Location: Beit Shemesh
Top Things to do in Beit Shemesh
Top Restaurants in Beit Shemesh
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10 Things to do in Beit Shemesh That You Shouldn't Miss
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. Flam Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
The story of FLAM winery is a family story. A family that lives, breathes and produces wine for more than 50 years. Surrounded by vineyards, the FLAM Winery is located at the heart of the Judean Hills surrounding Jerusalem, between the Kisalon river and the Kdoshim forest. The winery operates in the classic European Family Estate model.
Reviewed By jamiesQ7865QM - Jerusalem, Israel
Great way to spend an afternoon. The wines were all very elegant - distinctive but in a very subtle sort of way. We tasted 5 wines and ate bread and cheese -- it was all very good. And the staff were so knowledgeable and warm. Was a great activity for a cold/gloomy day!
3. Tzora Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Located high in the Judean Hills, our vineyard has a wide range of small parcels varying in elevation and soils, such as Moza Marl, Terra-Rosa and deep bands of limestone. Consequently, grape varieties are planted according to their optimized needs. This natural variation gives birth to an array of terroirs, which create wines of great complexity and longevity. Our tasting room is conveniently located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. We offer a guided tasting of wines, by appointment only.
Reviewed By Xenedis
We recently visited Tzora Vineyards for the second time (the first being in 2016). Tzora is one of Israel's best wineries. It has a very small number of wines, but is very much into the concept of terroir, and Eran Pick, the winemaker, makes expressive wines which represent the richness of the Judean Hills. We met Eran on our first visit, and chatted with him again this time. Here is what we tasted: Judean Hills Blanc chardonnay sauvignon blanc 2018 Shoresh Blanc sauvignon blanc chardonnay 2018 Judean Hills cabernet sauvignon syrah petit verdot merlot 2017 Shoresh syrah cabernet sauvignon petit verdot 2017 The cellar door experience is excellent. A full spread of cheese, bread and Judean olive oil was awaiting us upon arrival. The bread and olive oil is made specifically for Tzora, and we loved the olive oil, naturally adding it to our shopping list. The same hostess we had last time was also serving us this time, and she remembered us. She was full of knowledge, and very proud to exhibit what Tzora does, and made our visit a great experience. The Judean Hills red was a very pleasing wine. To call it entry-level does not do it justice, but Tzora only produces three reds, and this wine is the lowest ranked. Despite that, it is an excellent wine. The Shoresh is one of the two flagship reds, and it was sensational. When I told the rep that we still had the Misty Hills 2013 we had bought during our last visit, she was excited, and told us to hold onto it. That particular wine was excellent, and it is all gone now. Misty Hills is still made, but it is not offered for tasting. Somehow, we got to taste it last time. By far, Tzora offers the best cellar door experience. I think I preferred this visit to Tzora over the first, so it was definitely worth re-visiting.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Mony Vineyard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By PortobelloLalique - London, United Kingdom
We visited this winery as a family group among whom I was the only one from London with three Israeli couples and five children age range 5 - 13. It was easy to park on the spacious forecourt. Still outside there is a large shaded (by vines, of course) area of tables and chairs that offers a beautiful view. Inside, tastings were in good (free) supply. At the back of the large room there are two long tables in what looks like the beginning of the cellars and to the side there are glazed doors through which you can see many rows of barrels. In addition to the range of tasty wines there were shelves you could browse with a broad range of specialist goods and goodies. It included olive oil, exotic pasta sauces and jams, some of which included spirits. As I recall, there was a blueberry and vodka jam! There were also body and hand creams to purchase. The atmosphere was relaxed and there was no pressure to buy...naturally we all did.
8. 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.
9. Adullam Grove Nature Reserve
10. Twins Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Ivisitedtheplace - Israel, null
That’s correct- that was our mission- “to the bat cave.” I came with an active eleven year old. This hike can be done in two directions, and I’ve done it a number of times, and from both directions. This time, Friday 9 April 2021, we did the classic famous and shorter hike, which is an in/out hike from the parking lot opposite the village of Zanoach (“neglected”) and adjacent to the expanding city of Bet Shemesh. It’s half an hour on a straight path narrow trail which is strewn with boulders and trees, so there is climbing on and over them and negotiating the trail- not difficult. There are support poles as a metal banister to grab at three different places along the way. This is a popular trail, and there have been people coming in both directions every time that I have hiked this. The trail is narrow- one person at a time: so stand at the side and don your Corona mask. Even though it was April, the park rangers had not yet opened the bat cave to the public (it is closed in the winter for hibernation of those mammals). Despite that, we could see and hear that some fellows had violated the chains closing the entrance and were disturbing the animals. We continued for five minutes past the bat cave and came to the secret but famous rock formation that functions as a perfect natural rock carved fast and slippery sliding board for children, and a certain anonymous and always unnamed 66 year old who just happened to be there when “I visited this place.” We continued for twenty minutes beyond the rock sliding board- it quickly becomes even narrower, with shrubbery almost occluding and obscuring the path. This path goes uphill all the way to Ness Harim (“Mountains Miracle”). Of course then the reverse one way several hour trail is from Ness Harim to the parking lot which was our starting point. We returned by turning around and retracing our steps. I have a number of photos of this. First note the herd of sheep led by local Bedouin, whose camp can’t be far. Next- note the warning sign regarding valuables left in the car- this is an unattended hidden and not visible to others parking lot, even though there is regular tourist and visitors hiker traffic on a regular day and especially weekends and holidays. We, for example, chose to park at the exit from route 3855, so that our car remained visible to others on that active road. That added a ten minutes walk each way on a wide dirt car path. I included many scenic photos- I do find it quite attractive... it always reminds of White Oak Falls in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia... even though there are no water falls. I also included photos of the HarryD family that we passed in the other direction during our journey. We also passed a few adults struggling with several children all under age six- some of them did not succeed. I’d be happy to do this not difficult for me hike again. I sure hope that you find this review and attached photos to be “helpful.”
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