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Things to See and Do In Picturesque Rosh Pina

Picturesque Rosh Pina Things to See and Do header

Rosh Pina is what many tourists are looking for after the vibrant and busy city of Tel Aviv, or the pulsing spiritual energy of Jerusalem, the calmer path–the road less travelled, and the proximity to nature. Beautiful natural spaces and a calm energy welcome clam-seekers to this lovely place from all over the country.

When it’s time to get lost in picturesque alleys, cute cafés to eat at, and wonderful scenery, Rosh Pina, Israel, is a quiet Israeli escape, a place where time stands still and you can too.

Located in the Upper Galilee, this charming small town neighbors Safed, and with Hazor, they make a three-city attraction famous for their rich history, spectacular scenery, amazing food, and attractions.

Rosh Pina is an oasis of calm in Israel, focused on slow living, with little crowds. It’s the kind of place where you can stop to contemplate the beauty of the Golan Heights or meander in and out of art galleries with a coffee in hand from one of the cafes.

Rosh Pina was founded in 1882 by 30 families who emigrated from Romania, which means it is one of the oldest Zionist settlements in the country. Today, that settlement has been transformed into the old, lovely neighborhood of Rosh Pina and a town of some 3000 residents.

Rosh pina in north of Israel

What to do in Rosh Pina?

Some of the best things to do in Rosh Pina are to walk around the old town, look out at the Nimrod Lookout, and drive out to the various natural places surrounding the area. 

This post will give you ideas for exploration

If you have a car and you’re looking to take a day trip out of the town, you can drive from Rosh Pina to Tzipori National Park in 45 minutes, the Sea of Galilee in 30 minutes, and Tiberius in 33 minutes.

What to wear in Rosh Pina?

The weather in Rosh Pina isn’t extreme, however, if you do plan on visiting during the winter it does get cold, and good winter clothing is recommended. When it comes to the summer time make sure to bring airy clothing and use sunscreen. 

The best time to visit Rosh Pina is between March and October, the temperatures are nice and comfortable both during the day and at night.

Where should I eat in Rosh Pina?

Rosh Pina has attracted people from all over the world over the years, and its food scene reflects that. Visit Babayit Shel Rafa for Argentinian steak, or Chocolata, located in the basement of the Rosh Pina synagogue, for chocolates and coffee. Ja’uni serves salads, fish, pasta, and meat dishes with Italian flair. 

Here are things to do in Rosh Pina you can check out during an escorted tour or any self-exploration of your own. If you are looking for more than just a walk through the local mall we encourage you to head up the hill on Rosh Pina’s main road through the town to reach the older part of town.

Explore the calm and beautiful Rosh Pina

Clerk’s House and Baron’s Gardens

The Clerk’s House, also known as Beit Hapekidut, is now a museum that offers a multi-screen audio-visual presentation about the history of Rosh Pina and its road to becoming the lovely town it is today. The film is available in English, Hebrew, and Russian.

While there, take a walk through the Baron’s Gardens, a small wooded area on the hilltop at the beginning of Rosh Pina’s original neighborhood, with stone steps and flowers leading to the residential area. Also known as Gan Habaron, the garden was supposedly modeled on the Gardens of Versailles, designed by a French landscape architect and planted in 1886, with many of its plants brought from France.

Read this list before you choose a tour guide.

The Mer House: Home of Gideon Mer

Of the many things to do in Rosh Pina, this is one of the best for those who love history, especially medical history. One of Rosh Pina’s landmarks is certainly the home of Professor Gideon Mer who established a malaria research laboratory in this town in 1929.

Baron Rothschild gave him the property so Mer could find a way to treat malaria and help the afflicted people in the Hula Valley. Additionally, Mer served as the chief physician to the British forces in WWII, who also suffered from malaria.

His work gained worldwide recognition for controlling the disease and stopping the epidemic among settlers in Israel and beyond.

Today, his house is a national site where visitors can see an exhibit of historic items from various periods, such as laboratory equipment and textbooks, and even Mer’s private office is still preserved and with original furnishings.

