24 Best Hotels in Lower Galilee, Israel

A cross between a guesthouse and a hostel, this modern limestone and basalt building is wrapped around a courtyard shaded by palm trees. Many rooms, including suites with private balconies, have great views east over the Jordan Valley. All are simply but agreeably furnished. The lobby café is a good spot to enjoy pizzas and sandwiches. Make sure to see the memorable mural humorously depicting life in ancient Beit She'an.

On-site parking and a central location attracts young and budget-watching tourists to this small, family-owned boutique hotel, one of Tiberias’s newer hotels. It's a short walk to the lakefront promenade and nightlife. Clean and fresh with an attractive breakfast buffet included in the room price, this hotel has a warm service staff that make you feel at home.

This upscale hotel, with a contemporary structure linking two older, superbly refurbished Ottoman-style ones, has a pleasingly asymmetrical design filled with pleasant surprises, such as a roof terrace, where you can enjoy a drink or light meal. There's also an inviting courtyard with a waterfall, a spa, and an outdoor pool. Everywhere are views of the lake. The aesthetics are wonderful, with nicely decorated rooms and well-appointed bathrooms. The Scots Hotel was originally a missionary hospital, erected in 1894 by a Scottish surgeon who felt called to treat the sick in the Holy Land. The hospital operated until 1959; in 1999 the Church of Scotland renovated the complex into this luxurious property. A wonderful wine bar is on premises. 

One of Tiberias's better moderately priced hotels, the Astoria is set away from the lake, but there are still views from some of the guest rooms. What it lacks in location, it makes up for in quality. The hotel is comfortable and family run, with furnishings done up in attractive pastels. Large family rooms are available.

This family-run hotel has spacious rooms, most with balconies. A car is an advantage here, but there is frequent public transportation downtown (except on the Sabbath). Rooms have kitchens, so the supermarket across the street is very convenient. 

Part of a small national chain, the lakefront Caesar has views from all rooms. Common areas are nicely decorated in marble, brass, and leather, providing islands of intimacy inside and out. The spacious guest rooms have tasteful, if unexceptional, furnishings, and every suite has a whirlpool bath. The outside pool area is entirely concrete, while the warm indoor pool uses natural thermal spring water from Hammat Gader. A large gym and range of treatments make the spa a definite attraction.

Located on the palm-shaded eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, this complex has everything from waterfront units with sunset-watching patios to spacious apartments with room for the whole family. All have fully equipped kitchenettes, and an on-site market means you can cook your own meals. About a mile north is Kibbutz Ein Gev, which has a fish restaurant, small harbor, and wagon-train ride.

Set in a lovely landscape, this 95-year-old kibbutz has beautiful cabins and suites to meet every need. Choose from the simply appointed standard rooms, family-friendly cabins with lofts and a shared yard, or ultraromantic luxury suites with private gardens and views of Mount Gilboa. Children love the kibbutz playground, the seasonal swimming pool, and petable cows and sheep in the dairy farm. Grown-ups appreciate the museum's permanent collection of Jewish art spanning many cultures and genres.

A 200-year-old mansion in the heart of the Old City, this inn has rooms with soaring ceilings that are perfect for couples or families, especially since some rooms are spacious (some are dorm style). A traditional Arab breakfast is served in the communal dining hall, where you meet a variety of local and international travelers. The inn is the starting point for the popular Jesus Trail hiking trip, organized by the staff. The hotel is difficult to find, so call when you arrive in the city to have the staff pick you up.

The rare lakeshore location is a big plus, and for some, so is the distance from the noisy downtown promenade. The marble lobby lounge is large and airy, though clusters of comfortable armchairs create intimacy. Guest rooms are tastefully furnished, if a bit small and slightly fraying; about two-thirds face the lake. Rooms on the two lower floors have private balconies. The hotel gives you free access to the adjacent water park, which has seven slides, a wave pool, and children's pool, making it arguably the most family-friendly hotel in town. The guests-only spa has a very private feel.

Its grand location—with a private beach right on the Sea of Galilee—makes this kibbutz guesthouse near Tiberias especially popular. It's warm and inviting, with spacious balconies looking out over the lake. There is a morning tour of the lovely grounds, and the nearby Yigal Alon Museum is free to guests. The dinner buffet includes both meat and vegetarian choices, the latter including outstanding blintzes with sweetened cheese. There are 168 standard and deluxe rooms and 75 simple country lodging rooms suitable for families. A more upscale property, the Nof Ginosar Hotel, is also at the same location, with different facilities.

With a peaceful rural location high on a mountain, the relaxed kibbutz atmosphere of this hotel mainly caters to Jewish religious travelers and family groups. Many of the spacious guest rooms feature spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. A full-service restaurant, a tennis court, an indoor swimming pool (separate bathing hours for men and women), a health club, and a playground are some of the on-site attractions. Ask to see the synagogue-furniture factory and the unique apparatus set up in the cowsheds to milk the cows on Saturday without violating the Sabbath. The furnishings in rooms are basic but comfortable. The wireless Internet is free.

