Location: Beit Shemesh
Top Things to do in Beit Shemesh
Top Restaurants in Beit Shemesh
Top 5 Budget-friendly Things to do in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem District
Beit Shemesh (Hebrew: בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ,; Arabic: بيت شيمش; Latin: Bethsames, Beth Shamesh or Bethshamesh and most often Beth-Shemesh in English translations of the Hebrew Bible) is a city located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Jerusalem in Israel's Jerusalem District, with a population of 109,762 in 2016. The history of Beit Shemesh goes back to pre-biblical times. The modern city of Beit Shemesh was founded in 1950.
Restaurants in Beit Shemesh
1. Buster's Beverage
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Buster's Beverage Co. is owned and operated by our family, the Neilsons. My dad, Denny, (the bald guy) made his impact on the Israeli beer scene by opening a home brew beer and wine making store called The Winemaker. He started our first line of award winning beer called Isra-Ale. Soon, he began making alcoholic Apple Cider. After years of perfecting the recipe, he introduced it to the Israeli market as Busters Cider. It became so popular that now we produce it in our own factory in the hills of Jerusalem. Since summer of 2014, we introduced Israel's first alcoholic lemonade, appropriately named Busters Hard Lemonade. and now, our new winter special - spiced apple cider!
2. Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 158 reviews
Reviewed By Karend1958 - Yavne, Israel
An amazing incredible visit Recommended to make the trip there The scenic drive leading to the cave is also an amazing view Very knowledgeable guide
3. Sorek Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By 611chaimf - Beit Shemesh, Israel
Off the beaten path. No public transportation to site. Very scenic ride to get there. 35 minutes from Jerusalem via Ein Kerem. Be aware of lots of steps from parking lot to cave entrance. Handicapped can request to drive directly to cave. Within the cave there are steps too - but the amazing colorfully lit scenes of the stalactites and stalagmites will move your legs forward... Better to call in advance especially if you want the short movie and tour to be in English. No self guiding. Groups leave approximately every 20 minutes. Give yourself about 2 hours from the time you leave your car until you return to it.
4. The Biblical Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
The Biblical Museum of Natural History is a unique institution that is part zoo, part natural history museum, and part Torah education center. It showcases the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects of Scripture, as well as related zoological topics from the Talmud. The large species are exhibited as taxidermy specimens, while live exhibits are maintained for smaller species, and there are also a large number of biological artifacts of religious significance. Visits are conducted via guided tours, which include hands-on experiences! Through the exciting and interactive tour, visitors learn the identities and symbolism of the animals of Scripture, lessons in Jewish values, law and history, and the natural history of Biblical Israel.
Reviewed By redbaron613 - Beit Shemesh, Israel
This is a "mixed bag", that is part zoo, part natural history museum, and part Torah education center. It showcases the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects of Scripture, as well as related zoological topics from the Talmud. The large species are exhibited as taxidermy specimens, while live exhibits are maintained for smaller species, and there are also a large number of biological artifacts of religious significance. Visits are conducted via guided tours, which include hands-on experiences! The tour is exciting and interactive , we all learned the identities and symbolism of the animals of Scripture, lessons in Jewish values, law and history, and the natural history of Biblical Israel.
5. Elah Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Ivisitedtheplace - Israel, null
Today, I took and hiked with five grandsons, ages 12 to two (escorted by one of the mothers) and we did our annual visit (my 26th or more) to the top of this hill - still a 20 minute non-stop uphill excursion. The verdant bright purple lupine flowers bloom on a blaze of abundance and color once a year (see my attached photos), for two weeks in February/ early March (around the time of our Purim holiday). We had heard that the blossoming was at its full glory, so on a late warm Sunday afternoon ( the first and busiest day of our Israeli work week), we arrived to see that there were close to 100 cars parked haphazardly on dirt trails leading to the hike (see my photos) and as many families with hundreds of children in tow. It was an accomplishment to get the five little ones up the quite steep slope (somehow, we used a less well known infrequently used and much steeper and more treacherous path than our usual and well-trod one (see a photo).... but we got to the top without incident. At the top, we saw the ruins of the encampment of the Israelites from when King David slew the Philistine Goliath. There were more than a hundred people up there, including families, bicyclists on the narrow trail (see my several photos), and dogs (one photo) and an impromptu prayer grouping for the afternoon flour offering service (several photos). This year was special because there was also a very very low flying hang glider buzzing the hikers (see my many photos). For more details of the history and strategic archaeological significance, read my five previous reviews from 8 November 2020, 17 March 2020, 1 April 2019, 15 April 2018 and 13 April 2017.
