FreeThe Western Wall
The ancient retaining wall below the raised platform at the heart of the Old City, a place of prayer for Jews and one of Jerusalem’s most moving open-air spaces, free to visit at any hour.
1 hourDetails →
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city of stone, prayer and layered history, and its Old City packs more landmarks into a square kilometer than almost anywhere on Earth.
The Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa lie within a few minutes’ walk of each other, the ramparts walk gives you the whole skyline from above, and the Tower of David Museum at Jaffa Gate explains how the pieces fit together. Beyond the walls, the Mount of Olives offers the classic panorama, Yad Vashem and the Israel Museum add memorial and art, and Mahane Yehuda Market shows the everyday, modern side of the city with food by day and bars by night. For a change of scene, Masada and the Dead Sea are a long day trip into the desert. This guide shows what to book ahead, what is free, how to plan around the Sabbath and where to stay, from a classic grand hotel to a sociable hostel by the market.
Don't miss
The Western Wall
The ancient retaining wall below the raised platform at the heart of the Old City, a place of prayer for Jews and one of Jerusalem’s most moving open-air spaces, free to visit at any hour.
Tower of David Museum
The citadel at Jaffa Gate, now a museum of the history of Jerusalem, with courtyards, a tower climb and a night-time sound and light show.
The Israel Museum
Israel’s national museum, home to the Shrine of the Book and the Dead Sea Scrolls, a model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period, and a large sculpture garden.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The church built over the traditional site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus, shared by several Christian communities and free to enter in the Christian Quarter.
Things to do in Jerusalem
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeFreeChurch of the Holy Sepulchre
The church built over the traditional site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus, shared by several Christian communities and free to enter in the Christian Quarter.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
FreeThe Via Dolorosa
The traditional route of Jesus on his way to crucifixion, a winding Old City street with fourteen stations that ends inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
1 hourDetails →
The Old City Ramparts Walk
A ticketed walk along the top of the Ottoman-era city walls, with rooftop views over the Old City’s quarters, domes and minarets.
Tower of David Museum
The citadel at Jaffa Gate, now a museum of the history of Jerusalem, with courtyards, a tower climb and a night-time sound and light show.
The Western Wall Tunnels
A guided walk beneath the Old City along the hidden length of the Western Wall, past giant Herodian stones, ancient streets and water channels.
FreeYad Vashem
The world Holocaust remembrance center on Mount Herzl, with a powerful history museum, memorial halls and sculpture-filled grounds, free to visit with advance reservation.
3 hoursDetails →
The Israel Museum
Israel’s national museum, home to the Shrine of the Book and the Dead Sea Scrolls, a model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period, and a large sculpture garden.
FreeMount of Olives
The ridge east of the Old City, with the classic panorama over the walls and golden domes, a very old cemetery and several churches including Gethsemane.
2 hoursDetails →
FreeMahane Yehuda Market
Jerusalem’s big covered market, with stalls of produce, spices and baked goods by day and a lively bar and restaurant scene by night.
2 hoursDetails →
Masada and the Dead Sea Day Trip
A full day out to the clifftop fortress of Masada and a float in the Dead Sea, the lowest dry land on Earth, usually an hour and a half from Jerusalem.
FreeThe Jewish Quarter and the Cardo
The rebuilt southeastern corner of the Old City, with a colonnaded Roman and Byzantine street, restored synagogues, archaeological sites and quiet lanes that are free to wander.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$King David Jerusalem
City Center, King David Street
Jerusalem’s grand historic hotel on King David Street, a few minutes’ walk from Jaffa Gate and Mamilla, with a garden, a seasonal pool, a spa and two restaurants.
Check rates →
$$$$Mamilla Hotel
Mamilla, beside Jaffa Gate
A design-led boutique hotel beside the Mamilla promenade and about five minutes from Jaffa Gate, with a rooftop restaurant, an indoor pool and a large spa.
Check rates →Mount Zion Boutique Hotel
Hebron Road, near Mount Zion
A garden hotel on Hebron Road with a pool, a spa and a terrace, a short walk from the Old City walls and the Tower of David Museum.
Check rates →Harmony Hotel Jerusalem
Downtown, Zion Square
A 50-room boutique hotel a minute from Ben Yehuda Street and Zion Square, with free covered parking and an easy walk to Mahane Yehuda and Jaffa Gate.
Check rates →Abraham Hostel Jerusalem
City Center, Davidka Square
A social hostel at Davidka Square with private rooms and dorms, a rooftop terrace, free breakfast according to guests and its own tour desk, five minutes from Mahane Yehuda.
Check rates →
$$$$Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem
City Center, Agron Street
A luxury hotel on Agron Street in the city center, about an eight-minute walk from Jaffa Gate, with an indoor pool, a spa, three restaurants and a rooftop terrace.
Check rates →
$$$$The Inbal Jerusalem
Mishkenot Sha’ananim, Liberty Bell Park
A large luxury hotel beside Liberty Bell Park in Mishkenot Sha’ananim, a 13-minute walk from Jaffa Gate, with indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, a spa and two restaurants.
Check rates →Jerusalem guides
First-Timer’s Guide to Jerusalem: What to Book, How Long and How to Plan
How to plan a first trip to Jerusalem: what to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and how the Old City, museums, market and Dead Sea day trip fit together.
Where to Stay in Jerusalem: Best Areas and Hotels
Where to stay in Jerusalem: the city center near Jaffa Gate, downtown around Zion Square and the market area, with the best hotel for each budget.
Jerusalem in Three Days: An Itinerary for the Old City, Museums and Markets
A three-day Jerusalem itinerary: the Old City sights, the Mount of Olives, Yad Vashem and the Israel Museum, Mahane Yehuda Market and how to plan around the Sabbath.
Eating and Drinking in Jerusalem: Markets, Street Food and Local Flavors
A food guide to Jerusalem: hummus, falafel, sabich, burekas and sweets, how Mahane Yehuda Market works, kosher basics, Old City eating and tips for the Sabbath.
Best Time to Visit Jerusalem: Seasons, Holidays and Weather
When to visit Jerusalem: weather by season, the spring and autumn sweet spots, how religious holidays affect crowds and prices, and what to pack.
Free Things to Do in Jerusalem: Sacred Sites, Viewpoints and Markets
Free things to do in Jerusalem: the Western Wall, the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, Yad Vashem, the Mount of Olives, the Garden Tomb and more, with tips on saving money.
