Holy to Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze, this cave is where the prophet Elijah is believed to have prayed before challenging the priests of Ba'al on Mt Carmel (1 Kings 18) and where he is said to have hidden from the wrath of Queen Jezebel afterwards (1 Kings 19:1-3). These days there's not much to see unless you're interested in Jewish pilgrimage sites. Dress modestly; there are separate sections for men (to the right) and women (to the left).
According to a Christian tradition, Mary, Joseph and Jesus sheltered here on their return from Egypt. Muslims associate the site with Al-Khidr (the Green Prophet), sometimes seen as an Islamic version of Elijah, or as his companion. Prior to 1948, the cave was controlled by a Muslim waqf (religious endowment).
To get to Elijah's Cave from the National Maritime Museum, head up the slope, cross the street and take the staircase (marked by a Hebrew sign) up the 6m-high stone retaining wall; an asphalt path then leads 200m around the limestone bluff, under the wires of the Stella Maris cable car. A steep path links the cave with the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery.
