history exhibition that tells the story of the first Israeli military units, founded in 1915 and successfully battling Turkish units. It was with the appearance of these legions that the history of the Israeli army began. The museum displays weapons, military uniforms, devices used at the front, maps, letters, photographic documents, etc. The museum should be looked for not in Netanya, but outside it - in the small village of Avikhail.
Fans of painting should definitely go to the art gallery "On the Cliff", which can be found in a popular place among tourists - on the crowded seaside promenade Shaked. In the halls of the gallery, works of contemporary masters from Israel and other countries are exhibited. In addition to paintings, sculptures, jewelry and other interesting works of art are on display here.
Men and boys will love the Tractor Museum, which houses about a hundred vehicles. The museum is open only one day a week - on Friday.
City Tours
Many tourists explore Netanya on their own, preferring to discover interesting monuments for themselves without the help of a guide. Other travelers prefer to buy excursions, during which they can learn a lot about the life, culture and history of local people.
Tours of different lengths can be booked at the Tourist Office. The most popular city tours:
- sightseeing tour of Netanya by bus and on foot. Lasts 3 hours. During this time, guests are shown where the city began to be built from, what monuments appeared in it not so long ago, where the most famous viewing platforms are located;
- a three-hour excursion "Netanya-Art", allowing you to see the art galleries, workshops and art centers of the city. The guide will draw the attention of tourists to the peculiarities of local architecture and take them to the strange and unusual statues that adorn the city;
- tour "Netanya. Chronicle of War”covers not only the city, but also its surroundings. From time immemorial, the land on which the present city stands has been the subject of contention between different peoples. She remembers the crusaders who built fortresses here that survived to our time, she did not forget the Ottomans, she grieves for those who died during the War of Independence. Tourists will be taken to the Museum of the Jewish Battalion and shown the recently created memorial to Soviet soldiers.
Where to go on your own?
Netanya has several must-see natural attractions. These include the reserve, which stretches along the banks of the Poleg River, which flows through the southern regions of Netanya. People come here to admire several rare types of flowers and take a walk in the green park. There is a turtle farm on the territory of the reserve. Its visit will be especially remembered if you come here at a time when the grown turtles are released into their natural habitat - the Mediterranean Sea.
If you ask the residents of Netanya a question what they recommend to see in their city, then surely someone will mention the Grove of Sergeants. This is a landscaped green area, consisting of oaks, pines and eucalyptus, planted in the first half of the XX century. The grove got its name from the sad events. It was here in 1947 that two hanged British sergeants were discovered. Two years later, British troops were withdrawn from Palestine.
Another iconic landmark of Netanya is a huge ancient sycamore tree growing in the former Arab village of Umm Khaled, now part of the city. They say that the tree can be about one and a half thousand years old. The exact age of the sycamore tree with a trunk that three people can hardly grasp is impossible to establish. The tree is still bearing fruit. Next to it, right on the sidewalk, there is a mosaic - a copy from an engraving of the 19th century, where this tree was depicted. Once near the sycamore tree, take a closer look: inconspicuous ruins located nearby are all that remains of the Crusader castle. It was built in 1135 by Roger of Lombard. Most likely, it was a small observation fortress with an observation tower, where travelers and merchants were given shelter.
Travelers with children
Entertaining your child in Netanya is easy. There are two water parks for the youngest guests of the resort - Shefayim and Meymadion. The first water park is bigger and more interesting than the second. There are slides and pools for every taste. A few steps from the Shefayim water park, there is an excellent paintball club where you can get stuck with the whole family for a long time. There is a wonderful bowling club near the Meymadion water park, where children are also allowed.
As you know, babies cannot be pulled from the beach by their ears. Pools can serve as an alternative to relaxing by the sea. For example, the huge Wingate Olympic or the more modest Country Elizur, which has a shallow area for children.
The kids will remember for a long time their visit to the Netanya Zoo "Safari", where the most diverse representatives of the fauna are gathered on a huge territory. Elephants, hippos, giraffes, and birds of various species live here. The Natural History Museum, dedicated to the living world of the region, is located next to the zoo.
On the southern outskirts of Netanya, not far from the beach, there is an amazing iris reserve, which is worth a trip with children. Dark, almost black irises grow only in Israel and Syria. They begin to bloom in February, and during this period the real pilgrimage to Netanya begins. Don't miss the chance to see amazing rare plants.
In the evening, families with children go to Independence Square. After all, the show of singing fountains begins here!
Shopping wisely
Netanya is not a shopaholic paradise, but there are still some decent shopping centers and many different markets. You can bargain in the markets, prices are set in stores, which sellers will not reduce. The sales period in local boutiques starts in March and September.
What to buy in Netanya? Medical cosmetics of famous brands, diamonds (do not forget that there is a diamond factory in the city), expensive leather accessories, etc.
The most famous and popular shopping center in Netanya, where furniture and household goods are sold, is Soho. According to the idea of the architect of the complex, numerous shops here side by side with restaurants. This is done in order to detain the client for a longer period and force him to spend as much money as possible. And at Soho it is very easy to do it. Then you suddenly realize that you need another set of bedspreads and a new set, and you cannot live without a fancy designer lamp. An equally large Ikea hypermarket operates near Soho.
The huge Rogovin-Federman shopping center in the Hasharon quarter is a place where hundreds of stores of clothing, footwear, cosmetics, toys and other equally important and necessary things are gathered under one roof. In addition, there are 10 cinemas and a separate area with cozy cafes in the center.
On different days of the week in Netanya, you can find thematic markets. For example, on Fridays on Krause Street, artists and people of other creative professions sell their works. On Thursdays, a flea market works on the same street, where you can sometimes find very interesting things. The Flower Fair on Weizmann Street pleases residents and visitors alike only on Fridays. The city's main market, which sells groceries and garments, is available throughout the week.
