Ophthalmologist Kiryat Shmona

About Kiryat Shmona

Israel's northernmost town sits in the Hula Valley at the foot of the Naftali mountains, a short drive from the Lebanese border. Kiryat Shmona was established in 1949 as a development town and takes its name from the eight defenders who fell at nearby Tel Hai in 1920. Route 90, the long road up the valley from Tiberias and Rosh Pina, is the only real way in; with no railway, most visitors arrive by intercity bus from Haifa, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. The built-up area stretches along the highway, shops and services clustered around the middle, and the Manara cliff cable car climbs from the western edge. Many families trace their roots to North African immigrants, joined in the 1990s by newcomers from the former Soviet Union. Tip for an appointment: if you come by bus, check how far your address is from the station, because the town is long and narrow and a taxi may save a walk.