Top places to visit in Jerusalem

• Al-Aqsa Mosque

  Mosque · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The silver-domed congregational mosque on the southern Temple Mount, the third-holiest site in Islam. Entry to the mosque is limited to Muslims.

• Church of the Holy Sepulchre

  Christian holy site · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Revered by most Christians as the site of Jesus's crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Shared by six denominations, its chapels enclose Golgotha and the Aedicule over the empty tomb.

• Temple Mount & Dome of the Rock

  Islamic shrine / Haram al-Sharif · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A vast walled esplanade sacred to Jews and Muslims, crowned by the gold-capped Dome of the Rock (691 CE). Non-Muslim visitors enter via the Mughrabi Bridge during restricted morning hours and cannot enter the shrines.

• The Knesset

  Cultural · 4.0 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Israel's national parliament building in the Givat Ram area, offering guided tours by advance booking.

• Yad Vashem

  Memorial museum · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · free entry

  Israel's national Holocaust remembrance centre on Mount Herzl, its striking Holocaust History Museum, Hall of Names, Children's Memorial and Avenue of the Righteous.

• Via Dolorosa

  Pilgrimage route · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The processional route through the Old City that Christian tradition marks as the path Jesus walked to crucifixion, lined with the fourteen Stations of the Cross ending at the Holy Sepulchre.

• Tower of David Museum

  Citadel / museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · entry ₪57 (≈ ₹1,770)

  A medieval citadel beside Jaffa Gate housing a museum of Jerusalem's history, with ramparts and a minaret giving panoramic views over the Old City.

• Israel Museum

  Art & archaeology museum · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry ₪54 (≈ ₹1,680)

  The country's largest museum, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book, a scale model of Second-Temple Jerusalem, and wide archaeology and art wings.

• Garden of Gethsemane & Church of All Nations

  Christian holy site · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  An ancient olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives where the Gospels place Jesus's agony before arrest, beside the mosaic-fronted Church of All Nations.

• Mahane Yehuda Market

  Food market · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Jerusalem's bustling produce market ("the Shuk"), packed with spice, halva, produce and bakery stalls by day and turning into a lively bar and restaurant scene after dark.

• Garden Tomb

  Christian holy site · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A quiet walled garden with a rock-cut tomb that many Protestant Christians venerate as an alternative site of Jesus's burial and resurrection.

• Western Wall (Kotel)

  Jewish holy site · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The holiest site where Jews may pray, a surviving retaining wall of the Second Temple's Temple Mount. The plaza is open around the clock; men and women pray in separate sections and prayer notes are placed in the wall's cracks.

Things to do

• Old City Four Quarters Walking Tour Walking Tour · 4 h · from ILS 120 per person
• Western Wall Tunnels Tour Cultural · 1.3 h · from ILS 45 per person
• Ramparts Walk on the Old City Walls Walking Tour · 1.5 h · from ILS 25 per person
• Mahane Yehuda Market Food Tour Food Tour · 3 h · from ILS 250 per person
• City of David Underground Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from ILS 60 per person

Day trips and tours

• Jerusalem Old City & Mount of Olives 7 h · from ILS 320

Where to stay in Jerusalem

• Old City / Jaffa Gate about ILS 700 per night

  Staying inside or beside the walls puts the holy sites on your doorstep, in atmospheric guesthouses and pilgrim hostels.

• City Center (Downtown) about ILS 800 per night

  West Jerusalem's centre around Jaffa Road and Mahane Yehuda offers modern hotels, nightlife and the light rail.

• German Colony / Emek Refaim about ILS 900 per night

  A leafy, upscale residential quarter of cafés and boutique stays, quieter and a short ride from the Old City.

