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Founders Street in Zichron Yaakov, a cobbled pedestrian lane lined with street lamps, old stone buildings and palm trees. Photo: israeltourism from Israel, CC BY 2.0.

Regions / MidNorth Coast

Zichron Yaakov זכרון יעקב

A Rothschild-era wine town at the southern end of the Carmel, with a pedestrian main street and sea views.

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Overview

Zikhron Ya’akov was founded in December 1882 by about 100 Hibbat Zion pioneers from Romania. Baron Edmond de Rothschild became its patron in 1883 and named it after his father. He drew up its housing and farming and commissioned the Ohel Ya’akov Synagogue, which opened in 1886.

Wikipedia places it about 35 km south of Haifa, at the southern end of the Carmel range near the sea. The restored Founders Street (Derekh HaYayin, the “Path of the Wine”) and the Carmel Winery, founded in 1885, draw visitors.

24,201 (2024)
Population
About 78 m (average)
Elevation
₪2,856,692
Average sale price
Not on the 2026 list
Tax credit (2026)

Average sale price, all property types. Source: Madlan, based on reported sales; figures read Oct 2026. A guide only: actual prices depend on the home.

The Ohel Ya’akov synagogue, a long ochre building with a tiled roof, arched windows and a menorah on its gable. Photo: RickP 14:43, 3 June 2006 (UTC), CC BY 2.5.
Ohel Ya’akov Synagogue, opened in 1886. Photo: RickP 14:43, 3 June 2006 (UTC), CC BY 2.5 (source)

Living in Zichron Yaakov

Quality of life

  • A restored main street of cafés, antique and craft shops, and the Carmel Winery, still working after 140 years.
  • Ramat HaNadiv, a nature park and garden between Zichron and Binyamina, is built around the tomb where Baron Edmond and Baroness Adelheid de Rothschild were reburied in 1954.
  • Sea views over the coastal plain; Haifa is about 35 km north.

Community

  • Nefesh B’Nefesh describes a large English-speaking population and thousands of Nefesh B’Nefesh olim.
  • Dati Leumi olim often live in the Moshava, near the main synagogue, and in Remez; English-speaking Charedi families are mostly near Derech Sarah, Hazon Ish and Ramat Tzvi.
  • Hashmura, Halomot and Neve HaBoron are also popular, says the guide.

Value for money

  • Not on the 2026 list for the locality tax credit.

Good to know

  • Most residents describe themselves as secular, and there is a sizable religious community too: Haredi, Chabad, Religious Zionist, Progressive and Conservative (Wikipedia).
  • The nearest hospitals are Hillel Yaffe in Hadera and Rambam in Haifa (Nefesh B’Nefesh).
  • Hebrew Wikipedia gives a socio-economic cluster of 8 of 10 (2021) and a matriculation rate of 76.8% (2023–24).

Community

  • Nefesh B’Nefesh describes a large English-speaking population and thousands of Nefesh B’Nefesh olim.
  • Dati Leumi olim often live in the Moshava, near the main synagogue, and in Remez; English-speaking Charedi families are mostly near Derech Sarah, Hazon Ish and Ramat Tzvi.
  • Hashmura, Halomot and Neve HaBoron are also popular, says the guide.

Religious life

Women’s mikveh (available in town)

Neighborhoods to know

  • HaMoshava (the old colony)
  • Remez
  • Ramat Tzvi
  • Derech Sarah
  • Hazon Ish
  • HaShmura
  • Halomot
  • Neve HaBoron
A stepped water channel running between flowering shrubs into a pond in the Ramat HaNadiv gardens. Photo: תמי, CC BY 2.5.
Water channel in the Ramat HaNadiv gardens. Photo: תמי, CC BY 2.5 (source)

Schools

Schools and English-speaking support are being researched and will be added here, each with its source.

Getting around

Zichron Yaakov has no railway station of its own. The station that serves it is Binyamina, about 12 min (8 km) away by road. On a weekday 41 trains a day run from Binyamina to Haifa Center–HaShmona, usually in about 29 min. 78 trains a day run direct to Tel Aviv Savidor Central, in 32 min at best and about 41 min usually.

