Jerusalem is a hilltop city of about 1 million people in the Judean Mountains, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Its walled Old City holds the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) with the Dome of the Rock, while West Jerusalem offers the Mahane Yehuda market, Israel Museum and Yad Vashem, and East Jerusalem has Palestinian-run neighbourhoods, markets and the Mount of Olives.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Jerusalem.
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1
Western Wall (HaKotel)
The retaining wall left from the Second Temple compound is Judaism's holiest accessible prayer site. The plaza has separate men's and women's sections and a large open square that fills for festivals and bar mitzvahs.
Tip: Cover shoulders and knees; paper kippot are handed out free at the men's entrance · Do not photograph or use phones on Shabbat and Jewish holidays · Notes pushed into the cracks are a local tradition; do not remove them
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2
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Built over the traditional sites of the crucifixion and empty tomb, this shared church is administered by six Christian denominations. Pilgrims queue at the Aedicule for the tomb and climb the stairs to the Calvary chapels.
Tip: Queues for the tomb can reach 60-90 minutes on weekends and feast days; go at opening · Dress modestly and keep voices low · Beware unlicensed guides offering tours at the door; walk in and use a printed guide or audio app instead
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3
Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and Dome of the Rock
A vast raised esplanade holding the gold-capped Dome of the Rock (691 CE) and Al-Aqsa Mosque, sacred to Muslims and to Jews as the Temple Mount. Non-Muslims walk a set route, with no prayer and no religious items allowed.
Tip: Carry a passport and dress modestly; bags are searched · Bibles, prayer books and visible religious symbols are not allowed on the compound · Check the Waqf/Israeli police notices on the day because closures happen with little warning
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4
Western Wall Tunnels
A guided walk along the full length of the Western Wall below street level, passing Herodian stones, a 13-ton block and Warren's Gate. The tour ends on the Via Dolorosa side of the Muslim Quarter.
Tip: Book online at thekotel.org; walk-up places are rare · The passage is narrow and not for claustrophobic visitors · Tours are in English at set times; check the language slot when booking
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5
Tower of David Museum
The citadel at Jaffa Gate houses a museum tracing 4,000 years of Jerusalem's history through models, films and excavations. Climb the Phasael tower or ramparts for the best skyline view of the Old City.
Tip: Buy the combination ticket with the night show if staying in the evening · Allow time for the rooftop; it overlooks the Dome of the Rock and Mount of Olives · Free app audio guide available; bring headphones
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6
City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel
The oldest settled part of Jerusalem, with excavated Bronze and Iron Age structures, the Gihon Spring and a 533 m Iron Age water tunnel dug under King Hezekiah. The site is located in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan and is politically contested.
Tip: The tunnel route has knee-deep water (about 40 cm) and is dark; bring a flashlight or phone light, shorts and sandals · The dry Canaanite tunnel is an alternative if a child or elderly visitor cannot wade · Check the political context of the site before visiting; guides tell it from varied perspectives
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7
Via Dolorosa
The traditional path of Jesus carrying the cross, marked by 14 Stations of the Cross that end inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The route is a busy market lane, so pilgrims move through shops and crowds.
Tip: The Franciscans lead a public Way of the Cross procession every Friday at 3:00PM (4:00PM in summer) from the Antonia Station · Station markers are small plaques; use a printed map · Shops are busiest on weekday afternoons
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8
Mount of Olives Panorama
The best classic view across the Kidron Valley to the Dome of the Rock and the Old City walls. The slope holds the world's oldest Jewish cemetery and several churches, including Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit.
Tip: Take a taxi or bus up and walk down; the descent is easy and shaded · Keep valuables out of sight and avoid isolated stretches after dark · Camel-ride and souvenir touts at the top ask high prices; negotiate or decline
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9
Church of All Nations and Garden of Gethsemane
The Franciscan basilica built in 1924 stands over the rock where Jesus is believed to have prayed before his arrest. Ancient olive trees in the adjacent garden are among the oldest in the region.
Tip: Modest dress required; shoulders and knees covered · Silence is expected inside · Combine with the Tomb of the Virgin Mary next door
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10
Mount Zion: Room of the Last Supper and Dormition Abbey
The hilltop outside the Old City walls holds the Cenacle, the traditional room of the Last Supper, the Dormition Abbey with its mosaic crypt, and the venerated Tomb of King David. It also holds Oskar Schindler's grave in the Protestant cemetery.
Tip: Cover legs and shoulders; head covering for men at David's Tomb · Gender-separated areas exist at David's Tomb · Schindler's grave is a short walk down the slope
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Religious_sites
Western Wall (HaKotel)
The retaining wall left from the Second Temple compound is Judaism's holiest accessible prayer site.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Built over the traditional sites of the crucifixion and empty tomb, this shared church is administered by six Christian denominations.
Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and Dome of the Rock
A vast raised esplanade holding the gold-capped Dome of the Rock (691 CE) and Al-Aqsa Mosque, sacred to Muslims and to Jews as the Temple Mount.
