Season guide · Jerusalem · Israel
Jerusalem in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Original uploader was אסף.צ at he.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Wildflowers, comfortable temperatures and the peak pilgrim season around Easter and Passover, when rooms are scarce. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 10 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 10
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 16°C (61°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 6 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| April | 21°C (70°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 3 | 12.9 h | 5/5 |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 1 | 13.8 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 10 of the year's roughly 43 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Jerusalem Marathon (usually March)
- April: Easter and Holy Week processions (March or April)
- April: Passover (March or April)
- April: Holy Fire ceremony at the Holy Sepulchre (Orthodox Holy Saturday)
Make the most of the weather
Historic site · Old City
Old City walls and Ramparts Walk
The Ottoman walls built under Suleiman the Magnificent in the 1530s run for about 4 km around the Old City with eight gates, including Jaffa, Damascus and Lions' gates.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · Jaffa Gate
Tower of David Museum
Climb Phasael Tower at the start of your stay to get your bearings over the four quarters.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- After dark
.jpg){kind=link}
Neighbourhood · Jewish Quarter
Jewish Quarter, Cardo and Hurva Synagogue
The Jewish Quarter was largely rebuilt after 1967 over excavated layers, including a restored stretch of the Byzantine Cardo, the colonnaded main street, now partly lined with shops.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Viewpoint · Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives
Take a taxi to the top in the morning, when the sun is behind you, and walk down past the churches to Gethsemane.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- History
Viewpoint · Muslim Quarter
Austrian Hospice rooftop
On the Via Dolorosa, this 19th-century pilgrim hospice has a garden café serving Viennese coffee and apple strudel and a rooftop with a panoramic view over the Dome of the Rock and the Old City's domes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
- Food
Day trips in spring
- Bethlehem (About 30–45 minutes by bus or taxi) — Bethlehem, in the West Bank, is home to the Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built over the grotto venerated as the birthplace of Jesus, and Manger Square.
- Masada (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — Herod's palace-fortress on a mesa above the Dead Sea is reached by cable car or by the steep Snake Path on foot, best climbed at dawn.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Jerusalem?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Wildflowers, comfortable temperatures and the peak pilgrim season around Easter and Passover, when rooms are scarce.
+What is the weather like in Jerusalem in spring?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 10 rainy days over the season.