Visiting the Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa: a practical guide

Nineteen terraces climb the northern slope of Mount Carmel, with the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb on the central terrace and Haifa Bay spread out below. The Bahá’í Gardens are Haifa’s best-known sight, and together with the Bahá’í holy places in and around Akko they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are also a place of worship – the Shrine of the Báb is one of the two holiest places on earth for Bahá’ís – and that shapes how a visit works.

We run a gift shop a short walk from the gardens. This guide collects the practical information you need before you go: where to go in, how tours work, what to wear and what else to see nearby. Opening times do change, so always check the official Bahá’í Gardens website before you set out.

Opening hours at a glance

These are the hours published by the Bahá’í World Centre when we last checked, in November 2026:

What you will see

The Shrine of the Báb

At the heart of the gardens stands the Shrine of the Báb, the resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá’í Faith. The Báb (“the Gate”) was born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1819, announced His mission in 1844 and was executed in Tabriz on 9 July 1850. His remains were brought to the Holy Land and laid to rest on Mount Carmel by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1909, on a spot chosen by Bahá’u’lláh Himself. The building’s superstructure, with its arcade, drum and golden dome, was completed in 1953 and has been the emblem of Haifa ever since.

The Shrine of the Báb is open to visitors in the morning, through the main entrance. Inside, it is a place of prayer: visitors are quiet, and photography is not allowed.

The nineteen terraces

The terraces were always meant to surround and frame the Shrine. Work on them proceeded gradually, and in 1987 the architect Fariborz Sahba was chosen to design the remaining terraces; the completed gardens opened to the public in 2001. Nine terraces rise above the Shrine and nine fall below it, with the Shrine’s own terrace in the middle, running in a straight line from the foot of the mountain to its crest – about a kilometre of fountains, flowerbeds, gravel paths and stone balustrades.

The view

From the upper balcony you look straight down the terraces, over the dome and along Ben Gurion Boulevard in the German Colony to the port and Haifa Bay. On a clear day you can see across the bay to Akko. From the German Colony Plaza at the bottom, the view is reversed: the terraces climb above you to the dome.

Choosing an entrance

Self-guided visits are to viewpoints, and there are three places to go in. Which one is best depends on what you want to see:

• Upper Terraces balcony – 61 Yefe Nof Street. The classic panorama from the top of the mountain, near the Louis Promenade in the Carmel Center. Choose this for the photograph everyone takes.
• Main entrance – 80 Hatzionut Avenue. The only entrance to the Shrine of the Báb and the inner gardens, open 09:00–12:00; the outer gardens stay open until 17:00. Come in the morning if you want to visit the Shrine.
• German Colony Plaza – 21 Hagefen Street. The view up the terraces from the foot of the gardens, at the top of Ben Gurion Boulevard. Easy to combine with lunch in the German Colony.

Strollers can only enter at the main entrance and the first level of the German Colony Plaza. The official site has an accessibility page with details for wheelchair users.

Guided tours

Guided tours are free but by reservation only. The Upper Terraces Tour, for individuals and small groups of up to 19 people, starts at 45 Yefe Nof Street; groups of 20 or more submit a separate request. Book through the official website, as early as you can in busy seasons. Because of the steep slope, strollers cannot be taken on tours.

What to wear

The gardens ask visitors to respect the spiritual character of the site with modest clothing. For everyone aged 12 and over, that means:

• tops that cover the shoulders (with sleeves for men);
• trousers, shorts, skirts or dresses that reach no higher than about 6 cm above the knee;
• no torn or ripped styles, tank tops, crop tops, low cuts, open backs, beachwear or see-through clothing.

A light scarf or shawl worn on the upper body is fine, but you cannot use one to cover your legs. The guards can refuse entry to anyone they consider inappropriately dressed, so if in doubt, dress more conservatively. Comfortable shoes with good grip are a good idea: paths are pebbled and paving can be slippery.

Rules and etiquette

• Photography is welcome everywhere in the gardens except inside the Shrines.
• Food and drink: you may bring a bottle of water, but eating, other drinks, chewing gum and smoking are not allowed.
• No animals or weapons may be brought in.
• Be considerate: the gardens are a holy place for Bahá’ís. Keep your voice down near the Shrine, stay on the paths and follow the guides’ and guards’ instructions.

Practical tips

• Go early. The Shrine is only open until noon, and the morning light on the terraces is lovely – and cooler in summer.
• Bring a hat and sunscreen from spring to autumn; there is little shade on the open terraces.
• Check the calendar. Holy-day closures fall on different dates each year, and Yom Kippur closes the gardens too.
• Plan your route around the hills. Haifa is built on a mountainside. If you start at the top (Yefe Nof) and finish at the bottom (German Colony), the walking is mostly downhill.

Make a day of it

The German Colony

Ben Gurion Boulevard, running straight down from the foot of the gardens towards the port, is lined with the stone houses built by the German Templers who settled here in 1868. Today it is full of cafés and restaurants – a good place to rest after the terraces.

The Louis Promenade

Along Yefe Nof Street at the top of the gardens, this clifftop walkway has some of the best views in Haifa, over the bay to Akko and, on clear days, the hills of the Galilee.

Hadar HaCarmel – and our shop

A short walk from the gardens, Hadar is Haifa’s historic shopping district. Our shop at Hertzel 5 sells Bahá’í gifts – ringstone rings and bracelets, Shrine of the Báb models and Haifa keepsakes – as well as Judaica. It is an easy stop after the gardens; see how to find us.

Bahjí, near Akko

If you have time, the gardens at Bahjí, just north of Akko, surround the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, the holiest place on earth for Bahá’ís. At the time of writing they are open Thursday to Monday – outer gardens 09:00–16:00, the Shrine and inner gardens 09:00–12:00 – and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The old city of Akko, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is nearby.