Discover Beersheba: History, Culture and Nature

Beersheba offers a range of themes for your stay: desert animals and habitats at Medabrium, the history of Bet Eshel, cultural attractions and a circular walking trail. If you’re looking for a hotel in Beersheba, you can use your interests as a starting point for planning. The following stops offer different highlights and give you an overview of possible themes to explore during your visit.

Desert Animals and Circular Trail

Medabrium covers 140 dunams. Around 100 species of desert animals can be seen there, adapted to the climatic conditions of their surroundings. The number of species may change over time. The park is divided into four habitats: canyon, Arava, oasis and savanna. There is also the “Meeting of Man and the Desert” area, the Khan. This brings together a division by habitat and a dedicated focus on the relationship between people and the desert. The animals’ adaptation to the climate is also one of the themes that shapes the character of the park.

The Be’er-Sheva “Ring Trail” is an approximately 40-kilometer hiking trail that circles the city and is divided into five sections. Each section is marked in a different color, in accordance with the tour map and the markings on the official Israeli hiking map. The approximate total length describes the extent of the circular route; the color coding divides it into five sections. These are two different ways to orient yourself when exploring the route: its length and its subdivisions.

Bet Eshel: Agricultural History and Heritage Site

Until the outbreak of the War of Independence, Bet Eshel served as an agricultural settlement and farm. During this period, the site withstood heavy bombardment by the Egyptian army. The Jewish National Fund restored and renovated Bet Eshel; the site was also declared a national heritage site. Its agricultural use, the bombardment and its designation as a heritage site mark different aspects of its history. Bet Eshel thus offers a historical focus that differs from the nature and culture themes of other places in Beersheba.

Culture, Exhibitions and Visitor Centers

The Performing Arts Theatre in Beersheba offers music concerts, plays, and Israeli and international shows. Its cultural program therefore includes music, theater and shows. The Child Theater Beersheba presents performances and plays, and offers theater workshops for children aged six to 18. The age range helps place this offering within the broader cultural program.

At Abraham’s Well International Visitors’ Center, a visit includes the ancient well and a photo exhibition, as well as an audiovisual experience and guided tours. A visit to the ANZAC Visitors’ Center also includes a guided tour and an audiovisual presentation, along with museum objects. The two centers therefore both offer guided tours and audiovisual content, but differ in the other features mentioned. Check the current visiting arrangements before visiting the ANZAC Visitors’ Center.

The Negev Museum of Art presents changing exhibitions of modern Israeli and international art. Tzalmania includes a visitor center with a photo gallery that hosts changing exhibitions by local and international artists. Both places offer changing exhibitions; the Negev Museum focuses on modern art, while the gallery at Tzalmania puts photography in the spotlight. Since the exhibitions change, you can check in advance which displays will be on during your stay.

At Be’er-Sheva River Park, electric golf cart rides are offered for groups of four or six. The two vehicle sizes differ in capacity. As operating details may change, check the offering before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Eilat, Arad, Revivim, Kiryat Mal'akhi, Be'er Ora, Maslul, Amatzia, Idan.

Go to the main travel overview: Southern District.