Maria Lando beside a giant clay storage jar in Old Jaffa
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Private tour · Licensed guide · Old Jaffa

Old Jaffa Storytelling Tour

On this tour, Jaffa becomes a stage full of impossible characters: pharaohs, prophets, Greek monsters, Ottoman governors, St Peter, Napoleon, pilgrims, fishermen and people who came here looking for a new beginning. I'm Maria Lando, a licensed Israeli tour guide who has lived between 3 cultures and guides in English and Hebrew. My style is warm, curious and story-driven. I connect archaeology, biblical traditions, local legends, architecture, humor and human moments, so the stones don't stay silent for long. At a few stops, guests may join short optional story moments with simple provided scripts. Watching is perfectly fine too. No acting skills needed, only curiosity.

2-3 hours, tailored to you. English or Hebrew. Private or small group.

What we explore

Photos from the Jaffa tour

Maria Lando guiding in a lane of Old Jaffa, holding historical photographsGuests on the Jaffa tour looking at historical photographs outside an old stone houseTour group under the Uri Geller Museum arch in Old JaffaMaria Lando showing a historical photograph on a terrace in Old Jaffa
Stepped alley in Old Jaffa with an artist's stallA guest on the Jaffa tour at the railing above the seaThe Tel Aviv skyline seen across the bay from Old JaffaInside Saint Peter's Church in Old JaffaA bride photographed in an arched stone passage in Old JaffaMaria Lando laughing with guests at a Jaffa viewpoint over the seaTour group beside a decorated pavilion in Old Jaffa

What guests say

★★★★★

“Wonderful tour with deep historical views of a very interesting Jaffa.”

— Paul
★★★★★

“I grew up here and walk these streets every day, but I never knew any of the facts Maria shared… she is easily the best, most interesting guide I've ever met.”

★★★★★

“I strongly recommend, whether it's your first time in the area, or if you have already been in this area several times.”

— Ofer

Questions and answers

How long is the Jaffa tour?

Two to three hours, tailored to you.

Is it a private tour?

Yes, private or small group, in English or Hebrew.

What is a storytelling tour?

At a few stops, guests can take a short optional part, with a simple script provided. Watching is perfectly fine. No acting skills needed, only curiosity.

Do I need to know the Bible or Greek mythology?

No. Every story is told from the beginning, on the spot where it happened.

Can Jaffa be combined with Tel Aviv?

Yes. Jaffa is the southern end of Tel Aviv Yafo, so it fits naturally before or after time in the city.

Where do we meet?

At the Clock Tower in Jaffa.

Ready to see Jaffa?

Tell me your dates and who’s coming, and I’ll shape the day around you.