Bet Shean National Park Park

Address: Beit She’an (Bet Shean) National Park, Beit She’an Valley, Northern District, Israel

Website: https://en.parks.org.il/ParksAndReserves/beitsean/

Hours: Typically daylight hours; check Israel Nature and Parks Authority for seasonal updates

Admission: Entrance fees may apply for archaeological sites within the park; check Israel Nature and Parks Authority for current rates

Bet Shean National Park protects the extensively excavated archaeological remains of the ancient city of Bet Shean (Scythopolis) in northern Israel. The park contains well-preserved Roman and Byzantine urban ruins, including a theater, colonnaded streets, bath complexes, and public buildings.

Major on-site highlights are the multi-tiered Roman theater, the cardo with its colonnades and paved surface, and public bath structures with mosaic floors. The park presents an unusually complete example of a Roman provincial city layout and is a focal point for archaeology and tourism in the region.

The city of Bet Shean has a long history from Hellenistic through Byzantine periods and was a major urban center in Roman times, later changing through Early Islamic and other periods; excavations in the 20th century exposed the large public structures visible today.

The park is located adjacent to the modern town of Beit She’an in northern Israel at the junction of the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel Valley.

• Archaeological highlights: Excavated ruins include Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine layers, with a particularly complete Roman cityscape including a theater and colonnaded streets.
• Visitor access: The site combines archaeological ruins with on-site visitor paths and interpretive signage, allowing direct viewing of major structures.

What to See#

• Roman theater: A well-preserved Roman theater with tiered seating visible on site that is one of the park’s most visited monuments.
• Cardo and colonnaded street: The colonnaded main street and cardo that run through the excavated urban area and show the city’s Roman and Byzantine urban plan.
• Bath complex and mosaics: Public bath complexes and mosaic floors that illustrate urban life in the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Beit She’an National Park is near the modern town of Beit She’an. From Haifa or Tel Aviv, take Highway 65 east, then Highway 90 north toward Beit She’an; the drive from Tel Aviv is roughly 1.5-2 hours. Regional buses serve the town; from the bus stop it is a short taxi or local bus ride to the park entrance.

• Wear sturdy shoes for uneven archaeological terrain.
• Visit early morning to avoid the midday heat and to enjoy clearer light on the ruined columns and mosaics.
• Bring insect repellent in summer; the park's valleys can be surprisingly buggy after rain.