Tiberias

Tiberias is a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in the Kinneret sub-district of Israel, stretching from the waterfront up into the low hills behind. Stone buildings from different periods line the streets that climb upward from the harbor, while modern shops and apartment blocks surround the older structures.

The town was founded in 20 CE as a Roman settlement by Herod Antipas, who named it after Emperor Tiberius. After the destruction of Jerusalem, the settlement grew into a center of Jewish learning, where scholars compiled important religious texts over the following centuries.

The promenade runs past the old Jewish quarter, where visitors can watch pilgrims moving between the historic burial sites throughout the day. Small gardens and open squares interrupt the narrow streets, where religious shops stand beside simple homes.

Most facilities cluster along the waterfront road, where visitors find shops, cafes, and boat docks. The hilly topography means some areas require steep climbs, while the paths along the water remain flat and easy to walk.

The natural hot springs lie below street level and reach temperatures around 60 degrees Celsius, allowing for warm baths throughout the year. Some springs emerge directly at the lakeshore, where the hot water mixes with the cooler lake water.