Northern District, Jezreel and Beit She'an valleys · Israel
A hill of twenty-six buried cities that gave the word Armageddon its name, and a Roman-Byzantine city with a colonnaded street and a 7,000-seat theatre.
Tel Megiddo is a mound about 60 metres high that overlooks the Jezreel Valley, on the ancient route between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Over some five thousand years, twenty-six successive cities were built on the same spot, each on the ruins of the last, and archaeologists have peeled back the layers to reveal palaces, temples, stables, gates and a remarkable underground water system. It was listed by UNESCO in 2005, with two other sites, as a biblical tell.
Megiddo is also the origin of the word 'Armageddon', from the Hebrew Har Megiddo, 'Mount Megiddo', which appears in the Book of Revelation as the site of a final battle. Its position at a strategic crossroads meant that many real battles were fought here, from the Egyptian victory of Thutmose III in about 1457 BCE to the British campaign of 1918.
Half an hour to the east lies Beit She'an, ancient Scythopolis, the only Decapolis city west of the Jordan. It was one of the largest and richest cities in the Roman Levant, and the ruins are extraordinarily well preserved, with a theatre, bathhouses, a colonnaded main street and a Byzantine-era commercial quarter. Beit She'an is a national park and one of the best archaeological sites in the country.
Why visit
These are two of the best archaeological sites in Israel, and few tourists see them.
Excavations show cities from the Chalcolithic to the Persian period, with a Canaanite temple, Solomonic-style gates, a stable complex and a huge water tunnel.
A tunnel about 70 metres long, cut through the rock in the Iron Age, that led from the city to a spring outside the walls and allowed residents to reach water safely during a siege.
Beit She'an has a colonnaded street, a theatre that seated about 7,000 people, a bathhouse, a public latrine and a restored Byzantine street, all clearly laid out.
Compared with Jerusalem and Masada, both sites are quiet, and there is space to walk and imagine.
Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and Mount Tabor are all close, so the two sites fit into a Galilee itinerary.
Main attractions
Megiddo takes about two hours, Beit She'an two to three. Drive between them in about 40 minutes.
The mound itself, with excavated palaces, a temple with a circular altar, a stable complex traditionally attributed to King Solomon or Ahab, and city gates from several periods.
Tip Go early or late, as the mound is exposed. Look for the model and the small museum at the visitor centre.
A vertical shaft and a tunnel about 70 m long that lead to a spring at the foot of the tell, one of the finest examples of ancient engineering in the country. Visitors can climb down and walk through.
Tip It is narrow and dark. Watch your head, and avoid it if you dislike enclosed spaces.
A circular stone platform reached by steps, about 8 m across, from the 3rd millennium BCE, thought to be the largest Canaanite altar found in Israel.
Tip It gives a good view of the site.
A well-preserved theatre from the 2nd century CE, with about 7,000 seats, a stage and a curved auditorium of dark basalt. It is one of the best Roman theatres in the region.
Tip Climb to the top for the view over the site.
A paved, colonnaded main street lined with shops, a basilica and a bathhouse, running from the theatre to the summit. Palladius Street, a Byzantine street, ends at a large agora.
Tip Look for the mosaic floors and the remains of the public latrines.
A huge complex of hot and cold rooms, with a heating system, marble-lined pools and mosaic floors. It shows how important bathing was in Roman city life.
Tip Walk through it slowly and try to imagine the water.
The ancient mound that rises above the Roman city, with remains from the Canaanite, Egyptian and Israelite periods. It offers a view of the city and the Jordan Valley.
Tip Climb up in the morning or late afternoon.
Things to do
Both sites reward a slow visit, with a guide or a good guidebook.
Descend the steps and walk through the tunnel, coming out at the spring. It takes about 15 minutes.
Tip Bring a torch, and wear shoes with grip.
Walk the rim and look across the Jezreel Valley to Mount Tabor and the Nazareth hills. It is easy to imagine why armies fought here.
Tip Go in the late afternoon, when the light is beautiful.
