Jerusalem
Top Tourist Attractions

If you want to truly experience what ancient Jerusalem was like, you should book a tour to the Old City. The walled area within the modern part of Jerusalem preserves its ancient and spiritual heritage.Home to some of the holiest sites for the Christians, Jews, and Muslims, many describe a trip to the Old City of Jerusalem as intense and almost celestial.Jerusalem Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls, you will find the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall or t... Read More

For the Jews, the world was created and will finally end at Al-Haram Al-Sharif or the Temple Mount. Muslims, on the other hand, pray at the third holiest site of Islam - Al Aqsa mosque (The former Qibla of Islam) and believe that the Dome of the Rock is the where Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) ascended to heaven. The place is equally important for Christians as well.The complete 35-acre compound is referred to as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, by Muslims, and as the Temple Mount by Je... Read More

Located within the Old City of Jerusalem and connected to the Temple Mount, the Wailing Wall is an important holy site for the Jews. It is one of the tourist attractions in Jerusalem that draws crowds from all over the world.Some of them curious, some of them religious, and some of them simply want to pray, writing it on a slip of paper and inserting it in different fissures on the wall.Do you want to do the same thing, pray in the same way? Regardless of your religious affiliation, a tour aroun... Read More

As one of the top attractions within the Old City of Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a part of a full-day tour in the Holy Land. Identified as the place where Jesus was crucified and buried, it's one of the major pilgrimage centers for Christians around the world.Four magnificent arches make up the church's entrance, where many stands to pray. Via Dolorosa also passes by the church as this is where the final five Stations of the Cross are found.The church has several different sec... Read More

Located inside a compound referred to as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, by Muslims, and as the Temple Mount by Jews in Jerusalem's Old City (A UNESCO World Heritage site), the Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine that shines in the city's skyline.This is one of the holiest sites for Muslims and is believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made his night journey to heaven.What makes it a must-visit when in Jerusalem are its many structures that span from different time period... Read More

The Al-Aqsa Mosque is not far from the Dome of the Rock, It is located inside the same compound referred to as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, by Muslims, and as the Temple Mount by Jews in Jerusalem's Old City (A UNESCO World Heritage site). The silver-domed mosque - Al-Masjid al-Aqsa literally translates as 'the Farthest Mosque'. One of the holiest sites of Islam, It is the biggest mosque in the city with a lot of historical and religious significance.It can accommodate thousa... Read More

One of the most significant places in the history of Jesus’ life is the Mount of Olives named after the groves of olives that once covered the mountain ridge.Located to the east of the old city of Jerusalem, Mount of Olives was mentioned several times in the bible where important events in the life of Jesus took place including his ascension to heaven. Because of this, the Mount of Olives is a sacred site for Christan worship and an important part of any Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Or... Read More

Setting foot on the place where Jesus Christ was born is a sacred moment for any pilgrim. The Church of the Nativity located in Bethlehem in the Palestinian West Bank has a huge religious significance to Christians and its grotto is the oldest place for worship in the history of Christianity.The basilica itself is the oldest major church in the Holy Land and it attracts millions of tourists each year, most of which are pilgrims dreaming to see the birthplace of Jesus up close.Built between ... Read More

Any Christian pilgrim dreams of walking the same path that Jesus Christ took to his crucifixion and death. The Via Dolorosa or the Way of Sorrows is a route in the Old City of Jerusalem that runs from the Antonia Fortress west to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.This 600-meter walk has always been close to the heart of pilgrims because of the significant role it played towards the end of Jesus’ life. The route was established in the 18th century and is now marked by nine Stations of the Cr... Read More

Towering high above Jerusalem’s skyline is the Tower of David, a citadel that is perhaps the only witness to Israel’s long and colorful history. A living museum, the Tower of David is ironically not related to King David and was built in the 2nd century B.C. by the Hasmonean kings.The location of the tower near the Jaffa Gate on the western side of the Old City of Jerusalem was chosen because it is the highest point on the hill, making it a great defensive fortress that served its pu... Read More

Mount Zion has been mentioned in the Hebrew Bible several times and is even used to refer to the entire Land of Israel, making it a significant part of the history of Jerusalem.Located outside the walls of the Old City, Mount Zion has witnessed several events in the early Christian church including the last supper of Jesus and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to his disciples at the Cenacle, the “falling asleep” of the Virgin Mary at the Church of the Dormition and the appearance... Read More

Jerusalem is undeniably one of the most historic sites anywhere in the world. And if there is one place where you can really soak in its rich history, it has to be the Israel Museum.Established in 1965, the museum holds the world’s most comprehensive archaeological collection of the Holy Land and the biggest display of Jewish Art and Life. The Israel Museum is located on a hill at the neighborhood of Givat Ram just near the the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Bible Lands Museum and the... Read More

