Nazareth, Caesarea and Golan, 3 Days — Self-Launched

Start early. Take the Egged or Kavim bus from Tel Aviv's Arlozorov terminal to Nazareth (roughly 1h45, ~£7), or an Afikim/Nazareth Express service if you're staying downtown. Drop your bag at your guesthouse or hostel near Mary's Well, then head out for the Golan. From Nazareth's central bus station take a bus toward Tiberias (~£3, 45 min) and connect onward to Hamat Gader (crocodile farm and hot springs, entry around £22 — skip it if it's not your thing; the springs are the commercial draw rather than a wild soak). Continue by bus or a shared taxi to Katzrin (~£4): see the excavated Talmudic village and the Golan Antiquities Museum (combined ticket ~£6), then arrange a taxi or hitch a ride up to Mount Bental (~£8-12 return by taxi) for the old Syrian bunkers and the view over the Quneitra valley. On the way back, the bus south along the eastern shore gives you Sea of Galilee views and passes the Shalom Observatory near Katzrin. Return to Nazareth for dinner in the old city. Note: public transport in the Golan is thin — check Moovit the night before, and consider basing in Tiberias instead if you want an easier loop.

🚌Bus Tel Aviv–Nazareth ~£7; local buses Nazareth–Tiberias–Katzrin ~£7; taxi to Mount Bental ~£10

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Nazareth old city (dorm ~£20-25, private room ~£45-60)

• →Hamat Gader hot springs and crocodile farm (optional, ~£22)
• →Katzrin Talmudic village and Golan Antiquities Museum (~£6)
• →Mount Bental bunkers and viewpoint (free)
• →Sea of Galilee viewpoints along Route 98

A full day on the Christian sites of the Lower Galilee, all of which you can reach by public bus. Morning in Nazareth on foot: the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St Joseph next door (both free, modest dress), then walk to Mary's Well and the old market for a cheap falafel lunch (~£4). From Nazareth's bus station take the bus toward Cana (Kfar Kanna) to see the Wedding Church (~£2, 15 min). Continue by bus to Tiberias (~£3) and then a local bus or taxi up to the Mount of Beatitudes (~£3) for the view over the lake. Walk or taxi the 2 km down to Capernaum to see the ancient synagogue and St Peter's house and the octagonal Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha nearby (each around £3-4 entry). If you want the full pilgrim circuit, the Yardenit baptismal site south of the lake is reachable by bus from Tiberias (~£2, 20 min) and is free to visit. Finish with a sunset by the water in Tiberias and a bus back to Nazareth (~£3, 45 min).

🚌Local buses Nazareth–Cana–Tiberias–Capernaum ~£8 total

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Nazareth old city

• →Basilica of the Annunciation and Church of St Joseph (free)
• →Cana Wedding Church (~£2 donation)
• →Mount of Beatitudes (free)
• →Capernaum synagogue and St Peter's house (~£4)
• →Tabgha Church of the Multiplication (~£3)
• →Optional Yardenit baptismal site (free)

Check out and take the bus from Nazareth to Haifa (~£4, 1h). Store your bag in a Haifa locker or take the Carmelit/metronit down to the German Colony, where you can view the terraced Bahá'í Gardens from the bottom (free; guided inner-terrace tours need pre-booking online and are free but limited). From Haifa Hof HaCarmel station, take a train or bus south to Caesarea (~£4, 25 min) and walk or catch the local shuttle to the national park — the Roman port, aqueduct beach and Herodian amphitheatre are worth 2 hours (entry ~£9). Back north to Acre (Akko) by train (~£4, 30 min): the Crusader city, the Knights' Halls and the sea walls are the highlight (combined ticket ~£11), plus the market and harbour for a cheap hummus lunch (~£6). Rosh HaNikra's white sea caves are reachable by train to Nahariya plus a short bus (~£6, 40 min) — add them only if you have daylight to spare, as the cable car and grottoes close mid-afternoon (cable car ~£10). Finish with the train back to Tel Aviv (~£9, 1h45) arriving evening.

🚌Nazareth–Haifa bus ~£4; Haifa–Caesarea train/bus ~£4; Caesarea–Acre train ~£4; Acre–Tel Aviv train ~£9

🛏Not included (final day — return to Tel Aviv or stay on independently)

• →Bahá'í Gardens, Haifa (free from below; free pre-booked terrace tour)
• →Caesarea National Park Roman port and aqueduct (~£9)
• →Acre Crusader city and Knights' Halls (~£11)
• →Optional Rosh HaNikra sea caves and cable car (~£10)