14 Best Hotels in Haifa and the Northern Coast, Israel

At this three-story hostelry inside a former Turkish police station, original wooden doors lead in to a small lobby, where a painted plaster rosette decorates the gold ceiling. The lavish old-world design has received some updates—original bathrooms are beautifully modernized—but original stonework remains in the windows and walls. Double rooms are decorated in brown, caramel, and beige, and net curtains embroidered with flowers frame the windows. Each of the five family rooms has a loft with two beds so four people can settle in comfortably. The rooftop café showcases the lovely skyline of Old Akko.

This romantic boutique hotel has great views of the sea and is a five-minute walk to the beach, making it a perfect couples' getaway. The modern rooms and lobby tend to the small side, but guest rooms are freshly decorated in earth tones with sparkling ceramic fixtures. The attentive staff will greet you with a cold drink and a warm smile.

Step into the palm-shaded courtyard here to enter the world of the German Templers: the three-story lodging is in the center of the German Colony, amid the neighborhood's carefully restored red-roofed homes. Guest rooms retain the original geometric-tile floors and other graceful touches. Ask for one with a gorgeous view of the Baha'i terraces. A dozen rooms have hot tubs, and all include freestanding bathtubs in spacious bathrooms. A spa room offers several massage options, and the rooftop terrace has eye-popping views of the port. Room service is delivered from a nearby restaurant, and breakfast is served in the charming dining room.

Equidistant from Tel Aviv and Haifa, this four-story chain hotel suits business executives and vacationers alike, and the 15 acres of landscaped lawns, sparkling swimming pool, and 18-hole minigolf course make it great for families. All the guest rooms have balconies overlooking the sea or the countryside. Especially recommended are the comfortable deluxe doubles, with marble bathrooms and modern decor in cheerful hues. The Caesar Hall restaurant overlooks the pool. The hotel is a short drive to the beach and Caesarea. Bikes are on hand for riding around in the conveniently flat countryside.

Beautifully situated on the heights of Merkaz Carmel, this longtime favorite has stately charm and a devoted staff. Guest rooms are decorated in soothing hues and feature sleek, modern furnishings and narrow balconies with views over the city or bay below. The pool area, surrounded by a large garden with potted geraniums and many trees, is pleasant and breezy. The concierge can direct you to several excellent restaurants within an easy walk of the hotel. Several dining choices are available in the hotel as well.

The glitzier younger sister of the Dan Carmel up the road, this 21-story hotel is popular with business executives, thanks, in part, to a comfortable second-floor lobby with a circular bar. Rooms are spacious with blue-and-yellow design and pale-wood furnishings. Many look out onto the gold-topped Baha'i Shrine and the bay, while the rest have lovely city views. The hotel is connected to the Panorama Center mall, with casual eateries and boutiques.

Two notable Ottoman-era palaces overlooking the Mediterranean have been united to form this uniquely charming boutique hotel. The tastefully furnished guest rooms are made more special by ornamented ceilings and latticed woodwork. Efendi's lovely setting is the result of work by a joint team of Venetian and Israeli artisans, who restored the two historic homes—erected over a Crusader vault—with great attention to detail, adding chic, modern elements to the opulent frame. While the old Crusader vault is now the wine cellar and bar, don't miss the restored 1878 fresco of the city of Istanbul, which was found during the renovation. From the gourmet breakfast to a massage in the renovated 400-year-old hammam, service is impeccable.

You would be forgiven if you thought this hotel was newly built: with its exposed cement, clean white lines, and natural walnut furnishings, the modern design from 1973 has been renovated into a striking hotel and world-class center for the arts. The small, hivelike rooms of the original plan have been reinterpreted as luxury accommodations. In a separate wing, the complex has an auditorium with nearly perfect acoustics; it has become a magnet for local and international performance artists. Notable works of art adorn public spaces in the hotel, and you can call ahead for a docent-led tour. The Elma's flagship restaurant, Oratorio, is a special treat.

On the western slopes of Zichron Ya'akov, a 10-minute walk from the center of town, this family-run hotel has a spectacular view of the coastal valley and the sea and rooms done in blues and yellows. The terrace restaurant specializes in meat dishes like oven-roasted duck in plum sauce. There's a pretty garden, a whirlpool-tub, and small aboveground pool. Less fit guests feel the climb to the sundeck on the roof; the three-story building has no elevator.

Catering to a business crowd, this modern, well-designed hotel is built into a pine-shaded slope. The glass-domed lobby, with mauve and silver couches set off by floral arrangements, opens onto a restaurant that has spectacular views and serves Moroccan dishes. The executive floor has a fully equipped and well-stocked 24-hour business lounge and billiards room. Half the rooms, which have wooden furniture and soothing tones, have gorgeous bay views, especially the ones on the sixth floor with balconies.

Don't expect luxury at this family-owned five-story hotel; what you can count on is good value and a warm welcome. The compact rooms have simple modern furnishings, and the entrance has pleasant sitting areas on an attractive veranda. There's no pool, but the beach is a short walk away. There's a sundeck on the roof, and self-service coffee machines are in the hallways.

Founded in 1963, this ecumenical Christian settlement—whose name, which means "Sign of the Nations," is taken from Isaiah—between Akko and Nahariya focuses on mutual respect and tolerance; it also runs a hotel, where you're invited to chat with members of the community, who are also happy to take you around the beautifully landscaped grounds. Lodging options are either standard rooms or kibbutz apartments with kitchenettes. The setting, 10 km (6 miles) north of Akko, is picturesque and rural, once you get past the dismal approach road.

A private beach with exceptional views and a country club with state-of-the-art facilities make this hotel a great deal, especially for families. There's a huge outdoor pool in a sprawling grassy area where wooden walkways lead down to the curving bay. The views are fantastic: on one side you can see Old Akko's blue domes, skinny minarets, and stone walls; on the other, the Carmel mountains behind Haifa. For youngsters there's a children's pool, and for adults a Turkish bath with wet and dry saunas. There's also a bar in the cheerful lobby.

The facade may look ordinary, but this chic boutique hotel's interior is unlike anything else in Haifa. The guest rooms are sleek and stylish, in a variety of styles: some have dove gray curtains, charcoal wallpaper, chrome lamps, and black leather hassocks. Many have whirlpool tubs, and some have balconies. A tufted-leather sofa adds a homey touch to the small lobby, while white leather chairs distinguish the glass-enclosed dining room. There's a hot tub and sauna on the rooftop terrace, as well as a tranquil garden outside, where lunch and dinner is served à la carte. The location is ideal, putting you within easy walking distance of shops and restaurants.