Dimona: Park, walking trail and Mamshit nearby

Dimona combines Ben-Gurion Park with a circular trail on the edge of the city and the offerings of the Village of Peace community. Outside the city, Mamshit adds a historical focus. Woodland and park facilities, a route with views of the city, an open-air market with music, and Nabataean architecture offer different themes for a stay. If you’re looking for hotels in Dimona, you can first decide which of these aspects matter most for your trip.

Ben-Gurion Park: Woodland and recreation

Ben-Gurion Park lies on the northern edge of Dimona. Its main section extends north of the city over about 370 dunams in a strip around 1.7 kilometers long. The park has parking areas, cycling paths, children’s play equipment, a lake and a science garden.

The woodland was established in the 1960s as a place for recreation close to home for Dimona residents. Mature Jerusalem pines, olive trees and carob trees from the original plantings still grow there today. KKL may describe it as its first desert forest. The park commemorates Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, and his wife Paula.

Distinguishing the park from the trail

A circular trail of about four kilometers starts on the edge of Dimona. It leads to a viewpoint overlooking the city, descends into Nahal Dimona and runs along a rocky cliff. The approximately 1.7 kilometers refers to the length of the park strip; about four kilometers is the length of the circular trail. Check current access and trail conditions before your visit.

Market and cooking experience at Village of Peace

The Village of Peace community’s open-air market takes place every Friday and offers plant-based produce, handicrafts and music. Check current arrangements with the organizer before your visit. Visitors can prepare Village of Peace dishes together with the community’s cooks, using ingredients grown by the community, and then enjoy the meal. The market is a recurring event, while the cooking activity involves guests directly in preparing and eating the food.

Mamshit near Dimona

Mamshit National Park lies outside Dimona, about six kilometers to the east. The remains of a Nabataean city from the Roman and Byzantine periods are preserved there, and Nabataean architecture can also be seen. While Ben-Gurion Park focuses on its establishment as a place for recreation and its tree cover, Mamshit draws visitors’ attention to an ancient city. A marked trail leads down from the national park entrance to Nahal Mamshit. Three dams built by the inhabitants of ancient Mamshit are clearly visible there.

More places in the Southern District

The wider travel destination of the Southern District includes additional historical sites. Avdat National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the route of the ancient Incense Road in the Negev Highlands. Masada preserves the remains of Herod’s palaces as well as intact Roman siege works, among the most complete of their kind in the Roman world.

Discover more destinations: Arad, Zuqim, Kfar Menahem, Ein Tamar, Beersheba, Eilat, Ashkelon, Kiryat Malakhi

Back to the broader travel overview: Southern District.