Mount Bental is the 1,171-metre extinct volcanic crater on the eastern Golan plateau, repurposed as a panoramic viewpoint with one of Israel’s best long views. The summit holds a small open-air sculpture installation made from old industrial parts, a cafe, an interpretive plaza, and walking paths around the crater rim. The view stretches east across the Quneitra valley toward the Syrian border, north to Mount Hermon, and south across the basalt Golan plateau with the Sea of Galilee visible in the distance on clear days.
This guide covers what to do on a Mount Bental visit, why the site became known after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the practical access from Katzrin and Tel Aviv, and how the viewpoint pairs with the wider Golan day-trip rhythm.
What is Mount Bental?
Mount Bental is one of several extinct volcanoes on the Golan plateau — the basalt landscape of the Golan was formed by volcanic activity that ended around 5 million years ago, leaving a series of cones and craters across the plateau. Mount Bental’s crater is open, walkable, and gives a 360-degree panorama that takes in the entire eastern and northern Golan.
The site is at 1,171 metres of elevation, with the crater rim sitting noticeably higher than the surrounding plateau (which averages 1,000 metres). The result is a clear line of sight across the Quneitra valley to the east — the valley separating Israeli-administered Golan from the Syrian side — and a long northern view toward Mount Hermon (Israel’s highest point at 2,224 metres in the Israeli-controlled section).
The viewpoint became known to international visitors after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when the surrounding plateau saw heavy fighting in the so-called “Valley of Tears”. The site today is a tourism viewpoint with factual historical signage rather than a military memorial; the signage is in Hebrew, English and Arabic.
Visiting Mount Bental Today
The site is free, open daily from sunrise to sunset, and accessed by a paved road that climbs the eastern side of the crater. Summit parking is available; the cafe operates approximately 09:00 to 17:00 (longer in summer). A small visitor area surrounds the parking lot with interpretive panels.
The walk around the crater rim is short — 15 to 20 minutes — and gives the panoramic view from all sides. The eastern rim is the most-visited (Quneitra valley overlook); the northern rim looks toward Mount Hermon; the western and southern rims look across the Golan plateau and toward the Sea of Galilee.
The open-air sculpture installation at the summit is the site’s distinctive visual signature — pieces made from old industrial parts and machine components, arranged near the cafe. Photography of the sculptures is welcome.
Top Things to See
The Crater Rim Walk
The full 15 to 20 minute walk around the crater rim covers all four cardinal-direction viewpoints. Take the loop clockwise from the parking lot — eastern rim first (Quneitra valley), northern rim (Mount Hermon), western rim (plateau panorama), southern rim (Sea of Galilee on clear days).
The Quneitra Valley Overlook
The eastern rim is the most photographed view — a deep valley with the abandoned town of Quneitra visible in the distance. Interpretive signage explains the geology and the historical setting. Long telephoto lenses bring out the detail.
The Mount Hermon View
The northern rim gives the best view of Mount Hermon’s snowcapped peak (in winter) or bare summit (summer). The Israeli-controlled section of Mount Hermon is visible; the wider range continues into Lebanon and Syria.
The Open-Air Sculpture Installation
Near the cafe, a cluster of industrial sculptures made from old machine components and farm equipment forms a small open-air gallery. The works are signed and dated; photography is welcome.
Tours of Mount Bental
Most visitors include Mount Bental as part of a Golan day tour from Tel Aviv — Civitatis, Viator and GetYourGuide all run small-group tours that combine Mount Bental with Banias, a Druze village lunch and the Sea of Galilee in a single long day. The site itself is short (45 to 60 minutes), so combining with neighbouring attractions is the typical pattern.
Nearby Attractions
Mount Avital (a neighbouring volcanic cone, 1,204 metres) is the other major plateau viewpoint, 10 minutes drive from Mount Bental. Birkat Ram (a small volcanic crater lake) is 15 minutes north — a quiet lakeside walk with a small Druze village (Mas’ade) nearby for lunch. Banias (the Caesarea Philippi archaeological site + waterfall) is 30 minutes north-west. Nimrod Fortress is 30 minutes north. The standard one-day Golan loop combines Mount Bental, Banias, a Druze lunch and either Nimrod Fortress or a Galilee Christian-pilgrimage extension.
Practical Tips
Weather — the summit is exposed at 1,171 metres. In summer the temperature is 5 to 8 degrees cooler than the coast; bring a light layer for the breeze. In winter (December to March) the rim may be snowy or icy — wear proper shoes and warm clothing.
Photography — the eastern rim Quneitra valley overlook is best in the morning (sun behind you, valley lit up); the northern Mount Hermon view is best mid-day to early afternoon; the western plateau view is best at golden hour late afternoon.
Access — paved road all the way up; no off-road sections. Rental cars handle the climb without problems. Tour buses use the same road.
Free admission — no entrance fee, no ticketing, no reservation required.
Cafe — the summit cafe serves drinks, sandwiches, ice cream. Adequate for a short break; not destination food. The Druze village restaurants in Mas’ade or Majdal Shams (15 to 25 minutes drive) are the food destinations.
Why Visit Mount Bental
Mount Bental is the most accessible panoramic viewpoint on the Golan plateau — paved access to a 1,171-metre crater rim with four-direction views across the Quneitra valley, Mount Hermon, the wider plateau and the Sea of Galilee. It is the standard tourist stop on the eastern Golan, takes less than an hour, and pairs naturally with the other plateau headline sites. The combination of accessible-elevation panorama, factual historical signage and the small open-air sculpture installation is a distinctive Golan experience that does not require a long hike or a difficult drive.
