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.
The most important Jewish Holy Place is the Temple Mount (Har Habayit) and the Western Wall (Hakotel Hamaaravi) in the Old City, which is part of the outer retaining wall of the Temple, built 2000 years ago.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the end of the Via Dolorosa (Way of the sorrows) in the Christian quarter of the Old City. It is the most holy Christian spot in the world. The first church on the site was built by Queen Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine, the Holy Sepulchre is Jerusalem's number 1 site for Christian pilgrims and is consequently horribly crowded. Expect to queue for an hour or more to enter the tiny tomb chamber.
The Temple Mount in the Muslim quarter of the old city is the third most important site in Islam, and a showcase for Islamic architecture and design from Umayyad to Ottoman times that continues as an important religious and educational centre for Muslims to the present. It is crowned by the magnificent Dome of the rock. It is accessible at only specific times which you should find out in advance. Encompassing over 35 acres of fountains, gardens, buildings and domes, the temple mount houses the following Islamic landmarks:
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".
The Jewish quarter in the Old City was completely re-built in 1969 after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It still holds many ancient masterpieces such as the Cardo (700 BC), Burnt House (70 AD), and Western Wailing Wall (50 BC). All of which are among the most holy Jewish sites in the world. Definitely worth a visit, especially the western wall. The Jewish Quarter also includes The Western Wall Tunnel and the archaeological park at Davidson Centre (the Ophel). Also interesting are The Hurba Synagogue and The Herodian Quarter.
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
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Jerusalem - updated Mar 2024
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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.