What's on in Haifa, Israel through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Spring on the Carmel

  15 Feb – 15 Apr · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  Anemones, cyclamen and lupins come up through the pine woods on the ridge and the walking paths above the city are at their best. It is over quickly once the rain stops.

Busy — Passover, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Passover

  25 Mar – 30 Apr · usuallyJewish holidaysCrowdedClosures

  A week of national holiday: the Bahá'í terraces and the beaches fill with Israeli families, much of the centre shuts, and the German Colony restaurants that stay open need booking. Source ↗

Still on: Spring on the Carmel (15 Feb – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Passover, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Spring on the Carmel (15 Feb – 15 Apr (usually)), Passover (25 Mar – 30 Apr (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Swimming season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Swimming season

  1 Jun – 31 Oct · usuallySea warm enoughCrowded

  The city beaches below the Carmel are usable from June and stay that way into late October, which is longer than most people expect this far up the coast.

Busy — Swimming season, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Swimming season (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Swimming season, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Swimming season (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Swimming season, Haifa International Film Festival

• Festival

  Haifa International Film Festival

  15 Sep – 15 Oct · usuallyCrowded

  Israel's oldest film festival, staged on the Carmel over the Sukkot holiday, which is also when the city is fullest. Screenings sell out and the Auditorium queues run down the street. Source ↗

• Holiday

  The Tishrei holidays

  20 Sep – 25 Oct · usuallyJewish holidaysCrowdedClosuresBook early

  Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot in quick succession. On Yom Kippur the roads stop entirely and the city belongs to people walking and children on bicycles. Source ↗

Still on: Swimming season (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Swimming season, Haifa International Film Festival

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Swimming season (1 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Haifa International Film Festival (15 Sep – 15 Oct (usually)), The Tishrei holidays (20 Sep – 25 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Busy — Holiday of Holidays, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Holiday of Holidays

  1–31 Dec · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Wadi Nisnas and the German Colony hold weekend street events through December marking the Jewish, Christian and Muslim festivals together. It is the thing Haifa is proudest of. Source ↗