Hammam, boutique rooms and a unique dining scene: the winter vacation that surprised us - voila! tourism

A trip to Acre (photo: Lehi Shork, editing: Nir Chen)

It's no secret that Acre was not at the top of the list of tourist sites that Israelis flocked to in the past year.

The reasons are of course known to everyone, but after two years of Corona and unusual violent events, the port city is doing everything to come back to life.

Some thought it would never happen again, but Acre is determined to bring tourism back to this very special mixed city.

And the truth is, she seems more prepared for it than ever.

The biggest focus of renewal is probably the port of Acre, which has been undergoing renovations in recent months.

Soon (a matter of a few months) it will be opened, when it includes a storage and management hangar for the fishermen and a lovely promenade that is being built these days and will serve the city's residents and its guests of course.

Next to the port, a luxurious hotel is currently being built in the ancient Khan al-Omdan, and at the same time, more and more private individuals are choosing to build special boutique guest rooms in the beautiful alleys of the city and more new and unique places to eat are opening.

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as a sign of renewal.

Port of Acre (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shoresh)

What to do?

All travelers who come to Acre come to the market area, but while many will walk along the familiar routes, eat hummus or buy a souvenir, we actually recommend wandering through the side streets and alleys that are worth going through.

The cooling weather is an excellent opportunity for a pleasant walk through the alleys of the city.

You can start after you have toured the famous market, but we recommend waiting after the trip to stock up on vegetables and strawberries at good prices, spices, souvenirs and special sweets.

In the nameless alleys, you can see unique workshops, local art galleries, small places to stop for Melbi or Knapa, small churches that will be decorated for Christmas and more.

The tour can end on the city walls in front of the sea, or in the renewed port.

For the first time since the days of the Crusaders, the Hanochrismas celebration comes to the Knights' Halls in Old Acre and will take place between the dates of December 20-22, 2022. Here you will find food stalls of the local restaurants, including Roots Hachshara, Turquoise and Sama, an alcohol and beverage bar, handicrafts, souvenirs, sweets from the market in Acre, Free tour of the halls, music throughout the evening, decorations, and a holiday atmosphere.

The event will begin on Hanukkah and will also include the lighting of candles.

Entrance fee is NIS 20.

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Sweets in the market (Photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

A stop for coffee (Photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Galleries in the city's alleys (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

A stop to warm up in Acre (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shoresh)

The da Vinci exhibition

and if we are already in the halls of the knights.

Now there is an exhibition there that is suitable for the whole family and where models of Da Vinci's works are displayed.

You can of course find the Mona Lisa there, but Da Vinci, who was a scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, sculptor and architect, also created models of all kinds of flying machines, wooden toys, scientific drawings and elaborate shapes such as the rhombicobactahedron.

This is a small exhibition that is actually a kind of supplement for the visitors to the knights' halls - one of the most interesting and fun attractions for the whole family in Acre and a pleasant place protected from the rain (in case there is any) underground with many interesting details about the lives of the knights.

A small addition to the knights' halls.

The Da Vinci exhibition (Photo: Walla! System, Lehi Shork)

known from somewhere.

The Da Vinci exhibition (Photo: Walla! System, Lehi Shork)

turkish hammam ghattas

is it raining outside and the weather is cool?

This is a perfect opportunity for a one-time and unique experience in the country of a real Turkish bath built in a beautiful ancient building.

In the Ghattas Hammam located right behind the Uri Buri restaurant, in front of the city walls, you can escape to two hours of silence, pampering and relaxation with an olive oil and hot water massage, a scrub and a Turkish massage (45 minutes of pleasure), a hot and wet sauna, a pampering Jacuzzi and showers .

The intimate and unique experience is suitable for couples.

Please note that the place is closed between December 24th and January 2nd due to a vacation of the owners of the place.

The cost of a full couple's treatment for two hours is about NIS 800. If you want to book a place for the weekend, it is important to book a month in advance.

Recommended in the warmth of a hammam!

A unique and special place in Israel (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

A special experience in an amazing building (Photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

what are we eating?

So it's true that there are many places to eat hummus in Acre, and we of course recommend them as well, but there are many more and it's a shame you'll miss them.

Here are some of the interesting places that opened there and there's a chance you don't know:

from Turquoise is a small, homey and delicious place run by Samir and his wife.

Samir, who used to be a photographer for weddings and events, opened the place before the corona virus and he serves Acre food here that you can eat on the spot or take home.

Among the homemade dishes, wonderful desserts are served here, with the highlight being a one-of-a-kind knapa that is made and served in the form of borax.

The knapa that is fried in samanah and stuffed with cheese that is prepared on the spot tastes unusual and also photographs beautifully.

At the end of the week, by the way, you will probably have to stand in line for it.

Sama Bar is the first rooftop restaurant in Acre and has a view of the whole city, but not only.

The chef Hamudi Okla, who made his way in the chef games but has come a long way since then, cooks here a delicious and pleasant local, Acre cuisine based on fish and vegetables.

