Galilee: in the footsteps of Jesus — Pilgrims

Four days in the country where Jesus grew up and spent most of His ministry: Nazareth and Cana in the hills, the towns and shrines around the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan where it leaves the lake, and Mount Tabor. Pilgrims usually stay by the lake at Tiberias and travel by car or coach; parts of the shore can be walked.

Walking trail, 64 km · Jesus Trail

Day 1 · Nazareth and Cana

Basilica of the AnnunciationLuke 1:26–31A large basilica inaugurated in 1969 over the grotto and earlier churches; its walls carry images of Mary sent by Catholics from all over the world.
St Gabriel's Church and Mary's WellLuke 1:26–28A Greek Orthodox church of the 18th century; steps lead down to a vaulted crypt where the spring still runs.≈ 1 km from the stop before
Synagogue Church, NazarethLuke 4:16–22A small vaulted hall in the old market, kept by the Melkite Greek Catholic church beside it.≈ 1 km from the stop before
Mount PrecipiceLuke 4:28–30A viewpoint over the Jezreel Valley with Mount Tabor to the east; a cave with prehistoric burials lies in the cliff below.≈ 2 km from the stop before
Cana: the Wedding ChurchJohn 2:1–11A Franciscan church blessed in 1881 and later enlarged, near a Greek Orthodox church; married couples come here to renew their wedding vows.≈ 8 km from the stop before

Day 2 · The western shore

MagdalaLuke 8:1–2Excavations begun in 2009 found a synagogue of Jesus' time with a carved stone showing the temple menorah; beside it, a modern church on the shore.≈ 19 km from the stop before
Tabgha: Church of the MultiplicationMark 6:39–44A Benedictine church of 1982 in Byzantine style, over a 5th-century mosaic of a basket of loaves between two fish before the altar.≈ 5 km from the stop before
Church of the Primacy of St PeterJohn 21:4–17A small black basalt chapel of 1933 at the water's edge, on the site of an older church; steps cut in the rock go down into the lake.≈ 0 km from the stop before
Mount of BeatitudesMatt 5:1–3An octagonal church of 1938, one side for each Beatitude, in gardens looking over the lake.≈ 1 km from the stop before

Day 3 · The northern and eastern shores

CapernaumMark 1:21Excavations with a white limestone synagogue of the 4th–5th centuries, a modern church of 1990 raised over Peter's house, and a red-domed Greek Orthodox church.≈ 2 km from the stop before
Sea of GalileeMark 4:35–41A freshwater lake more than 200 metres below sea level; boats sail from Tiberias and Ginosar, where a fishing boat of Jesus' time, found in 1986, is shown.≈ 7 km from the stop before
BethsaidaJohn 1:44A park with excavations on the mound: a city gate of the Iron Age and the houses of fishing and wine-making families.≈ 11 km from the stop before
KursiMark 5:1–2The ruins of a large monastery and church of c. 500, found in 1970 during road works, and a small chapel up the slope by a rock.≈ 10 km from the stop before

Day 4 · The Jordan, Tabor and Nain

YardenitMark 1:9Steps and rails lead into the green river under eucalyptus trees; groups are baptized or renew their baptismal vows, many in white robes.≈ 15 km from the stop before
Mount TaborMatt 17:1–2On the summit, a Franciscan basilica completed in 1924 over Byzantine and Crusader ruins, and a Greek Orthodox monastery of the Transfiguration.≈ 17 km from the stop before
NainLuke 7:11–15A small village on the slope of the hill of Moreh; a simple Franciscan church of 1881 stands on the remains of an older one.≈ 7 km from the stop before

Before you travel, check your country’s travel advice. Opening hours and the rules of the sites change — see their official pages.

Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).