Kibbutz Ma'agan, Ein Gev, Degania — Comparison 2026 | חדשות נדל"ן | מרכז הנכסים
3 Southern Kinneret Kibbutzim — Ma'agan, Ein Gev, Degania Alef
If you are considering buying a house or joining a kibbutz on Lake Kinneret, the 3 kibbutzim that stand out are Ma'agan (southeast), Ein Gev (east), and Degania Alef (southwest). All are on the Kinneret, but with completely different characters. A full comparative guide.
Ma'agan Kibbutz - Southeast Beach
Founded: 1949. Residents: ~400. Location: the southeast shore of the Kinneret, adjacent to the Tzemach junction.
Character: Family-oriented, intimate kibbutz. Ma'agan Eden Resort is the main business. Agriculture (dates, grapes).
Community: Relatively small, everyone knows each other. Secular-traditional population.
Prices: Members' houses 1.8-2.5 million ₪.
Accessibility: Tiberias 15 min, Afula 45 min, Haifa 1:30 hours.
Ein Gev Kibbutz - Eastern Beach
Founded: 1937. Residents: ~500. Location: the eastern shore of the Kinneret, between Kinneret junction and Beit Yerah junction.
Character: Large and established kibbutz. Main businesses: the famous Ein Gev Fish Restaurant, resort, agriculture (dates, bananas).
Community: Larger than Ma'agan, diverse. Some religious-national members.
Prices: 2-3 million ₪.
Special: Annual music festival in Ein Gev (April-May), exceptional acoustics.
Accessibility: Tiberias 20 min (around the Kinneret), Haifa 1:40.
Degania Alef Kibbutz - Southwest Beach
Founded: 1910 (!) the first kibbutz in Israel. Residents: ~550. Location: adjacent to Degania Bet and Kinneret Group, at the Jordan River's exit from the Kinneret.
Character: A kibbutz with a deep heritage - A.D. Gordon Museum (leader of the first kibbutz), the original land of secular Zionism.
Businesses: Agriculture (leading peak for produce in Israel), light industry. With a very strong historical background.
Community: Long-time members with deep roots, historical consciousness. There are members whose last names are multi-generational in the kibbutz.
Prices: 2-2.8 million ₪ (more than the quieter and cheaper Degania Bet).
Accessibility: Tiberias 15 min, Degania Bet 3 min drive.
Concise Comparison
| Ma'agan | Ein Gev | Degania Alef | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | ~400 | ~500 | ~550 |
| Year Established | 1949 | 1937 | 1910 |
| House Price | 1.8-2.5M ₪ | 2-3M ₪ | 2-2.8M ₪ |
| Main Business | Resort | Ein Gev Fish + Resort | Agriculture + Industry |
| Character | Intimate, Family | Large, Diverse | Historical, Deep |
| Population | Secular-Traditional | Diverse | Long-time Secular |
| Private Beach | Yes (Ma'agan Eden) | Yes + Restaurant | No - Jordan River exit |
Which of the three suits you?
- Ma'agan: If you want a small, intimate kibbutz with direct beach access and a significant resort as an economic base.
- Ein Gev: If you want a larger kibbutz, cultural activities (festival), proven tourist demand (fish restaurant), and a diverse community.
- Degania Alef: If you connect with Zionist history, the original kibbutz vision, and life with historical significance. The most intellectual of the three.
Important Investment Point
In terms of real estate investment:
- Ma'agan - the only one with investment vacation units (Ma'agan Eden)
- Ein Gev - limited, mainly full membership
- Degania Alef - full membership, less open to outsiders
Therefore, for those who do not intend to live in the kibbutz but to invest - Ma'agan is the best option.
In Summary
There is no "better" or "worse" - each kibbutz is unique. The property center works with all three and can recommend based on your needs. Our full branch guide around the Kinneret.