For vegetarians and vegans, traditional dishes of frika, bulgul are served here, and you'll even find here a vegan Cubania and a perfect Beirut dessert.

The place is only open in the evening.

Acre, there are quite a few pleasant and beautiful guest rooms that do not include breakfast, so the breakfast at Akhotika Hotel, which was recently opened to the general public, is a perfect solution.

The breakfast, which is served on the roof with the perfect view of the sea, includes various salads, eggs of your choice, antipasti, cheeses, breads and pastries baked on site, granolas, hot and cold drinks and more at a cost of NIS 85 per person.

The breakfasts are served until 11:00 - which allows you a relaxed morning with a perfect view of the sea.

Sama on the roof (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Root)

Cocktail in Sama (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Morning carbs in Kokotika on the roof (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

A perfect kanapa in turquoise (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shorkiz)

Where do you sleep?

In Acre there are many hotels and boutique guest rooms at different price levels.

Most of them are inside the old city, but some are outside it.

If you want to feel the charm of the city, it is recommended to sleep within the area of ​​the old city.

This is perhaps one of the best known and pioneer places of the Acre boutique hotels.

The couple, Tamar and Meir Dodson, Jerusalemites who fell in love with Acre about a decade ago, opened the special hotel that includes about 14 rooms (with an expectation of 45 in the distant future) scattered along one alley in the Old City - making the experience not only luxurious but one with a local feel .

The rooms are pleasant and special, which also include a beautiful and indulgent taquerline that is open until five in the evening and includes snacks, alcohol and free coffee.

Recently, we also opened on the roof "The Roof of Tamar" - an evening bar for guests as well as those coming from outside.

The price in the winter months ranges from NIS 880 to about NIS 1,000 per couple, not including breakfast.

Rooms scattered in one alley in the old city.

Akotika (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Unique rooms that are invested in antiques (photo: official website, weekend website)

A beautiful lounge in Kokotika (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

There are also treats in the lounge (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

The hotel that reminded us of the "White Lotus"

The Effendi Hotel

is unequivocally one of the most beautiful and elaborate buildings in Israel, if not the most beautiful and elaborate among them.

And for good reason.

Uri Yeremias, the owner of the place, a man whose optimism is contagious, invested everything here to preserve the heritage of the area, the art and the beauty that this place has treasured.

In a place that was renovated and preserved by the Antiquities Authority, among others, tens of millions of shekels were invested and every detail here was carefully chosen.

From the glasses the guests drink in, to the dining table on which they dine, to the furniture and carpets.

Everything here is noticed.

A night in a hotel that includes a total of 12 rooms is not a cheap deal, and the price starts at 1,500 NIS and ends at 3,000 NIS, but the hotel, which reminded us a bit of the hotel from the excellent series "The White Lotus", is simply a treasure box full of objects, murals, A one-of-a-kind Israeli wine cellar and more - it's simply a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth experiencing.

There is also a rope top here, but it is currently only for the use of guests or for pre-booked events.

Soon, if everything works out, Uri will guide tours of the hotel.

And if we rely on our experience with him - it will be the most worthwhile tour you can experience.

The most beautiful building in Israel (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Effendi Hotel Acre (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Reminded us of the white lotus.

The restored ceilings of the Effendi Hotel (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Optimism is contagious.

Uri Yeremias (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Melisende - guest rooms

Melisende, located further down the alley of the Akhotika hotel, opened two months ago, with three high-level guest rooms, outside of which there is a heated jacuzzi in the courtyard.

This is a closed complex, which is not suitable for entertaining children, and is mainly recommended for couples who want to have a private closed event.

Or even for bachelor/bachelorette parties.

The rooms are designed to a high standard by the owner Michal, who is an architect by profession.

The price per night is between 1,200 and 1,400 shekels per night.

Does not include breakfast.

directly opposite are two new guest rooms and below them a culinary hospitality complex designed for cooking workshops.

The workshops are conducted by Manar and her home is Nora, who manages the place.

The place also sells products from Sinidanat HaGalil - an organization that employs local women.

On the roof of the place there is a pleasant balcony intended for the guests of the place.

The price per night in the middle of the week is about NIS 800, not including breakfast.

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Jacuzzi in the yard.

Malisanda complex Acre (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Decorated rooms in Melisande (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

A lovely room in the Josephine complex (photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Nora's labors in Beit El Parsha (Photo: Walla! system, Lehi Shork)

Jozefin

, the new hospitality complex in Old Acre, opened by a couple from Kiryat Ono who fell in love with Acre, recently opened for the running period.

The complex is built as a so-called "riad" - an inner courtyard and four surrounding rooms, designed in a design that preserves the authenticity of the city of Acre.

The three rooms are buildings preserved from the Ottoman times, with high ceilings with wooden beams and one room with vaults (arched roof) from the Crusader days.

The price per night starts at NIS 580 for a smaller room and goes up to NIS 850 for the larger rooms.

If you rent the entire complex there is a discount of about 10 percent.

• tourism

• Trips in the country

• Trips in the north

Tags

• Acre

• Uri Bori

• Hotels

• Port of Acre