About 39 bus lines stop in Zichron Yaakov on a weekday. Direct services from Zichron Yaakov include:

  • Haifa: 76 direct trips on a weekday (lines 202, 768, 921), from about 21 min; Egged and Kavim.
  • Tel Aviv: 66 direct trips on a weekday (lines 826, 845, 846), from about 50 min; Egged.
  • Yokneam Illit: 59 direct trips on a weekday (lines 156, 157, 826, 980), from about 15 min; Egged, Nateev Express and Superbus.
  • Kiryat Tivon: 37 direct trips on a weekday (lines 826), from about 25 min; Egged.
  • Migdal HaEmek: 37 direct trips on a weekday (lines 826), from about 35 min; Egged.
  • Nazareth: 37 direct trips on a weekday (lines 826), from about 44 min; Egged.
  • No direct bus to Jerusalem appears in the timetable; change at a nearby hub.

Times are from the first stop in town to the first stop in the destination city. Timetables change, so check the operator’s app before you plan a trip.

By road, Zichron Yaakov is about 37 min (42 km) from Haifa, 54 min (63 km) from Tel Aviv, 1 h 37 min (127 km) from Jerusalem and 1 h 8 min (73 km) from Ben Gurion Airport, the nearest international airport. These are free-road estimates with no traffic, so allow more at rush hour.

Sources: Ministry of Transport timetable · OpenStreetMap routing · Wikipedia, Israel Railways

Zichron Yaakov is part of MidNorth Coast, with Haifa, Caesarea, Hadera, Harish and Pardes Hanna-Karkur close by.

Map showing Zichron YaakovKinneretMediterraneanMidNorth CoastTzfatRosh PinaTiberiasMigdalYavnielKatzrinKfar VradimShlomiNahariyaMigdal HaEmekAfulaYokneam IllitKiryat TivonHaifaZichron YaakovCaesareaPardes Hanna-KarkurHaderaHarishHatzor HaGlilitKarmielMaalot-TarshihaMisgav
Bougainvillea in the foreground, with fish ponds and the Mediterranean coast seen from Zichron Yaakov. Photo: StateofIsrael, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Fish ponds and the coast, seen from the town. Photo: StateofIsrael, CC BY-SA 2.0 (source)

Nature & attractions

In half an hour or less you can be at Ramat HaNadiv (8 min), Caesarea National Park (17 min), Nahal Me’arot Nature Reserve (20 min) and Bet She’arim National Park (30 min). Up to 45 minutes takes you to Tel Megiddo National Park (32 min). For a longer day out, Zippori National Park (48 min) and Harod Spring (Ma’ayan Harod) National Park (53 min) are within the hour.

All 7 parks and reserves within an hour, with drive times
  • Ramat HaNadiv · about 8 min by roadA nature park and garden at the southern end of the Carmel, with pine and cypress groves around the tomb of Baron Edmond de Rothschild and his wife.
  • Caesarea National Park · about 17 min by roadThe Roman port city Herod the Great built from about 22 BCE, with a theatre that still hosts concerts, a hippodrome, Crusader walls and aqueducts on the beach.
  • Nahal Me’arot Nature Reserve · about 20 min by roadFour prehistoric caves (Tabun, Jamal, El-Wad and Skhul) with remains of about 500,000 years of human life, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012. INPA, Nahal Me’arot
  • Bet She’arim National Park · about 30 min by roadA burial ground where Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi is buried, with the decorated Menorah Caves. INPA, Bet She’arim
  • Tel Megiddo National Park · about 32 min by roadThe palaces, temples, gates and water system of a major Canaanite city, part of the UNESCO World Heritage biblical tells. INPA, Tel Megiddo
  • Zippori National Park · about 48 min by roadA former capital of the Galilee and seat of the Sanhedrin, with Roman and Byzantine mosaics. INPA, Zippori
  • Harod Spring (Ma’ayan Harod) National Park · about 53 min by roadA spring from a cave on the slope of Mount Gilboa, a clear brook and a paddling pool, and the Hankin House museum. INPA, Harod Spring

Drive times are free-road estimates from the center of Zichron Yaakov (OpenStreetMap routing). Hours, fees and booking rules change; check the Israel Nature and Parks Authority before you go.

A hillside neighborhood of houses with tiled roofs under a cloudy sky, seen across a meadow. Photo: כובש המלפפונים, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A hillside neighborhood on the edge of town. Photo: כובש המלפפונים, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)

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Sources

Researched by DreamNorth, checked 18 Oct 2026. Developer and promotional material is marked as such; confirm details before you buy.