Established in 1913, Kvutzat Kinneret lies near the Sea of Galilee in Israel’s far north. Named after an ancient Canaanite town, the kibbutz was created on the ideals of communal living and the sharing of material goods, with honey from beekeeping and date palms among its earliest products.
Things to do in Kvutzat Kinneret
On the edge of Kvutzat Kinneret is the historic Motor House, which was constructed in 1910 to draw irrigation water from the Jordan River. Set across two stories, it was the first pumping station to be built in what would later become Israel and is now open to the public as a museum. On guided tours, you can learn about its establishment by Moshe Berman and the early years of agriculture in the region.
Overlooking the Sea of Galilee is the Kinneret Cemetery where many of the kibbutz’s inhabitants are laid to rest. It’s a short walk from the Kinneret Courtyard, which served as an agricultural experimental station for the development of new ideas. From the on-site coffee cart, there are sweeping views across the Sea of Galilee.
For a day at the beach, head to nearby Tsemach, a family-friendly stretch of sand with a cafe, umbrellas and sun lounger rentals. It’s just a stone’s throw from the Beit Gabriel on the Kinneret, a modern cultural centre that showcases art exhibitions, musical recitals and film screenings. Designed by Ulrich Plesner, its beige stone building is a work of art in its own right.
Getting around Kvutzat Kinneret
Kvutzat Kinneret is around a one-hour drive from Haifa and Haifa Airport, which has limited flights to destinations across Europe. Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion International Airport are 1.5 hours away. Regular buses connect to Kvutzat Kinneret and the kibbutz is small enough to explore on foot.