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Jerusalem attractions


Jerusalem attractions

Jerusalem has an amazing array of attractions for the traveller to see. The following are some of the must-sees. For more attractions see individual district articles.
  • The Israel Museum is the largest museum in Israel. The Museum contains the "shrine of the book" where the dead sea scrolls are kept. It also has a large scale model of Jerusalem in ancient times. It has large archeology and art sections that were renovationed and reopened in 2010. Entrance fee is 45 NIS.
  • Yad Vashem is Israel's Holocaust museum. There is no fee to enter but tours can cost about 30 NIS. Children under ten are not allowed to enter the museum proper but they go to other areas.
  • The Garden Tomb on Nablus Road, East Jerusalem marks what many believe is the location of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus. The tomb is located in a lush big garden which is a good break away from the hustle and bustle of East Jerusalem. Must do, but only open in the afternoons.
  • The Biblical Zoo is one of Israel's most popular tourist sites, in West Jerusalem
  • Visit the Belzer Rebbe's tish on Friday night in Charedi Jerusalem (men only!) or just wander around Ultra Orthodox neibourhood of Mea Shearim in decent attires
  • Yemin Moshe the first modern neighbourhood outside the Old Town, a beautiful cluster of small cobbled streets
  • Old City ? the atmospheric historical core of Jerusalem surrounded by Ottoman period walls, filled with sites of massive religious signficance and a bustling approach to life.
    • Al-Aqsa Mosque (The Far Mosque) is the point from where the prophet of Islam, Mohammad, is believed to have ascended to heaven.
    • Qubbat Al-Sakhra (Dome of the Rock) located in the middle of the sanctuary opposite of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, is probably the most known landmark of Jerusalem with its golden dome and octagonal blue walls that are adorned with Arabic calligraphy of Koranic verses. The interior of both The Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque are closed to non-muslims, however the plaza that they are situated in is open to the public. The Dome of the Rock is also labelled the most amazing Islamic building in the world
    • Entrance into the mosques on the Temple Mount is granted if a Muslim man/woman asks the guard of the mosques for entrance (they usually ask you to recite a well known Quranic verse to prove you are a Muslim). For others (such as journalists, ect) who wish to enter the Muslim sites for media purposes, ect write to the Director of the Islamic Waqf via the following address:
    Director of the Islamic Waqf
    Islamic Waqf Council
    P.O. Box 19004
    Jerusalem, Israel
    In the request, make sure to include your nationality, some information about yourself (ex. your occupation), and the reason why you want to enter the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosqe. Do not refer to the Temple Mount by its English name; refer to it as "Haram-el-Sharif".
  • Via Dolorosa - passing through Bethesda (crusader church and Roman excavations), Franciscan Archaeological Museum and Les Seurs de Sion Monastery with its underground Roman Street
  • Damascus Gate is the most elaborate one. The vegetable market borders it. It is also near Jaafar - Jerusalem most renowned sweets store.
  • Just outside Damascus Gate you can visit Hizkiya's Cave and Rockefeller Archaeological Museum as well as The Garden Tomb and The Tomb of the Kings
  • Tunshuq Palace
  • The Indian Hospice, The Austrian Hospice, The Armenian Hospice
  • Syriac Church, Maronite Church
  • The Armenian Cathedral and Museum
  • The Tower of David (Citadel) at Jaffa Gate, the museum of town history
  • Murestan Square with the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
  • Mount of Olives with numerous monuments including: Kidron Valley Monuments, Maria's Tomb, The Ascension Chapel, Domini Flevit Church, Church of All Nations, Tombs of the Prophets, Jewish Cemetery, Pater Noster Church, The Muscoviya, The Tomb of Lazarus (in Al Eizariya village at the south-eastern slope of the Mount of Olives)
  • Hess Promenade
  • Zion Mountain with several monuments including: Dormision church, Schindler's Tomb, the Holocaust Basement, David's Tomb and Room of the Last Supper
  • Abu Dis is a Palestinian neighborhood and home to the Al-Quds (Jerusalem) University Campus. The neighborhood is cut in two by the 6-9m high concrete separation barrier. You can visit the site of a mosque and a church with the mosque on the West Bank side and the church on the Jerusalem side.
  • The Mamilla Cemetary is worth visiting with its ancient pools and graves of famous Muslim leaders. It is also the subject of controversy as part of the Museum of Tolerance is expected to be constructed on a section of the cemetery.
  • Excellent tours are provided every week by the Al-Quds University Center for Jerusalem Studies . Including tours of the Old City settlements, Ramparts and the tunnels. Tour guides are academics and historians who focus on the Palestinian perspective.

    The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Jerusalem


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    Jerusalem Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.

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