Hotels

• Mamilla Hotel 5-star · ILS 1,600 to ILS 3,200 per night
• King David Hotel 5-star · ILS 1,800 to ILS 3,800 per night
• Abraham Hostel Jerusalem 2-star · ILS 150 to ILS 520 per night
• Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center 4-star · ILS 700 to ILS 1,100 per night
• YMCA Three Arches Hotel 3-star · ILS 600 to ILS 900 per night

Where to eat

• Machneyuda Israeli, Mediterranean, Contemporary · about ILS 260 per person
• Azura Sephardi, Kurdish, Iraqi · about ILS 75 per person
• Eucalyptus Israeli, Biblical, Mediterranean · about ILS 230 per person
• Abu Shukri Palestinian, Levantine, Middle Eastern · about ILS 55 per person
• Lina Restaurant Palestinian, Levantine, Middle Eastern · about ILS 50 per person
• Ishtabach Kurdish, Israeli, Middle Eastern · about ILS 90 per person

Getting to Jerusalem

Airport: Jerusalem (TLV)

How visitors arrive in Jerusalem

• Flight to Ben Gurion, then train or bus By air from Ben Gurion Airport · most visitors

  Ben Gurion is the main international entry point and lies beside the highway to Jerusalem. Source: itn.co.il

• Train from Tel Aviv and the airport By train from Tel Aviv / airport · common

  The line ends at Yitzhak Navon station next to the Central Bus Station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Tel Aviv By road from Tel Aviv · common

  Egged buses use the Central Bus Station on Jaffa Road; the train is preferred from Tel Aviv. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus or shared taxi from the West Bank By road from West Bank · possible

  Palestinian buses and shared taxis from Ramallah and Bethlehem leave from near Damascus Gate. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Israel Railways from Ben Gurion Airport

  A rail line links Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv with Jerusalem-Yitzhak Navon station beside the Central Bus Station. Check rail.co.il for current services. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Nesher shared taxi (pre-booked)

  Nesher runs shared ten-seat minibuses between the airport and Jerusalem addresses. You must book by phone beforehand, and other passengers are dropped off first. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Private taxi from the airport

  Taxis run direct from the airport to Jerusalem. Pre-booking through a company can lower the rate, and you should agree the price before setting off. Source: itraveljerusalem.com

• On Shabbat, trains and Jewish-operated buses stop; Nesher and taxis still run. Plan Friday and Saturday arrivals accordingly. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Some taxi drivers refuse certain East Jerusalem neighbourhoods; going to the Central Bus Station and switching to a local cab can help. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus useful for some trips

  Buses link the city centre with the main neighbourhoods and are the standard way to reach areas away from the light rail line.

  Egged bus services

• Taxi useful for some trips

  Taxis can be hailed on busy streets, called through a taxi company or ordered with the Gett app, and are the main option when the light rail and buses pause for Shabbat.

• Tram

  A light rail line runs through central Jerusalem and connects several neighbourhoods across the city.

• Walking

Paying

• Buses and the light rail need a Rav Kav card; drivers do not take cash. Tap it on boarding. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial "guides" at the Old City gates

  Jaffa & Damascus Gates, Old City

  Men approach tourists offering to guide them to sites or shops, then demand a large fee or steer you to commission-paying stores.

  How to avoid it: Politely decline and use a licensed guide booked in advance or an official tour; agree any price before starting.

• Overcharging in the souk

  Old City markets

  Vendors quote inflated prices to tourists for souvenirs and spices, especially without marked prices.

  How to avoid it: Compare a few stalls, bargain, and know the rough going rate before buying.

Best time to visit Jerusalem

• Jan 13°C
• Feb 14°C
• Mar 17°C
• Apr 22°C
• May 26°C
• Jun 29°C
• Jul 30°C
• Aug 30°C
• Sep 29°C
• Oct 26°C
• Nov 20°C
• Dec 15°C

More in Israel

• Tel Aviv-Yafo
• Eilat
• Dead Sea (Ein Bokek)
• Haifa
• Nazareth
• Tiberias

Frequently asked questions about Jerusalem

What are the top-rated places to visit in Jerusalem?

The highest-rated places in our Jerusalem guide are Al-Aqsa Mosque, Yad Vashem, Via Dolorosa, Garden of Gethsemane & Church of All Nations, Garden Tomb.

Where should I stay in Jerusalem?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Jerusalem: Old City / Jaffa Gate, City Center (Downtown), German Colony / Emek Refaim.

How do I get around Jerusalem?

Ways to get around Jerusalem covered in our guide: City bus, Taxi, Tram, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Jerusalem?

Scams reported to us for Jerusalem include Unofficial "guides" at the Old City gates; Overcharging in the souk. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Jerusalem?

Average daytime highs in Jerusalem run from 13°C in Jan to 30°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Jerusalem?

The nearest airport to Jerusalem has the code TLV.