Bahá'í holy places: Haifa and 'Akká

The journey in one line

2 stops in Israel. Complete means all 2 visited.

The Bahá'í Faith has two shrines its followers treat as the holiest places on earth. They stand about twenty kilometres apart on the coast of northern Israel. The Shrine of the Báb rises out of nineteen garden terraces on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh sits in a garden at Bahjí, just outside 'Akká. Most people who come are not Bahá'ís. The gardens are free, they open every day, and they are among the most visited places in Haifa. Guided walks are offered at no charge. Bahá'ís also come on pilgrimage. That is a separate thing, arranged through the Bahá'í World Centre, with its own days and its own order. This journey records the visit and not the pilgrimage. If you make the pilgrimage, it is yours to describe in your own words. The wider holy property includes houses and gardens at Mazra'ih and inside 'Akká that are not presented as public visitor destinations. They are not on this journey.

The Báb was executed in Tabríz in 1850. His remains were moved in secret for half a century before being laid in the shrine on Mount Carmel. Bahá'u'lláh, who founded the Bahá'í Faith, died at Bahjí in 1892 after decades of imprisonment and exile that ended in 'Akká. Bahá'ís turn toward his shrine when they pray. In July 2008 the Bahá'í holy places in Haifa and the Western Galilee were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The custodians make a point that the gardens are open to anyone, whatever they believe, and that no fee is charged.

Haifa and 'Akká are about forty minutes apart by train or road, so many people do both in one day. In Haifa the outer gardens open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 and the Shrine of the Báb and its inner gardens from 09:00 to 12:00. At Bahjí the outer gardens open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 and the shrine from Friday to Monday, 09:00 to 12:00. Entry is free at both. Hours change on Bahá'í holy days and on Yom Kippur. Check the current notices before you set out, and check your government's travel advice for the region.

Where it goes

The stops, in order

What a visit means here. A recorded visit means you were inside the public visitor area of that shrine and its gardens. Both places visited completes the journey. A Bahá'í pilgrimage is a separate private record and this journey does not stand in for it.

1. 1

   Shrine of the Báb

   Haifa, Israel

   

   The Báb was executed in Tabríz in 1850. His remains were moved in secret for half a century before being laid to rest on Mount Carmel. The shrine and its nineteen garden terraces are the first thing most people see of Haifa. Bahá'ís count it among the two holiest places of their faith.

   What counts as a visit

   The outer gardens, and the shrine and inner gardens during their shorter morning hours. The administrative buildings on the Arc above are not open.

   Access

   Checked 16 September 2026. Free. Outer gardens daily 09:00 to 17:00, shrine and inner gardens 09:00 to 12:00. Closed on Bahá'í holy days and Yom Kippur. Shoulders and knees covered, no torn clothing. No photography inside the shrine.

   Travel advisory

   Check access · last checked September 16, 2026

2. 2

   Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh

   Bahjí, near 'Akká, Israel

   

   Bahá'u'lláh founded the Bahá'í Faith and spent his last years at Bahjí after decades of imprisonment and exile that ended in 'Akká. He is buried here. Bahá'ís turn toward this spot when they pray, which makes it the single most important place in the faith.

   What counts as a visit

   The outer gardens, and the shrine itself on the days it opens. The historic mansion beside it is not presented as a public visitor destination.

   Access

   Checked 16 September 2026. Free. Outer gardens daily 09:00 to 17:00. Shrine Friday to Monday 09:00 to 12:00. Closed on Bahá'í holy days and Yom Kippur. Shoulders and knees covered. No photography inside the shrine. No food, drink other than water, gum or smoking in the gardens.

   Travel advisory

   Check access · last checked September 16, 2026

Respect and access

Wear clothing that covers the shoulders and reaches the knees, with no tears. Photography is allowed everywhere except inside the shrines. Eating, drinking anything other than water, chewing gum and smoking are not allowed in the gardens. Weapons and animals are not allowed. Shoes come off before entering a shrine. People around you may be praying. Choosing this journey says nothing about what you believe, and no one should read it that way.

Travel advisory

A government advisory currently applies to this area. Read the current advisory before planning anything.

Opening times, prices, permits and eligibility change. Nothing on this page is a statement about today. Follow the Check access link on a place before you plan around it.

Sources

• ganbahai.org.ilhttps://ganbahai.org.il/visit-us-haifa/ · checked September 16, 2026
• ganbahai.org.ilhttps://ganbahai.org.il/visit-us-akko/ · checked September 16, 2026
• ganbahai.org.ilhttps://ganbahai.org.il/faq/
• bahai.orghttps://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/devotion/pilgrimage

TravelDay selected and grouped these places. Naming a custodian, a government agency or UNESCO as a source is not a claim that any of them endorsed this journey.