Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best times to visit Tzfat — the days are warm and clear, the mountain air is fresh, and the views over the Galilee are at their most dramatic. Summer brings heat to the rest of Israel but Tzfat, at 900 metres, stays relatively cool and pleasant. July and August are busy with Israeli domestic tourists.
Shabbat (Friday evening through Saturday night) changes the character of the city significantly — most shops and restaurants are closed, the religious quarter is especially observant, but the atmosphere has a distinctive quiet quality that is worth experiencing. The month of Elul (typically September) brings an influx of pilgrims to the kabbalistic sites. Winter can be cold and occasionally snowy; the mountain roads can become icy and the city is much quieter.