On some evenings, a show tells the story of the city in light and sound over the ruins.
Tip Check the schedule and book ahead.
Walk the whole site, from the theatre to the Cardo and the bathhouse, and climb the tel.
Tip Bring water, and wear a hat.
A spring-fed park close to Beit She'an with warm, turquoise pools, ideal for a swim.
Tip It is busy at weekends.
The Crusader castle of Belvoir overlooks the Jordan Valley, and Mount Tabor is a traditional site of the Transfiguration.
Tip Both are within about 30 minutes.
Local food
Both sites are in a farming region, and there are cafés and restaurants at the sites and nearby kibbutzim. Bring water and a hat.
Kibbutzim in the region have cafés and shops that serve salads, sandwiches and local produce.
Where to try it Kibbutz shops near Megiddo and Beit She'an.
The Beit She'an valley produces dates, bananas and other fruit, and stalls sell them by the road.
Where to try it Roadside stalls and kibbutz shops.
The reliable Israeli staple, found in towns nearby.
Where to try it Stalls in Afula and Beit She'an.
Farms in the Jezreel Valley produce cheese and olive oil.
Where to try it Farm shops.
Orange and pomegranate juice are a welcome way to cool down.
Where to try it Kiosks at the sites.
Villages around the valley have restaurants serving grilled meat and salads.
Where to try it Restaurants in Nazareth and the surrounding villages.
Accommodation
Most visitors visit as a day trip from Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee or Haifa. A few guesthouses and kibbutz hotels are close by.
Transport
Megiddo is about 30 km from Nazareth and Haifa, and Beit She'an about 40 km east of Megiddo. A car is the best way to reach both.
Both sites are explored on foot.
When to go
The Jezreel and Beit She'an valleys are among the hottest parts of Israel in summer, and Beit She'an is below sea level. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Green fields and warm weather. The best time for both sites.
Very hot, often over 38°C at Beit She'an, with little shade. Go early.
October and November are ideal.
Mild, sometimes wet, and quiet. The fields are green.
Worth planning around: Midday in summer, and rainy days when the ground is muddy.
Itinerary
Megiddo in the morning, lunch at a kibbutz and Beit She'an in the afternoon. Assumes a car from Nazareth or the Sea of Galilee.
Biblical and Roman history in a day.
Travel tips
These are big, open sites, and a few tips help.
FAQ
Megiddo is an ancient city mound, or tell, in the Jezreel Valley. The name Armageddon comes from the Hebrew Har Megiddo, 'Mount Megiddo', mentioned in the Book of Revelation as the site of a final battle.
The site of ancient Scythopolis, a major Roman and Byzantine city and the only Decapolis city west of the Jordan. It has one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the country.
About two hours at Megiddo and two to three at Beit She'an, plus the drive. Together they fill a day.
Yes. Tel Megiddo, together with Tel Hazor and Tel Be'er Sheva, was inscribed as a group of biblical tells in 2005.
Yes. Megiddo is about 30 minutes from Nazareth, and Beit She'an about 40 minutes from Megiddo or 30 minutes from Tiberias.
Both sites are popular with visitors and generally regarded as safe. Beit She'an is close to the border with Jordan and the West Bank, so check your government's advice and follow local guidance.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Megiddo and Beit She'an, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Northern 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, Lower Galilee, Israel
Israel's largest freshwater lake, with Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes on its north shore, hot springs and Tiberias to the west, and swimming and boats all year.
Don't miss Capernaum, where the ruins of a 4th-century synagogue stand beside the traditional house of Peter on the water's edge.
Explore Destination — The Sea of GalileeNorthern 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.
Explore Destination — Safed (Tzfat)Read next
Heritage
A UNESCO listing tells you a place matters; it does not tell you whether it is worth two days and a detour. This is how to read the list usefully — and which sites reward building a trip around them.
Where to go
The most visited place in a country is rarely its best, and it is almost never its best value. This is a method for finding the destinations that do not make the postcards — and a set of examples from five of the 50 countries on this site.
Advertisement
