History · Jerusalem · Israel
8 historic sites to see in Jerusalem
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: אורי אלוני, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 11–14 hours across 5 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 11–14 hours
- Areas
- Old City, Christian Quarter and Muslim Quarter
Historic sites in Jerusalem
Religious site · Old City
1.Western Wall
The open plaza in front is divided into men's and women's prayer sections, and visitors of all faiths may approach the wall; many leave written prayers in the cracks between the stones. It is free and reached through a security check.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
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Religious site · Christian Quarter
2.Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Inside are the Stone of Anointing, the chapel at Calvary up a steep stair and the Aedicule over the tomb, restored in 2016–2017. Entry is free.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
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Religious site · Old City
3.Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock
Non-Muslim visitors may walk the esplanade during limited visiting hours, entering by the wooden bridge beside the Western Wall plaza; the interiors of the mosques are open to Muslims only.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Street · Muslim Quarter
4.Via Dolorosa
Along the way are the Church of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo arch and the Austrian Hospice.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Givat Ram
5.Israel Museum
The white-domed Shrine of the Book displays Dead Sea Scrolls, and outdoors a large scale model shows Jerusalem in the late Second Temple period.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Old City
6.Western Wall Tunnels
It explains how the Temple Mount platform was built.
- Time needed
- 75 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Historic site · Old City
7.Old City walls and Ramparts Walk
The Ramparts Walk lets you follow two sections along the top of the walls, looking down into courtyards and across to the Mount of Olives.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · Jaffa Gate
8.Tower of David Museum
Its towers give one of the best views over the Old City rooftops, and an evening sound-and-light show is projected onto the walls of the courtyard.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- After dark
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old City | Western Wall, Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock, Western Wall Tunnels and Old City walls and Ramparts Walk | 45 minutes + 1 hour + 75 minutes + 1–2 hours |
| Christian Quarter | Church of the Holy Sepulchre | 1–1.5 hours |
| Muslim Quarter | Via Dolorosa | 1 hour |
| Givat Ram | Israel Museum | 3–4 hours |
| Jaffa Gate | Tower of David Museum | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for Western Wall Tunnels and Tower of David Museum. The longest visit is Israel Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Western Wall Tunnels: Entry is by guided tour only and slots fill days ahead; reserve through the official Western Wall Heritage Foundation site.
- Tower of David Museum: Book the evening night show ahead in summer and holiday periods.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old City): Western Wall → Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock → Western Wall Tunnels → Old City walls and Ramparts Walk, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Christian Quarter and Muslim Quarter): Church of the Holy Sepulchre → Via Dolorosa, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Givat Ram): Israel Museum, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Jaffa Gate): Tower of David Museum, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. The coldest month, with rain, wind and chilly stone interiors; snow falls in some years.
- February: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and wet but with clear, bright days; almond trees blossom in the hills.
- November: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. Mild with the first winter rains; a good-value month with comfortable walking weather.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old City — Stone lanes, holy sites and pilgrim guesthouses inside the walls
More of Jerusalem
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Jerusalem?
Western Wall. The Western Wall is a surviving retaining wall of the Herodian Temple Mount and the holiest place where Jews pray.
+Which of these are free in Jerusalem?
Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock and Via Dolorosa.