There are cruise ships that operate from the Haifa port, primarily traveling to destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean, Southern Europe, and the Black Sea. The city is becoming a popular destination for many major international cruise lines and is home to Mano, a local budget cruise line. There are some ferry boats to and from Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey, but they are very rare and not reliable.

Haifa has six train stations, three of them are open 24 hours a day (excluding Shabbat Friday night until Saturday Afternoon); Hof ha Carmel (24 hr) located close to Dado beach, the Haifa Mall, Castra Mall, and the Hof HaCarmel bus terminal; Bat Galim is located close to Bat Galim Beach, Elija’s Cave, and the cable car to Stella Maris Carmelite monatery; Haifa Merkaz - Ha-Shmona (24hr) located near the city center, the port, and the Carmelit underground funicular; Merkazit ha Mifratz (24hr) located close tot he Cinemall Shopping Center and the Lev HaMifratz bus terminal; Hutsot ha-Mifratz located near the industrial area; and Kiryat Ha’im located in a suburban neighborhood.

Many of the stations are located near the bus station which makes it easy to connect to your hotel. There are taxis available, and some stations are even close to other modes of transportation like the funicular or cable car.

Haifa boasts an extensive public transportation system that comprises of buses, trains, light rail, underground tube, and taxi services making it easy to get around the city and its many attractions.

The local bus service runs 24/7 and runs during Shabbat on the weekends, but with minimal services during the hours between Friday night at 10:30 pm until 5 am on Saturdays. Egged Bus runs services in the city and the Egged Bus Terminal is located next to the Central Railway Station in Bat Galim where intercity buses travel to all points in the city and Israel. There are two main bus stations in the city where passengers can switch between intercity buses and trains to the local routes run by Egged. Bus fares cost around 5.90NIS per journey.

Night buses operate from 11:00 pm until 4:00 am and on Fridays from 10:00 pm until 4:00 am. Routes 200 and 210 both operate at night every night (except specific holidays), as well as route 1 (24/7).

A Rav Card is a good idea if you plan to frequently travel by public transport when visiting Haifa. The card is good for travel on light rail, bus, and intercity trains. The card enables travelers to preload a balance to be used for fares on all public transport. The initial cost is 5NIS and can be purchased from the Ben Gurion Airport, central train stations, all light rail stations, or directly from any bus driver. The Rav Kav card is valid for 90 minutes so trips include transferring between buses or light rail, there is no need to pay separately for each ride, provided the passenger transfers within the 90 minutes.

Trains in Haifa are quick and efficient, with nine total stations dotted through the city heading north and south. There are short travel times between stations and the main line Nahariya-Tel Aviv Coastal Railway runs along the coast of the Gulf of Haifa with stations along the way. From south-west to north-east the main stations are; Haifa Hof HaCarmel, Haifa Bat Galim, Haifa Merkaz HaShmona, HaMifrats Central, Hutzot HaMifratz and Kiryat Haim. Together with the Kiryat Motzkin Railway Station in the northern suburb Kiryat Motzkin, they form the Haifa – Krayot suburban line ("Parvarit"). There are direct trains from the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport, with stops in Nahariya, Akko, Kiryat, Motzkin, Binyamina, Lod, Ramla, Beit Shemes, Jerusalem, and other locations.

The Carmelit is the only underground railway in the country, the Haifa underground railway system, a subterranean funicular on rails that runs from downtown Paris Square to Gan HaEm (Mother’s Park) on Mount Carmel. A single track with six stations and two trains, it is an ideal way to access the city’s main attractions and is listed as the world’s shortest metro line. The total travel time lasts only eight minutes and the frequency is super quick. The Carmelit stops on Fridays at 3:00 pm and re-opens Saturday evenings. Carmelit can be combined with a bus ticket, so a ticket can include a transfer to a bus.

The Metronit is a light rail option in the city that runs three lines that travel from the city center to Haifa’s southern and northern edges, via central station and along the sealine and the port.

The Haifa cable car is the easiest way to make your way up the steep hill to the main attraction at the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery. A fun ride with excellent panoramic views over the city.

If strictly staying in Haifa for your trip then there is no need to hire a car, the amount of public transport in the city makes it easy to get around and a car is not great for many reasons; traffic, lack of parking, and cost. The city is easily accessible by car from the Ben Gurion International Airport along the scenic coastal Route 2 which links Tel Aviv to Haifa. The journey takes around 1 ½ hours. Highway 4 runs along the coast to the north of Haifa passing through the downtown area. If you plan on traveling to other cities and destinations a car is a good idea, there are rental car companies available in the city.

There are plenty of local taxi companies in Haifa, you can hail a taxi from the street, find them outside major attractions, shopping centers, and hotels or call and order one by phone. The fares start at a flat rate of 12NIS and its 6.2NIS per mile thereafter.

The main sights in the city center can be reached on foot and many of the great attractions like Bahai Gardens, and the German Colony are not far from one another. Ben-Gurion is the main old street located in the German Colony neighborhood is a great place for a stroll to see the old houses with tiled roofs and authentic characteristics of the past. This is also the place for some of the best shopping and dining opportunities in Haifa. The Louis Promenade opened in 1992 and is etched into the crevices of Mount Carmel, this massive popular terrace provides visitors with spectacular views both day and night. It is the perfect place for a stroll to take in the beautiful surf, sand, and sunsets. Keep in mind there are a lot of hills in Haifa due to the city being nestled on the side of a mountain, so some walking can be strenuous.

Bicycle rentals are available in Haifa although the city has quite a few hills being on the side of a mountain with steep roads. However, down by the beachfront and along the promenade are some great locations for a bicycle ride. Two large bike stores found in the city are Rosen and Mintz, and Mazman and Merutz.