About midway between Tel Aviv and Haifa, Caesarea National Park offers a serious step back in time. Archaeological excavations in the 1950s and 1960s uncovered architectural remains of many eras, from the Hellenistic period (third century B.C.) to the Crusader period (12th century). The original harbor of this port town, built by King Herod, has been restored, and summer concerts take place in the restored amphitheater. As the ancient city’s population grew, more water was needed, so starting in King Herod’s time, aqueducts were built to bring water into what was then a town of 200,000 people. A well-preserved portion of an ancient aqueduct runs along one of Israel’s beautiful beaches.

These excavations are only the tip of the iceberg, however. More discoveries occur on a regular basis, with one of the most recent uncovering the ruins of a massive temple dedicated to Roman gods. And for a look at the ruins from another angle, head to what is known as Caesarea’s underwater museum. Certified divers, equipped with waterproof maps, can check out the underwater ruins of the ancient city.