The David Citadel stands on King David Street in the city center, one of the biggest luxury hotels in Jerusalem with 385 rooms. It is a short walk from Jaffa Gate, the Tower of David Museum and the Mamilla shopping street, so the Old City is easy to reach on foot while you come home to resort-style comfort. Facilities include a heated outdoor pool with a children’s pool, a spa with massage and Ayurvedic treatments, a gym with fitness classes, three restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine, a coffee shop, a poolside bar and a playground. It suits travelers who want a full-service luxury base with plenty to do between sightseeing days, and it works especially well for families who want a pool and space to relax.
Location and getting around
The hotel is about seven minutes on foot from Jaffa Gate and the Tower of David Museum, around ten minutes from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and about fifteen minutes from the Western Wall. The Mamilla shopping street is three minutes away, which makes evening strolls and dinners simple. For Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum or the Mount of Olives, a taxi or ride-hailing app is the easiest option from the city center.
Rooms and facilities
The rooms have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, rainfall showers and bathrobes, and room service is available around the clock. Ask for a higher floor or a city view when you reserve if the outlook matters to you. Breakfast is a buffet that is charged on many rates, so compare prices with and without it.
Self-parking and valet parking are available for a daily fee, which is worth knowing if you plan to drive to the Dead Sea or Masada. Only service animals are allowed, and check-in begins in the afternoon with a midday check-out. Meeting rooms and a hair salon add to the full-service feel, and free cancellation is available on some rates, so check when you book.
Who it suits
Couples marking an occasion, families who want a pool and a playground, first-time visitors who prefer a central luxury address and travelers who like a spa day between long walks. Because it is a large hotel, it can be busy at holiday periods, so book early for the spring and autumn peaks. As with other hotels in the city, check the Sabbath arrangements for dining, lifts and check-in if that matters to your stay.
Making the most of a stay
The hotel sits close enough to the Old City that an early start is easy, so consider walking to Jaffa Gate before the day tour buses arrive, then returning for a swim and a spa treatment in the afternoon heat. The playground and children’s pool make it simpler to plan a slower day with younger travelers, and the three restaurants mean you can dine in on a Sabbath evening if other places are closed.
Why stay here
- ✓Heated outdoor pool and children’s pool
- ✓Spa with massage and Ayurvedic treatments
- ✓Gym with fitness classes
- ✓Three restaurants, a coffee shop and bars
- ✓Playground
- ✓Meeting rooms
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓24-hour room service
Good questions
How far is the David Citadel from the Old City?+
It is about seven minutes on foot to Jaffa Gate and the Tower of David Museum, and roughly fifteen minutes to the Western Wall.
Does the hotel have a pool and a spa?+
Yes, there is a heated outdoor pool with a children’s pool, and a spa offering massage and Ayurvedic treatments. Check the pool hours for your dates when you book.
Is breakfast included?+
A buffet breakfast is available and is charged on many rates, so compare prices with and without it when you reserve.
