Safed (Tzfat) walking tour & city guide
A mystical mountain town of artists.
Video by Relaxing WALKER on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Safed, high in the Upper Galilee, is the center of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, and one of Judaism's four holy cities. Blue-painted alleys hide old synagogues and art galleries.
The old city
The Ari and Abuhav synagogues date back to the 16th century, when great Kabbalists lived here. Doors and walls are painted blue, a color linked to heaven.
Artists' Quarter
The Artists' Quarter, in the former Arab quarter, is full of studios and galleries. From the town, views stretch over the Galilee to the Sea of Galilee.
Why it is special
At about 900 meters above sea level, Safed is the highest city in Galilee, and its cool, clear air has always attracted mystics and artists. In the 16th century, Jewish scholars expelled from Spain gathered here and developed Kabbalah, and the city still has a spiritual atmosphere, especially on Friday afternoons before Shabbat. The Klezmer Festival in summer fills the streets with music. Visitors can join workshops on Kabbalah or browse the studios of painters, jewelers and calligraphers.
Top sights in Safed (Tzfat)
- 1
Ari Synagogue
A 16th-century synagogue.
- 2
Abuhav Synagogue
A historic Kabbalist synagogue.
- 3
Artists' Quarter
Galleries and studios.
- 4
Citadel Park
Views from the hilltop.
- 5
Old Cemetery
Graves of great rabbis.
Food markets & where to eat in Safed (Tzfat)
Jerusalem Street
The main pedestrian street.
Old city
Cafés in the alleys.
Cheese dairy
Safed's famous cheese.
Food to try in Safed (Tzfat)
Safed cheese
A local white cheese.
Shakshuka
Eggs in tomato sauce.
Challah
Braided bread.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Safed (Tzfat)
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in Safed (Tzfat)Compare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Safed (Tzfat).
- eSIM for IsraelStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in Israel
▶ 4 videosJerusalem
An ancient walled city sacred to three faiths.
▶ 4 videosTel Aviv
Beaches, Bauhaus and old Jaffa.
▶ 4 videosHaifa
Terraced gardens on Mount Carmel above the bay.
▶ 4 videosEilat
Red Sea reefs at the edge of the desert.
▶ 4 videosAkko
A walled Crusader port on the Mediterranean.
▶ 5 videosNazareth
The town of the Annunciation.
▶ 5 videosTiberias
An ancient city on the Sea of Galilee.
▶ 5 videosNetanya
Clifftop beaches on the Mediterranean.
▶ 5 videosBeersheba
The capital of the Negev desert.