The Sea of Galilee — where the Gospel happened, and a lake became a sea

I am the Sea of Galilee. Strictly speaking I'm a lake — but people walked on me as if I were a sea, and the name stuck.

The Sea of Galilee seen from above, ringed by the hills of the Galilee

They call me a sea out of a habit two thousand years old. Along my shores a preacher from Nazareth once walked; in my fishing villages — Capernaum, Tabgha — he called fishermen to follow him, fed thousands from five loaves, and on a hill above the water said "blessed are the poor in spirit." Half the Gospel happened on my banks.

I'm also the lowest freshwater lake on Earth, lying more than two hundred metres below the level of the ocean, cradled by hills and the Golan Heights. I'm the country's main tap: from here the water is pumped clear across the land into the desert. When I run low, it makes the front pages — to a people living among deserts, a lake is worth more than gold.

Today all sorts sail on me: pilgrims and holidaymakers alike. Christians come for the holy places; Israelis come for the beaches, for the hot springs of Tiberias, for festivals by the water. I'm shaped like a harp — *kinnor* in Hebrew — and that's where my name, Kinneret, comes from.

That's really what I'm about: you can be nothing more than a lake — and still become a sea, if the right people walk across you at the right moment.

🎙 Voice of Scoute

That was the voice of the Sea of Galilee.

What it is. The Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret, Lake Tiberias) is Israel's largest freshwater lake and the lowest freshwater lake on Earth (about 210 m below sea level). It's the country's main freshwater source and the setting for much of the Gospel — Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes all sit on its shores. Around it you'll find Christian holy sites, public beaches and the hot springs of Tiberias.

Where it is. Northern Israel, in the Galilee. On the western shore is the town of Tiberias — the natural base for touring the lake.

Practical information

Address: The Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret), Galilee; the main town is Tiberias.
Getting there: Tiberias is about 2–2.5 hours by car or bus from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. To circle the lake itself a car is by far the easiest option: the holy sites and beaches are scattered right around the shoreline.
Opening hours: The lake, its beaches and the Tiberias promenade are open at all hours. The Christian sites (Capernaum, Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes) keep daytime hours, often shorter on Sundays and holidays.
When to go: Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for touring the shore; summer is hot and the beaches get crowded. Dawn over the water is especially still.

Questions & answers

Is it a sea or a lake?▼

Technically it's a freshwater lake — the largest in Israel and the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. It's called a 'sea' by biblical tradition.

Why is the Sea of Galilee so famous?▼

So much of the Gospel unfolds here: Jesus preaching, calling his fishermen disciples, the feeding of the multitude, the Sermon on the Mount. Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes all stand on its shores.

Can you swim in it?▼

Yes — there are proper swimming beaches along the shore, especially around Tiberias. Nearby are the Hamat Tiberias hot springs.

What's the easiest way to tour the lake?▼

By car. The Christian holy sites and the beaches are spread all around the shoreline, and getting between them by public transport is slow. Tiberias makes the best base.