Apollonia National Park Guide: A Family-Friendly Adventure

Welcome to Apollonia National Park! This is our 5th NP in our National Park Challenge – with our goal of visiting and documenting every national park in Israel. We share all of our adventures via blog posts and on our Instagram account – Hochdorf family adventures. Join us as we discover Israel’s beauty! 

National Parks and National Reserves of Israel

Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority was designed to protect Israel’s natural, historical and heritage treasures throughout the country. Spread across Israel, there are currently 81 national parks and reserves to be explored. 

Apollonia (Tel Arsurf) National Park

Apolonia National Park is a fantastic day adventure for families, especially with younger children. It has everything that makes for a good Israel NP experience – fascinating history, incredible Mediterranean Sea views, both hiking and stroller-friendly paths and a few surprises along the way. 

Come join us as we trek along and discover more about this National Park treasure. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by The Hochdorfs | Family Travel (@mommymoadventures)

Where is Apollonia Located?

Apollonia National Park is located in central Israel, just north of Tel Aviv in Herzliya. From the south, take the 20 or 2 north and the north, the 20 or 2 south. 

Waze Location: Apollonia National Park

When is Apollonia National Park Open?

The park is open every day with two different schedules, winter and summer. 

Summer Hours:

Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 8:00 – 17:00; Friday: 08:00 – 16:00

Winter Hours: 

Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 08:00 – 16:00; Friday: 08:00 – 15:00

Park Tip: The park’s entrance closes one hour before closing time. 

What is the Entry Price? 

The price for an adult to enter is ₪22.00 (shekels), and for children ages, 5-17 is ₪9.00. Children under 5 can enter free. Buying a yearly National Park Pass gives you free access to all national parks for a year. 

Price Tip: We highly recommend purchasing the yearly pass, especially for a family who plans to visit more than a couple of parks a year. Our pass paid for itself after just 3 parks. 

When is the Best Time to Visit Apollonia?

Apollonia is open year-round, but certain times of the year can be more pleasant than others. Visiting during the summer peak can be grueling due to the soaring temperatures, so go early and bring lots of water. And throughout the winter months, be aware of rainy days and cooler temps. Spring and Fall are definitely the ideal times for comfortable weather, enjoyable walking conditions, and light Mediterranean Sea breezes. 

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Is Apollonia National Park Kid-friendly?

Apollonia is probably the most kid-friendly national park in the country. Everything is catered to kids and families, including stroller accessible walkways up to the fortress. It’s also not spread out across a lot of land, so the amount of walking is doable for younger children. 

There are some steep cliff areas along the coastal paths, but they are nicely roped off to remind parents of the dangers. Of course, it’s just a rope and not a fenced-off barrier, so caution is always required with smaller children. But all in all, it’s a very safe walking area. 

Apollonia Attractions 

The Moat

Travel back in time as you stroll through the land of what was once the thriving moat surrounding the ancient city. With a depth of 4.5 meters, it’s fun to climb down and walk in the area that once protected the city’s walls. Mia loved exploring the depths of the ancient moat!

Apollonia National Park Crusader Fortress

The main attraction of Apollonia is the old Crusader Fortress. Dating back to the 6th century BC, the Fortress has had many different owners throughout the years. Here’s a brief overview: 

• Phoenicians ↩⁣
• Greeks ↩⁣
• Romans ↩⁣
• Muslims ↩⁣
• Crusaders ↩⁣
• Mamluks ↩⁣
• British ↩⁣
• Israeli’s 🔚⁣

As you can see, it was a highly sought-out piece of land! And the ruins are pretty impressive too! 

Coastal Paths 

If the main attraction of Apollonia was the Fortress, then the coastal paths come a close second. There’s absolutely nothing like a seaside stroll along the Mediterranean cliffs. The views are to die for, and the rolling hills make for a stunning background. 

We even stumbled upon an abandoned boat on one of the paths, which made for some fun play and pictures. After all is said and done, strolling along the various coastal paths is one of the highlights of a visit to Apollonia. 

Ancient Roman Seaside Villa

In the early 80s, a small Roman villa overlooking the sea was excavated and open for the public to view. Although most of the villa was destroyed by an earthquake, the ruins are still an example of what the exquisite villa once was. 

Primeval Weaponry

One of the coolest things about Apollonia is seeing the old weaponry that is displayed at the site. The catapults really brought history to life, and seeing life-like models of them was quite incredible. Try explaining what “those are” to a 4-year old – talk about a teaching moment! 

Tip: This is actually a great opportunity to bring history to life by explaining how a catapult worked – especially with older children. 

Apollonia National Park Rating 

We enjoyed our first visit to Apollonia so much that we returned for another one – that’s saying a lot about this National Park. The park is centrally located, the paths are great for young children, there are plenty of learning opportunities for children, and it’s a perfect family day excursion. 

Overall, we give Apollonia National Park 4 out of 5 ibexes. (The Ibex is the symbol for the Israel National Parks.) 

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