A private tour of Jaffa, Tel-Aviv, and Caesarea offers a perfect combination of coastal urban gems along the Mediterranean coast. On one hand the cosmopolitical city of Tel-Aviv, the most vibrant city in Israel, followed by old Jaffa and its port, and Caesarea, a metropolis in Roman times.
Tel-Aviv was founded by 60 Jewish families in 1909 on a dune outside Jaffa. Today, Rothschild Boulevard, the historical nucleus of Tel-Aviv, is the most expensive real estate in all of Israel. Drive along the boulevard and review its unique eclectic architecture. At house no. 16 visit the ‘Independence Hall‘. Here, on May 14th 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared the renewal of Jewish sovereignty in the Holy Land after 2,000 years. Continue along the picturesque Neve Tsedek community, known for its cafes and chick stores.
Tel-Aviv is named after the title of Theodor Herzl’s utopic manifest about a Jewish state. The name is first mentioned in Ezekiel 3:15 as a placename somewhere in today’s modern Iraq.
Contrary to modern Tel-Aviv, Jaffa has over 4000 years of history. At the Ramses II’s Gate garden, learn about Jaffa in Pharaonic times, and then stroll through its cobbled alleys, appreciating a myriad of arts and crafts galleries. Stop for a coffee break at Jaffa’s port and learn about Jaffa’s role in the bible and Greek Mythology. Conclude the visit in front of the house of Simon the Tanner, where Christian tradition maintains Peter witnessed a pivotal vision (Acts 10).
A 45 minutes’ drive from Tel-Aviv will get you to the national park of Caesarea. Here, in the 1st century BCE, King Herod ‘the Great’ founded a new city and port, naming it after his Imperial patron – the Augustus Caesarea. The city thrived for over a millennium, and the current remains present a genuine testimony to its rich and long past. Start at Caesarea’s ancient harbor, which also offers a few options for a delightful lunch. South of the port, some of Caesarea’s popular ancient entertainment facilities are well exposed today. They include a bathhouse complex, a unique hippo-stadium entertainment facility, and a fully restored theatre. At its southern end is also Herod’s promontory palace, which may have been also the location of Paul’s prison.
While touring Caesarea, you might consider the following additional activities –
Snorkeling – The submerged port of Caesarea can still be appreciated by snorkeling or scuba diving along the sunken harbor. Caesarea’s underwater archaeological park, the first of its kind in the world, is about 40 acres in size. It contains 25 points of interest such as the ruins of the port, ancient anchors, and a sunken ship from the early 20th century.
EZRaider – A 2-hour extreme tour experience of driving in particular mini ATV apt for dunes. The tour mostly explores the perimeter of Caesarea’s national park, including the Birds Mosaic Mansion, the aqueduct, The Synagogue, and the Eastern Hippodrome, ending near Caesarea’s golf course.
Powered parachute flights – The ultimate extreme tour experience for Caesarea! The special aircraft takes off from the sites’ parking lot and flies low and slow above Caesarea’s antiquities and along the coastline. This experience guarantees an adrenaline rush and stunning views of one of the most beautiful views in Israel!
