Akko (Acre) — Old Harbour
Acre · Akka · Saint Jean d'Acre · Crusader Acre
32°55.7'N 35°04.1'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m alarm radius. Fair holding on sand/mud around ancient harbour stonework. Day stop only recommended — Haifa (10nm south) is the overnight base. In any N or NW conditions above F3, leave immediately. Lebanese border is 20nm north — do not transit northward beyond Nahariya without Israeli Navy guidance.
About This Anchorage
Akko (Acre) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — one of the most continuously inhabited cities in the world and the most complete surviving medieval fortress-harbour in the Mediterranean. Phoenician traders used this harbour 3,000 years ago; Alexander the Great captured it in 333 BC; the Crusaders made it their greatest military stronghold (1104–1291); Napoleon failed to take it in 1799. The Crusader underground city — vaulted stone halls, tunnels, the magnificent Hospitallers' fortress — is accessible and extraordinary. The old souk, the Khan al-Umdan Ottoman caravanserai (1784), the Al-Jazzar Mosque, and the hammam museum are all within the walled city. The natural harbour on Haifa Bay is protected by a long ancient breakwater on which you can walk. The anchorage inside the old harbour is limited and suitable only as a day stop — the facilities are minimal and the harbour is exposed to northerly conditions. Use Haifa (10nm south) as your overnight base and visit Akko by sea or overland.
Protected From
E · SE · S · SW
Exposed To
N · NW · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- No formal anchoring fee. Israeli cruising permit required. Coordinate with harbour authority on arrival.
- Maximum stay
- 1 days
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- Israeli cruising permit required (from Herzliya or Haifa clearance). Akko is NOT a port of entry. UNESCO World Heritage Site rules apply — no anchoring on or near ancient harbour structures.
Restrictions: Day stop recommended — limited overnight facilities. UNESCO HERITAGE ZONE: Do not anchor on ancient harbour stonework or breakwater structures. Security awareness required — active military area near Lebanese border. Lebanese border 20nm north — do not transit north of Nahariya without Israeli Navy guidance.
Hazards
- !UNESCO World Heritage Site — do not anchor on ancient harbour structures (illegal under Israeli Antiquities Law)
- !Open to N and NW — leave immediately in northerly conditions above F3
- !Lebanese border only 20nm north — do not transit north without Israeli Navy guidance
- !NOT a port of entry — must hold Israeli cruising permit before arriving
- !Limited swinging room — active fishing harbour and tourist boats have priority
Skipper's Tips
- →The Crusader underground city (Akko Visitor Centre) is one of the finest medieval sites in the world — allow a full day
- →Abu Christo fish restaurant on the harbour front is famous throughout Israel — book ahead for lunch
- →The old city ramparts give extraordinary views over Haifa Bay and the Galilee coast — walk the full perimeter
- →The Turkish hammam museum (within the walled city) is an outstanding conversion of a 18th-century bathhouse
- →Visit by train from Haifa (25 minutes) or by sea as a day stop — train is easier than anchoring if conditions are at all uncertain
Facilities
Excellent traditional restaurants in old city — hummus, falafel, fresh fish. Famous Abu Christo fish restaurant on harbour front. Use Haifa (10nm south) for marine provisioning and fuel.
Nearest provisions: Haifa Marina (10nm south) (10nm)
Best Months & Season
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
April–June and September–October best. Day stop only. The anchorage is exposed to northerly conditions which can arrive quickly. Use Haifa (10nm south) as the overnight base — train to Akko is 25 minutes and easier than the anchorage logistics.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
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