7 Places to See When Visiting Safed (Tzfat)

July 9th 2018

Jerusalem Street (Pedestrian Mall)

Jerusalem Street is a pedestrianized street running through the center of Safed. Known as the ‘Midrachov’ by locals, the street is where all the different sectors converge and features a large variety of stores, galleries, restaurants and coffee shops. It’s a colorful street, with painted shop fronts, local produce, flowers, displayed art, and mystical décor, all merging into one beautiful mosaic.

Hameiri House Museum

If you want to learn about the recent history of Safed, then the Hameiri House Museum is the perfect place to visit. It documents Jewish life in the Holy City and contains artifacts, preserved rooms, and photographic displays from the last 200 years, including that of the first Zionist-era Hebrew school in Safed. You’ll also discover more about the devastating typhus epidemic that wiped out two thirds of the city’s population.

Old Jewish Quarter and Synagogues

The Old Jewish Quarter forms the northern part of the city and is where 32 synagogues can be found, nestled among art galleries and down ancient walkways. The Ari Sephardic Synagogue is the oldest of the synagogues, built in the 13th century, and later renamed after The Ari’Zal. There’s also the 16th century Ashkenazi HaAri Synagogue, the Yosef Caro Synagogue, and the Abuhav Synagogue, to name but just four, which all have fascinating histories you can learn about when visiting each one.

Safed Cemetery

Safed’s cemetery is a popular place among visitors to this Holy City. The cemetery contains thousands of tombs, some of which belong to notable Safed residents of old, including famous Kabbalistic masters such as Rabbi Isaac Luria, one of the most prominent figures of the Golden Age of Kabbalah in Safed. Nearby is also the tomb of Rabbi Pinhas Ben Yair, an influential Jewish sage from the 2nd century.