Cascading down a hillside, this all-inclusive, all-suites hotel boasts an unimpeded view of the lake. The spacious units sleep at least four, and the rate is the same up to that number. This classic vacation property, part of the international Leonardo chain, has a cheerful, upbeat style, an all-season team to engage kids, and a good health club to relax parents. Downtown is less than 10 minutes away by car or cab.

With lake views, comfortable rooms, relaxing common areas, and a variety of spa services, the Leonardo Plaza is a welcoming spot. The hotel overlooks the water, but does not have lake frontage. Of the three Leonardo hotels in Tiberias this is the most luxurious. Rooms feature either a sea or mountain view, and many have balconies to enjoy the spectacular scenery. In the summer an outdoor swimming pool is available for guests.

At the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, this kibbutz has arguably the most enchanting view of all the properties around the lake. The furnishings are comfortable but not luxurious. Choose between regular guest rooms or spacious suites with living rooms, small bedrooms, kitchenettes, and patios. The food isn't memorable, but the facilities—extensive lawns, sandy beach, swimming pool near the shore—make it the best deal around. There is a smaller pool and play area for kids. Complete your trip by renting a bike and taking in the scenery while you ride.

The imposing stone facade of the Nazareth Plaza is the first hint that the city has finally acquired an upscale hotel. Many of the guest rooms at this hillside location enjoy views of the Old City. A huge gym and an outdoor swimming pool are big draws, as is the well-regarded restaurant. The hotel arranges a free tour of the Old City on Saturday for guests.

It's easy to understand why this resort was a personal favorite of Israel's founding prime minister, David Ben-Gurion: its location on the lake with its own private beach is unbeatable. The spa is a soothing complex suffused with incense and candles. A large whirlpool gurgles away in its own glassed-in gazebo. Guest rooms are nicely decorated. Breakfast and either lunch (on weekends only) or dinner are included.

Most of the action here is underground, where the adjoining bar, lounge, and dining room add a bit of buzz. Guest rooms are comfortable and well appointed; ask for one on the fourth floor so you'll have a balcony. Service is attentive, as you would expect from a national hotel chain. The location—on Nazareth's main street, very close to Mary's Well—is a limited blessing; this is not a town that comes alive at night.

The family-run establishment is the northernmost hotel in Tiberias and has rare private lake frontage, though no beach. Most guest rooms are in a two-story building facing the water. The upper floor is made up of suites; the lower floor opens out to lawns and the pool area. There are also several large family rooms. All in all, it's a great value.

A riot of greenery, including an inviting bustan (a local-style garden redolent with fragrant herbs), surrounds this inn, which has whirlpools and wooden balconies. Israel and Sarah Shavit make congenial hosts, with the added bonus that he's a licensed tour guide and chef. Four apartments have living rooms, kitchenettes, and bedrooms (one is wheelchair accessible); the fifth has two bedrooms. There's also a dorm-type room for up to 14 people. The rustic environment, 10 minutes from Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, is pleasant, and the dining room, which serves breakfast, transforms into a good-value à la carte restaurant in the evening.

In a Thai-style complex that's a world apart from anything else in this region, these recently renovated suites have hot tubs that use thermal mineral water from the nearby springs. A few even have their own saunas. Treatment rooms and exercise machines are for hotel guests only. The warm mineral-pool area, a serene oasis by day, becomes almost mystical when torches light the waters. The rest of the park at Hammat Gader is free for hotel guests. On Thursday and Friday nights, there is a minimum two-night stay. Package deals with spa treatments are available.

High on the ridge that overlooks Nazareth, this hotel began life as a convent—hence the charming neo-Gothic church still in use on the property today. Renovations transformed the former nuns' cells into comfortably sized guest rooms, and many enjoy some of the city's greatest views. The reception area is furnished with inlaid tables, chairs, and mirrors in the old Damascene style, and the dining room prides itself on its local dishes. The garden and view are perfect for unwinding at sundown.

Yehuda Avni and his Jerusalem-born wife Yonah have created something special in Israel: a ranch where guests can ride horses during the day and retire to cozy rooms at night. The one-room cabins and more luxurious cottages combine wood and basalt rock, and some have wood-burning stoves and hot tubs overlooking the lake. Spa treatments are also available. The restaurant has a fine regional reputation for its hearty soups, salads, and steaks. The views of the Sea of Galilee are unbelievable. Nonguests can ride here as well.

A restored schoolhouse, this charming boutique hotel in Mary’s Well Square is a perfect place to base your Nazareth visit. It's around the corner from St. Gabriel's Church and a five-minute walk from the old market and popular tourist sites. Sparkling, simply decorated rooms and great service make this a destination many return to time and again.