Discovering Israel's Cities: A Guide to Noteworthy Places

As of 2021, Israel boasts 77 cities. Here's the full list alphabetically:

List of Cities in Israel

A

Umm al-Fahm

Ofakim

Or Yehuda

Or Akiva

Eilat

Elad

Ariel

Ashdod

Ashkelon

B

Baqa al-Gharbiyye

Be'er Sheva

Beit She'an

Beit Shemesh

Beitar Illit

Bnei Brak

Bat Yam

G

Givat Shmuel

Giv'atayim

D

Dimona

H

Hod HaSharon

Herzliya

H

Hadera

Holon

Haifa

(Photo: shutterstock)

T

Tiberias

Tayibe

Tira

Tirat Carmel

Tamra

Y

Yavne

Yehud-Monosson

Yokneam Illit

Jerusalem

K

Kfar Yona

Kfar Saba

Kafr Qasim

Karmiel

L

Lod

M

Migdal HaEmek

Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut

Modi'in Illit

Ma'ale Adumim

Ma'alot-Tarshiha

N

Nahariya

Nof HaGalil

Ness Ziona

Nazareth

Nesher

Netivot

Netanya

S

Sakhnin

A

Acre

Afula

Arraba

Arad

P

Petah Tikva

T

Tzfat

K

Kafr Qana

Kiryat Ono

Kiryat Ata

Kiryat Bialik

Kiryat Gat

Kiryat Yam

Kiryat Motzkin

Kiryat Malakhi

Kiryat Shmona

R

Rosh HaAyin

Rishon LeZion

Rahat

Rehovot

Ramla

Ramat Gan

Ramat HaSharon

Ra'anana

S

Sderot

Shefa-Amr

T

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Top 20 Largest Cities in Israel

The Central Bureau of Statistics published the population size of Israel's cities as of 2021:

1. Jerusalem – 951,702

2. Tel Aviv – 465,728

(Photo: shutterstock)

3. Haifa – 285,041

4. Rishon LeZion – 255,879

5. Petah Tikva – 250,484

6. Ashdod – 249,994

7. Netanya – 223,334

8. Be'er Sheva – 210,453

9. Bnei Brak – 207,824

10. Holon – 196,527

11. Ramat Gan – 166,516

12. Ashkelon – 146,235

13. Rehovot – 146,015

14. Beit Shemesh – 131,398

15. Bat Yam – 127,903

16. Kfar Saba – 101,662

17. Herzliya – 98,999

18. Hadera – 98,846

19. Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut – 94,605

20. Lod – 80,470

Cities and Towns in Israel Named After People

Herzliya is named after Theodor Herzl, a visionary of the state.

Netanya is named after Nathan Straus, an American-Jewish businessman.

Tiberias is named after Tiberius, the Roman emperor at the city's founding.

(Photo: shutterstock)

Kiryat Bialik is named after Chaim Nachman Bialik, the national poet.

Or Yehuda is named after Rabbi Yehuda Alkalai.

Yehud is likely named after Judah, son of Jacob.

Or Akiva is named after Rabbi Akiva.

Binyamina is named after Baron Benjamin Edmond de Rothschild.

Kiryat Motzkin is named after Leo Motzkin.

Zichron Ya'akov is named after James Jacob de Rothschild.

Kiryat Shmona signifies the eight fallen in the battle of Tel Hai.

Towns Named After Women

Yad Hanna is named after Hannah Szenes.

Lahavot Haviva honors Haviva Reik.

Ali Zahav is named after Aliza Begin, wife of Menachem Begin.

Pardes Hanna is named after Hannah Rothschild, daughter of Nathan Mayer Rothschild.

Ariel is another name for Jerusalem and the Temple, with biblical origin from the verse: "Woe to Ariel, Ariel, the city where David dwelt!.." (Isaiah 29:1).

Cities Commemorating Ancient Places

Rehovot in the Shephelah is named after ancient Rehovot in the Negev.

Ashdod is named after Ashdod, one of the five Philistine cities mentioned in the Bible.

Bnei Brak, Ashkelon, Beit Shemesh, and Modi'in are named after ancient cities from biblical times.

Be'er Sheva originates from the Book of Genesis, where the patriarchs lived.

(Photo: shutterstock)

Cities Named After Biblical Expressions

Rishon LeZion derives its name from the verse: "First to Zion are they, and to Jerusalem I will give a herald." (Isaiah 41:27).

Petah Tikva takes its name from the verse: "And I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of troubling for a door of hope." (Hosea 2:15).

Ness Ziona takes its name from the verse: "Lift up a banner toward Zion, be strong, do not stand still." (Jeremiah 4:6).