Caesarea, Israel - One of The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020 (Discoverdior)

The happy marriage of antiquity and modernity is drawing more visitors to Caesarea, a coastal town and national park in northern Israel on the site of a 2,000-year-old Roman harbor. 
Caesarea - Town in Israel (Discoverdior)

Caesarea is a town on Israel's Mediterranean coast. It’s known for Caesarea National Park, which includes a large Roman amphitheater and the historic port. On the site is an archaeological park with pillars and sculptures, and the remains of a hippodrome, with frescoes and stone seating. 


The ruins of the seafront Promontory Palace include the remains of a mosaic floor.

The new King Herod Visitor’s Center, named for the port’s founding monarch and built in the massive arched vaults that once stood beneath a temple, displays recent archaeological finds, such as colorful mosaics and gold coins recovered from shipwrecks. 


Admire the ancient harbor from a table at Helena Restaurant — a seaside fine-dining spot that features locally foraged ingredients and Israeli wines — then wander the ruins of bathhouses or explore submerged Roman breakwaters, columns, and cargo along the snorkeling and scuba diving trails at the Old Caesarea Diving Center. 

When to visit

The climate in Caesarea is warm and dry most of the year, with slightly cooler and wetter winters (Dec–Feb). Apr–Jun is the most popular time to visit. Concerts and events are held in the Roman amphitheater throughout the summer (Jun–Aug).

Spend the night at the newly renovated Dan Caesarea, a posh midcentury resort built by French banking scion Baron Edmond de Rothschild. —Sara Toth Stub