This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Jisr az-Zarqa.
Jisr az Zarqa is a small Arab-Israeli town in the Haifa district in the northern part of Israel. A small fishing village, it lies on the west coast of the Mediterranean Sea and is the last remaining Arab town in Israel. Archaeological evidence dates Jisr az Zarqa to between the 4th and 7th centuries BCE.
Jisr az Zarqa is somewhat of a hidden gem, so don’t be too surprised if you find it difficult to get to - it’s worth the effort! It’s on the main highway just north of the resort of Caesarea, so while buses don’t stop here, you can get a ride from Caesarea back up the road. bear in mind that there are very few buses to Caesarea itself, especially in the winter. You may have to dig a little bit to find the best way to get there and you may need to walk a bit. A lot of travellers join a tour to get to this part of Israel. Should you choose to do it on your own, the hostels in town should be able to direct you to transportation options. Jisr az Zarqa is sandwiched between the ritzy resorts to the south and the Taninim Nature Preserve to the north; there’s little room to grow and the town seems to go upward.
There are very few traditional hostels here, but you can find inexpensive backpacker accommodation at family-run hostel-cum-guesthouses. Jisr is still a town that attracts few tourists, so expect to share the hostel with volunteer English teachers. While you’ll come across few other travellers, don’t worry about things to do. There are plenty! First and foremost, the beaches at Kirs Az Zarqa are among some of the last undeveloped beaches on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, which is a huge draw. At the far end of the beach you can explore the ruins of an aqueduct, purported to be a continuation of the one in Caesarea. If you seek Roman ruins, you can head north into the national park or down to Caesarea, which has some of the most impressive ancient harbour ruins.
Written by local enthusiast for Jisr az-Zarqa hostels
Jakob Lombardi
