Northern District, western Galilee coast · Israel
A walled Ottoman port built on top of the Crusader capital, with underground halls of the Knights Hospitaller still intact beneath the streets.
Acre, called Akko in Hebrew and Akka in Arabic, has been a port for at least four thousand years. The Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs all used it, and in the 12th century it became the capital of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem after Saladin took the holy city. The Knights Hospitaller built a fortified quarter here, and Acre was the last major Crusader stronghold to fall, to the Mamluks in 1291.
The Mamluks razed much of the city, and it lay in ruins until the Ottomans rebuilt it in the 18th and 19th centuries. They built new walls, a citadel, mosques and khans on top of the Crusader remains, leaving the medieval city buried beneath the streets. The old city was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001 as an outstanding example of a fortified port.
Today, Acre is a mixed city with a majority-Jewish population and a large Arab community, most of whom live in the old city. It has a working fishing port, an atmospheric market and a reputation for good food. It is small, easy to explore in a day, and much less visited than it deserves.
Why visit
Acre gives you a complete medieval and Ottoman city, and it is one of the most atmospheric places in the country.
The Knights' Halls, the Templars' Tunnel and the Crusader city beneath the Ottoman streets are among the best-preserved medieval sites in the Middle East.
The khans, mosques, hammam and walls survive and are still in use, and the streets are lined with houses that are hundreds of years old.
The old-city souk is one of the liveliest in the country, with spices, fish, sweets and hummus.
You can walk along the top of the Ottoman sea wall, with views over the harbour, the bay and the fishing boats.
Most tourists come for a short visit, so the streets are quiet early and late in the day.
Main attractions
The old city is compact, and a day is enough to see the main sites and eat well.
A vast Crusader complex of vaulted halls, a refectory, a crypt and a dormitory, built by the Knights of St John in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was buried and forgotten until excavations in the 1950s.
Tip It is one of the most atmospheric medieval sites in the world. Go early, when it is quiet.
A 350-metre underground passage that once linked the Templar fortress to the harbour, reached via an entrance near the port. It is a short and dramatic underground walk.
Tip Combine it with the Knights' Halls. Wear shoes with grip.
The largest mosque in the Galilee, built in 1781 by the Ottoman governor Ahmed al-Jazzar, with an arcaded courtyard and a small museum. Its crypt holds the tombs of al-Jazzar and his successor.
Tip Dress modestly, and avoid prayer times.
The citadel, built on Crusader foundations, served as a prison under the Ottomans and British Mandate. It now holds a museum on the fortress, the prisoners and the resistance to the British.
Tip Check opening hours.
The Ottoman-era walls along the south and west of the old city are open to walk on, and give a view over the Mediterranean, the harbour and the roofs of the old city.
Tip Walk along the walls at sunset.
A small fishing harbour with restaurants, boats and views of the walls. Boat trips run around the walls.
Tip Lunch by the harbour is good, and the boat trip is pleasant.
A 1780s Ottoman caravanserai with a two-storey arcaded courtyard, the largest and best preserved in the country. Several other khans lie nearby.
Tip Look at the granite columns, which were taken from Caesarea.
Things to do
Acre is best explored on foot, with time to stop and eat.
See the Knights' Halls and the Templars' Tunnel in one visit. A combined ticket is available.
Tip Go in the morning, and use a guide or audio guide.
The top of the walls gives a view over the boats, the bay and Haifa across the water.
Tip Bring a jacket, as it is windy.
Acre has some of the best hummus in Israel, and locals are proud of it. Several places in the market have been serving it for generations.
Tip Go for lunch, and be prepared to queue.
The old souk is at its best in the morning, with fishmongers, spice sellers and sweet shops.
Tip Try the fresh sweets and coffee.
Small boats leave from the harbour and circle the sea walls, giving a fresh perspective.
Tip The trip takes 20 minutes.
The Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh and its gardens, a few kilometres north of the old city, is the holiest place in the Baháʼí Faith and part of a UNESCO site.
Tip Check opening times, as they are limited, and dress modestly.
Local food
Acre is a good place to eat, and the old city is known for hummus, seafood and traditional Arab sweets.
Creamy hummus served with fuul, olive oil and pita, at one of the many hummus restaurants in the old city.
Where to try it Old-city hummusiyot.
Grilled fish, calamari and shrimp, served at restaurants on the harbour.
Where to try it The harbour and the sea wall.
A hot pastry filled with cheese and soaked in syrup.
Where to try it Sweet shops in the market.
A spread of small dishes with salads, olives and cheeses, served with fresh bread.
Where to try it Restaurants in the old city.
Fresh-squeezed juices and strong Arab coffee, both sold in the market.
Where to try it Stalls and cafés in the souk.
Baklava, ma'amoul and other pastries, sold in bakeries.
Where to try it Bakeries in the market.
Accommodation
Most visitors visit as a day trip from Haifa or Nahariya, but a few guesthouses and boutique hotels in old buildings are excellent for a night in the old city.
Transport
Acre is 25 km north of Haifa and 150 km from Tel Aviv, and it is easy to reach by train and bus.
The old city is small and pedestrian.
When to go
Acre has a Mediterranean climate. The sea breeze keeps it cooler than inland, and spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Warm, clear days and flowers. Comfortable for walking.
Hot and humid, but the sea wall and the underground sites are cool.
Warm and quiet, with good light.
Cool and wet, and sometimes stormy. The old city is atmospheric in the rain.
Worth planning around: Rainy days for the sea wall, and Saturdays, when some shops close.
Itinerary
The Crusader sites in the morning, the market and lunch in the middle of the day, and the walls and harbour in the afternoon.
A compact day in the old city.
Travel tips
Acre is easy and friendly, and these tips help.
FAQ
Yes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a well-preserved Crusader city, an Ottoman port and a lively market, and it is less visited than Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
One day is enough for the main sites, and a second lets you add the sea walls, a boat trip and Bahji.
It is generally regarded as safe for visitors. The city is in the north, which has been affected by conflict, so check your government's advice.
They are the same city. Acre is the English and French name, Akko is the Hebrew, and Akka is the Arabic.
It is mixed. Most of the population in the new city is Jewish, and most of the residents of the old city are Arab, and the two communities share the city.
Yes. It is about 25 minutes by train from Haifa, and roughly 75–90 minutes from Tel Aviv. It also makes a good stop on the way to the Galilee.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Acre, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Haifa District, Mount Carmel, Israel
Israel's third-largest city and a model of mixed communities, home to the Baháʼí World Centre, a UNESCO-listed garden and shrine complex, the German Colony and a strong food scene.
Don't miss The Baháʼí Gardens' terraces, and the view from the top of Mount Carmel across the bay to Acre.
Explore Destination — Haifa & the Baháʼí GardensNorthern District, Lower Galilee, Israel
A lively Arab town with major Christian pilgrimage sites, an old-city market and some of the best food in the north.
Don't miss The Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest church in the Middle East, built over the traditional site of Mary's home.
Explore Destination — NazarethNorthern District, Upper Galilee, Israel
The highest city in Israel, a place of pilgrimage for Jewish mystical study, with an artists' quarter, cooler summers and views over the Galilee.
Don't miss The Old Jewish Quarter's lanes, with their ancient synagogues, blue doors and views towards Mount Meron.
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