A stone portal that opens to an ancient world, Jaffa Gate is one of the 7 gates that open to the Old City of Jerusalem that houses some of the city's historic and iconic landmarks and tourist attractions. Step inside the gate and you'll be transported into a world of wonders, with structures that date back to the 14th century and earlier. What's great about these architectural wonders is that most of them are well-preserved or have been reconstructed to the best way possible.Some of the str... Read More

Built in 16th century during the time of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, Damascus Gate is one of the most impressive and beautiful among the gates of the wall surrounding the Old City. It's one of the main entrances too. Because of its strategic location, many guard towers and observation points decorate the gate. The gate's two towers come with machicolations, a floor opening where stone and boiling oil are poured down enemies and invaders. Today, what was once used a weapon has beco... Read More

The walls surrounding the Old City of Jerusalem serve as fortifications which, in the Hebrew term, make it impenetrable and inaccessible. But Jerusalem didn't always have walls since fortifications are often built in cities near bodies of water. When the city was rebuilt, Jerusalem came with a moat and rampart. The walls were built as the next form of defense. They are equipped with towers, ladders and storage rooms. The wall system is made up of a higher inner wall and a lower outer w... Read More

Called Wadi Hilweh in Arabic, the City of David is an Arabic village and archaeological site believed to be the original settlement of Jerusalem’s Bronze and Iron Age. The site features natural defenses of the Kidron Valley to the east, the Hinnom Valley to the south, and the Tyropoeon Valley to the west. The excavations and archaeological digs in the area have been described as intense and controversial. Many archaeologists are unconvinced that's the City of David is indeed what... Read More

The walled city of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters, one of which is the Christian Quarter. It is located in the northwestern corner and stretches from the New Gate in the north to the Damascus Gate, bordering the Muslim Quarter.Inside the Christian Quarter, you'll see a variety of landmarks including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from which the quarter was built around, monasteries, mosques, and the Muristan market. Here you will also find coffee houses, restaurants, hotels, and... Read More

One of the four quarters in the old city of Jerusalem, the Muslim Quarter is the largest and most populous. There used to be a mixed population of Christians, Jews and Muslims that live in the quarter.In 2007, the first Jewish settlement was developed with funding from the Israeli government. It included a synagogue and 20 apartments.Some of the Jewish landmarks in the Muslim Quarter include the Western Wall Tunnels and the Little Western Wall (Kotel Katalan). Many Romans and Crusaders were buri... Read More

For pilgrims, the Kidron Valley is one of the most significant places in the history of the bible. Located between the Temple Mount or Al-Haram Al-Sharif and Mount of Olives on the eastern edge of the Old City of Jerusalem, the valley has been crossed by King David when he escaped his son Absalom and Jesus when he traveled from Jerusalem to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead.The Kidron Valley also holds the Silwan necropolis, the most important cemetery in Jerusalem from the First Temple per... Read More

Stepping into Mount Herzl is a bittersweet experience for a lot of travelers. Being 834 meters above sea level on the west side of Jerusalem, the mount offers a good view of the city and the Jerusalem Forest beside it. But behind that beauty is a grim reminder of that time in history when many people lost their lives because of religion and war.Also aptly called the Mount of Remembrance, Mount Herzl is the site of Israel’s national cemetery and it also holds a memorial for the victims of t... Read More

Hummus, falafel, and baklava—these are just some of the most famous dishes in Israeli cuisine. A combination of traditional offerings and dishes brought back by the Jews from the Diaspora, the food in Jerusalem is as colorful and delicious as the history behind it.Eating in Jerusalem is a feast for the senses and you don’t have to spend a lot to experience the city’s culinary heritage. You may find yourself in one of the many local hummus and falafel joints in town one day and ... Read More

Thousands of tourists head to the foot of Mount Olives each year to see the tomb of the Virgin Mary.Although the New Testament didn’t mention anything about the death and burial of Mary, Christians have placed a large crypt on the Church of the Assumption, which is all that remains of the oldest near-complete church in Jerusalem.On this site, the “Status Quo,” or an understanding between religious communities that have been around for 250 years is in place. The tomb of the Virg... Read More

Perhaps no other dining room in the world holds more importance to history than the Cenacle. Also called the “Upper Room,” the Cenacle is considered the first Christian church after the historic Last Supper took place on this room on the David’s Tomb Compound in Jerusalem.It is also the same place where the Holy Spirit appeared before the eleven apostles after Easter and where the apostles have been thought to stay in Jerusalem.Other important events that took place on the Cena... Read More

On the edge of Jerusalem lies the largest memorial for the holocaust victims in Israel. Yad Vashem strikes the heart of every tourist who steps inside its walls, as it provides nine chilling galleries that tell the tale of the horrors of the holocaust.Through historical displays, the museum shows films, artworks, photographs and personal items found in the camps during the holocaust with the goal of helping preserve the memory of those who died during this dark time in history.Yad Vashem also ho... Read More