Ancient Fortresses and Modern Cuisine: Why Acre (Akko) Is Israel’s Hidden Treasure

Napoleon Bonaparte was unable to conquer this ancient port city, but that doesn’t mean you can’t. Acre (or Akko, as the locals call it) is an on-the-rise travel destination and one of the many historical pit stops along Israel’s Mediterranean coast that should be on your radar. Within the 4,500-year-old city—just more than an hour north of Tel Aviv—are fortresses that make you feel like you’re on the set of Game of Thrones, high-walled alleyways leading to ancient Turkish baths, and a colorful marketplace full of spices, fresh fish, and local crafts. Despite it being one of the oldest cities in the world and the old city on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, the name “Acre,” to most, does not ring a bell when it comes to contemplating Mediterranean travel destinations. “I compare Akko to a diamond that only has one polished face,” says Uri Jeremias, chef and owner of Acre’s (and arguably, the country’s) most-famous seafood restaurant, Uri Buri. “A rough diamond doesn’t know what it can be yet. But I know this place, and I know it can be much more than a regular diamond.”

When Jeremias first opened his restaurant in Acre in 1989, he says his friends thought he had lost his mind. It was unheard of for a Jewish business owner to open up shop in a then-predominantly Arab part of town. Now, 27 years later, Arabs work alongside Jews in his bustling kitchen where the multicultural staff and visitors from all over the world eat together from the same plate. “I want to make people happy,” says Jeremias. “I want to make people understand that they can live together in peace.”

So whether you find yourself in Acre to share a bite with the legendary Uri Jeremias, to take in the beautiful Mediterranean scenery, or to geek out on ancient history, there’s no shortage of inspiration to be found in the colorful surroundings that make this city one of the greatest hidden gems (or diamonds, as Jeremias would say) on the Mediterranean coast. Here, our top recommendations for conquering Acre.

Stay: The Efendi Hotel
Located just a short walk from Uri Buri, Jeremias has transformed two adjacent Ottoman-era palaces into a 12-room boutique hoteloverlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The property was meticulously restored over a period of eight years—down to the original wall murals—by artisans flown in from Venice. Participate in one of the hotel’s customized Crusaders tours, where you can learn about medieval spices and medicine, take a market tour with Jeremias, and brush up on your belly dance skills.

Shop: Market Street
Wander around the ancient alleyways long enough, and you’ll stumble upon this outdoor market, situated along a route that was used by the Crusaders to travel from the old city’s north to the port. Among the stalls of fresh fish, Turkish-style desserts like knafeh and baklava, and locally made jewelry, is one of Israel’s most famous hummus restaurants, Humus Said. You’ll know it when you see it—the line notoriously extends out the door most hours of the day. Also of note in the market is the Turkish-style coffee shop Badar Han, which stocks spices and some of the best coffee in the world.

Eat: Uri Buri
A 400-year-old Ottoman stone house is the setting for Uri Jeremias’s restaurant, where you will find a creative seafood-centric menu that includes things like salmon with wasabi sorbet, fresh anchovies, caramelized tilapia, and the best knafeh in town. The goal at Uri Buri, Jeremias says, is to have visitors planning when and with whom they will return before they even pay the check.

Detox: Ghattas Turkish Bath
If you’re sleeping like Ottoman-era royals, you might as well bathe like them too. The Ghattas hammam, which opened to the public in 2012 to draw more visitors to the area, is an authentic Turkish bathhouse that exudes old-time tradition. Try not to be distracted by the stunning architecture while receiving your hot stone massage.

Explore: The Templars’ Tunnel
You can find even more history underneath the streets of Acre, where the Templars built an underground tunnel extending more than a thousand feet long. Its main purpose was to connect their fortress in the west to the city’s port in the east, and now, the entire tunnel is open to the public for exploration.

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