Via Dolorosa
The traditional path of Jesus carrying the cross, marked by 14 Stations of the Cross that end inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Church of All Nations and Garden of Gethsemane
The Franciscan basilica built in 1924 stands over the rock where Jesus is believed to have prayed before his arrest.
Mount Zion: Room of the Last Supper and Dormition Abbey
The hilltop outside the Old City walls holds the Cenacle, the traditional room of the Last Supper, the Dormition Abbey with its mosaic crypt, and the venerated Tomb of King David.
Garden Tomb
A quiet Protestant garden with a rock-cut first-century tomb that many Protestants regard as an alternative site of Jesus' burial.
Church of St Anne and Pools of Bethesda
A well-preserved 12th-century Crusader church with remarkable acoustics beside the excavated Pools of Bethesda, where the Gospel of John locates a healing miracle..
Church of St Peter in Gallicantu
A Catholic church built on the supposed site of the high priest Caiaphas' house, with an excavated dungeon and a rooftop terrace over the Kidron Valley..
Museums
Tower of David Museum
The citadel at Jaffa Gate houses a museum tracing 4,000 years of Jerusalem's history through models, films and excavations.
Yad Vashem - World Holocaust Remembrance Center
Israel's official memorial to Holocaust victims includes a historical museum, the Hall of Names, the Children's Memorial and a sculpture-filled campus.
Israel Museum
Israel's national museum shelters the Shrine of the Book with the Dead Sea Scrolls, a model of Second Temple Jerusalem and strong archaeology, Judaica and art wings.
Bible Lands Museum
A museum devoted to the ancient Near East shows Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Anatolian artefacts with context for biblical history.
Archaeological_and_historic
Western Wall Tunnels
A guided walk along the full length of the Western Wall below street level, passing Herodian stones, a 13-ton block and Warren's Gate.
City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel
The oldest settled part of Jerusalem, with excavated Bronze and Iron Age structures, the Gihon Spring and a 533 m Iron Age water tunnel dug under King Hezekiah.
Jewish Quarter and Cardo
A restored quarter with the reconstructed Hurva Synagogue, the excavated Roman-Byzantine Cardo colonnade and Sephardic synagogues.
Armenian Quarter and St James Cathedral
The smallest quarter retains a 1,700-year Armenian community, a handsome 12th-century cathedral and ceramic workshops.
Viewpoints_markets_neighbourhoods
Mount of Olives Panorama
The best classic view across the Kidron Valley to the Dome of the Rock and the Old City walls.
Ramparts Walk
A raised walkway on the Ottoman-era city walls gives rooftop views of the four quarters.
Hass Promenade (Armon Hanatziv)
A long walkway above the Old City with a wide view of the walls, the Mount of Olives and the Judean Desert.
Mahane Yehuda Market (the Shuk)
The city's covered and open-air produce market turns into a drinking and dining scene after dark.
Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter Souk
The largest and most ornate Old City gate leads to Al-Wad Road, spice sellers, sweets shops and bakeries.
Mea Shearim
One of the oldest ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods, with strict modesty customs, Yiddish signage and a wholesale shopping scene.
Ein Karem
A green hillside village traditionally linked to the birthplace of John the Baptist, now filled with artist studios, churches and cafes along a quiet main street..
Family_and_memorial
Biblical Zoo (Tisch Family Zoological Gardens)
A hillside zoo with Noah's Ark-themed displays, Asian elephants, lions and Israeli wildlife such as ibexes and desert foxes.
Mount Herzl and the Herzl Museum
Israel's national cemetery holds the tomb of Theodor Herzl and the graves of prime ministers and soldiers.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- West Jerusalem sites close early on Friday and shut on Saturday; Old City Muslim and Christian sites stay open on Saturday; Christian shops may close on Sunday.
- Fees
- Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre are free; museums run 50-60 ILS ($17-20); Yad Vashem is free.
- Best Times
- March-May and September-November; arrive at holy sites before 9:00AM.
- Booking
- Book Western Wall Tunnels (thekotel.org), Yad Vashem (yadvashem.org) and Israel Museum (imj.org.il) online.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Dress with shoulders and knees covered for all holy sites; carry a scarf.
Group Old City attractions by quarter to cut walking; see the Western Wall and Tunnels together.
Carry a passport for the Temple Mount security check.
Use the Gett taxi app on Shabbat when the light rail and buses stop.
Check the current safety advisory before travelling and follow local police instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are needed in Jerusalem?
Three days cover the Old City, Mount of Olives and one West Jerusalem day; five to seven days add Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Ein Karem and day trips.
Is Jerusalem open on Shabbat?
Many West Jerusalem sites and the light rail are closed from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, but the Old City Muslim and Christian quarters stay open.
Do I need to book Yad Vashem?
Entry is free, but timed online booking is recommended.