The Jerusalem Chimes

For the artistic souls travelling to Rosh Pina, there is a lovely place where you can create, learn, and leave with a special souvenir that was handmade by you.

While taking a nice stroll through this lovely little town towards its historic center, enjoying the scenery and the relaxed Galilee way of life, you will certainly notice the enormous wind chime placed in a massive eucalyptus tree.

This is actually an artistic symbol that marks the entrance to the Jerusalem Chimes. It is a studio, a shop, a workshop, and the artist-in-residence quarters opened in 1993, as the first and only of its kind in Rosh Pina.

The shop specializes in wind chimes, and each has its own function. For example, some sounds help improve your sleep, while others have a calming effect on stressed and worried minds. You will also find many other hand-made wooden wind ornaments, such as stars of David, wooden ducks, or candle holders.

If you’re drawn in by the pleasing sounds of the studio, take a workshop where you make your own wind chimes with raw materials including wooden parts, aluminum tubes, wax threads, and colored glass beads on an accurate musical scale to play harmonious and calming sounds.

This way, you can bring Rosh Pina back home with you.

Take some memories from Rosh Pina with you

A Historic Walk Through Rosh-Pina

If you wish to learn more about Rosh Pina’s history, all you need to do is take a walk.

Take the road between the houses and you will find the local cemetery and memorial for fallen soldiers. Just a bit further stands Rosh Pina’s synagogue – the town’s first public building – with its beautiful interior.

Walk a bit further and visit Rosh Pina’s school, the first in the world to teach all subjects in Hebrew, and the one that set the standard for other schools in Israel. The school principal’s house on Founders’ Street was a cultural center, which now houses an art gallery and a shop.

But one of the best things to do in Rosh Pina is to marvel at the views. At the uppermost part of the town, you will find the Nimrod Lookout with incredible views of all the magnificent mountains and ancient cities surrounding Rosh Pina. For a fragrant end of your walk, if it’s November, enjoy the flowering sternbergias and its bell-like blossom.

Gateway to The North Of Israel

Rosh Pina is a fantastic spot to base yourself on because of its proximity to so many unique locations. From natural spots to wineries, the area surrounding Rosh Pina is one of the best reasons to go to Rosh Pina.

The main road takes you to the mountain and deep into the city, to the original neighborhood, while breathing pure mountain air and enjoying a unique view of the snow-capped Mount Hermon, Israel’s tallest peak.

If you take the promenade-like path, you will see a number of sculptures and pictures of the early settlers. Furthermore, the beautiful Safed is just a few minutes away by car, the ancient Hazor is also close, the magnificent Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights are just a short drive away, and nearby also rest the natural wonders of the Hula Valley and Hurshat Tal.

Enjoy Good Wineries Near Rosh Pina

Enjoy Good Wineries Near Rosh Pina 

There’s another great way to see more of the region. If you’re based in Rosh Pina, one of the best ways to spend the day is to take a drive out to one of the wineries nearby.

  • The Golan Heights Winery is a 26-minute drive from Rosh Pina. They were one of the first wineries in the Golan Heights. There’s a guided tour of the wine production, as well as the opportunity to visit the barrel hall and attend a wine tasting with the option of a platter of local cheeses.
  • The Lotem Winery is 31 minutes by car from Rosh Pina. If you’re looking for a vineyard lunch, they serve meals made from fresh products. Their menu changes daily, though, so the experience there is always different. They recommend booking a meal in advance. One of the most unique parts of the Lotem Winery is a guided tour including a presentation on “The Effect of Music on Wine.
  • The Abouhav Winery, a boutique winery in Safed, is 23 minutes away by car. The grapes are harvested by hand, fermented, and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. The traditional production process makes their wine very unique. You can reserve a meal at the winery cooked by chef Itai Leibowitz.

Clearly, anyone can find what to do in and around Rosh Pina, and the variety is huge. Make sure to pick a nice place to sleep in and ask the locals for recommendations, Israelis love to help and show around.

Rosh Pina is only one of the fantastic places you’ll explore on a guided trip to Israel. Are you interested in learning more and discovering new places in the country? Find out more about our Israel tours.

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