Things to do in Modiin: hills, Hasmonean sites and day trips

Modiin was built among dozens of ancient sites, and the municipality maintains a set of marked city walks (nature and trails (opens in a new tab)).

In the city

• Hasmonean Heritage Museum, 24 Sderot Dam HaMaccabim: the city's story from the Hasmoneans to today, with an interactive exhibition and a film. Mon 16:00-20:00, Tue and Thu 10:00-18:00, Wed 10:00-16:00, Fri-Sat 10:30-13:30; closed Sunday (municipality (opens in a new tab)).
• Titura Hill: the highest point in the city, with a Crusader fort, an archaeological garden and an accessible 2 km loop (municipality (opens in a new tab)).
• Ancient Hasmonean synagogue (Umm el-Umdan): a Second Temple-period village and one of the oldest known synagogues, off Sderot HaHashmonaim (municipality (opens in a new tab)).
• Givat Ashun in Moreshet: Hasmonean and Roman remains conserved inside the new neighbourhood, mostly accessible (municipality (opens in a new tab)).
• Anava Park: lake, adventure playground and a 1,000-seat amphitheatre; closed at night (municipality (opens in a new tab)). From the park, the Nahal Anava trail runs 4.5 km west to Paatei Modiin, and the Birds promenade and Chut HaShani promenade follow the valley (Anava trail (opens in a new tab)).
• Hill walks: Givat Barfilia, Hurvat Nekes, Givat HaBroshim, the Children's Forest and the Southern Hills, declared a national park in 2021 (Southern Hills (opens in a new tab)).
• Active: The Wall Olympic climbing centre (opened March 2025), the skate park and bike park on Sderot Menachem Begin, and the water park at the Recreation and Sports Park (sports facilities (opens in a new tab)).

Within about 10 km

• Ben Shemen Forest (KKL), the largest forest in central Israel, with trails, picnic sites, the Tombs of the Maccabees tradition site and Monks Valley caves (KKL (opens in a new tab)). KKL currently advises against teen activities and camping there because of pine processionary caterpillars.
• Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve: online tickets for afternoon slots Sun-Thu and Friday mornings (Neot Kedumim (opens in a new tab)).
• At Latrun: Mini Israel (Sun-Thu 10:00-16:00, Fri 10:00-14:00; site (opens in a new tab)), the Yad La-Shiryon tank museum (site (opens in a new tab)), the Trappist monastery and Emmaus-Nicopolis (site (opens in a new tab)).
• Tel Gezer National Park: an open biblical city mound with no set hours (Nature and Parks Authority (opens in a new tab)).

Good to know

Most attractions outside the city close on Saturday; the Hasmonean museum and the climbing centre are open on Saturday. Spring (February-March) is the best time for the hills. Annual city events include the Modiin March in Ben Shemen Forest before Hanukkah (municipality (opens in a new tab)) and summer shows in Anava Park (annual events (opens in a new tab)).