Things to do · Jerusalem · Israel
20 best things to do in Jerusalem
20 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Jerusalem are Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock. Of the 20 picks below, 12 are free, 4 work on a rainy day and 2 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Western Wall
- Free sights
- 12
- Good on a rainy day
- Western Wall Tunnels
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Wall | Old City | 45 minutes | Free |
| Church of the Holy Sepulchre | Christian Quarter | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock | Old City | 1 hour | Free |
| Via Dolorosa | Muslim Quarter | 1 hour | Free |
| Israel Museum | Givat Ram | 3–4 hours | Mid-priced |
| Mahane Yehuda Market | Nachlaot and Mahane Yehuda | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Western Wall Tunnels | Old City | 75 minutes | Low cost |
| Old City walls and Ramparts Walk | Old City | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Tower of David Museum | Jaffa Gate | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Jewish Quarter, Cardo and Hurva Synagogue | Jewish Quarter | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter souq | Muslim Quarter | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Mount of Olives | Mount of Olives | 2 hours | Free |
| Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations | Mount of Olives | 45 minutes | Free |
| City of David archaeological park | South of Dung Gate | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Mount Zion and the Dormition Abbey | Mount Zion | 1 hour | Free |
| Yad Vashem | Mount Herzl | 3 hours | Free |
| Armenian Quarter and St James Cathedral | Armenian Quarter | 1 hour | Free |
| Austrian Hospice rooftop | Muslim Quarter | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Ein Karem | Ein Karem | Half a day | Free |
| Jerusalem Biblical Zoo | Malha | 3 hours | Mid-priced |
The 20 best things to do
Religious site · Old City
1.Western Wall
The Western Wall is a surviving retaining wall of the Herodian Temple Mount and the holiest place where Jews pray. 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.
Visit on a Friday around sunset to see Shabbat being welcomed with song, but do not take photos at the plaza once Shabbat has begun.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
Religious site · Christian Quarter
2.Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Built over the sites venerated as Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus, this church is shared by several Christian denominations, including the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches. 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.
Arrive early in the morning to see the Aedicule with a short queue, and dress with shoulders and knees covered.
- 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
The raised esplanade, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, holds the gold-domed Dome of the Rock, completed in 691–692, and Al-Aqsa Mosque. 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.
Visiting hours are short and can change or be cancelled at short notice, so check locally the day before and arrive early; dress modestly and leave religious items behind.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Street · Muslim Quarter
4.Via Dolorosa
The traditional route of Jesus's final walk runs from near Lions' Gate through the Muslim and Christian quarters to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marked by fourteen Stations of the Cross. Along the way are the Church of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo arch and the Austrian Hospice.
Walk it early in the morning, before shops open and the lanes fill with tour groups.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Givat Ram
5.Israel Museum
Israel's largest museum covers archaeology from prehistory to the Ottoman period, Jewish art and life, and fine art from Rembrandt to contemporary works. 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.
Start with the Shrine of the Book and the city model before the galleries fill, then pick one wing.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
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Market · Nachlaot and Mahane Yehuda
6.Mahane Yehuda Market
Jerusalem's main market, known as the shuk, has around 250 stalls of produce, spices, halva, cheeses and baked goods between Jaffa Road and Agrippas Street. Painted portraits on the stall shutters appear when they close, and after dark small bars and restaurants take over the lanes, busiest on Thursday nights.
Visit twice: on Friday morning for the pre-Shabbat rush, and on a weekday evening for the bars.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
Historic site · Old City
7.Western Wall Tunnels
A guided tour follows the continuation of the Western Wall underground for several hundred metres beside the Muslim Quarter, past enormous Herodian stones, an ancient street and water channels. It explains how the Temple Mount platform was built.
Tours are not suitable for anyone uncomfortable in narrow passages; wear shoes with grip.
- Time needed
- 75 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Entry is by guided tour only and slots fill days ahead; reserve through the official Western Wall Heritage Foundation site.
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Historic site · Old City
8.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. 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.
Start at Jaffa Gate and take the northern section towards Damascus Gate for the best views into the Christian and Muslim quarters.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · Jaffa Gate
1.Tower of David Museum
The citadel beside Jaffa Gate has layers from the Hasmonean, Herodian, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods and now houses the Jerusalem history museum, which reopened in 2023 with new galleries. 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.
Climb Phasael Tower at the start of your stay to get your bearings over the four quarters.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Book the evening night show ahead in summer and holiday periods.
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- After dark
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Neighbourhood · Jewish Quarter
2.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. The rebuilt Hurva Synagogue's dome and balcony give a fine view of the quarter, and the Herodian Quarter museum shows mansions from the Second Temple period.
Climb to the Hurva's balcony for one of the best views across to the Mount of Olives.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Market · Muslim Quarter
3.Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter souq
Damascus Gate is the most ornate of the Ottoman gates and the busiest entrance to the Old City, with vendors selling ka'ak bread and produce on the steps. Inside, Al-Wad Street and Souq Khan al-Zeit are lined with spice sellers, sweet shops, butchers and hummus counters serving local shoppers.
Stop for warm knafeh at a sweet shop off Souq Khan al-Zeit; it is best mid-morning.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Viewpoint · Mount of Olives
4.Mount of Olives
The ridge east of the Old City gives the classic view across the Kidron Valley to the walls and the Dome of the Rock. Its slopes hold an ancient Jewish cemetery and churches including Dominus Flevit, shaped like a teardrop, and the Russian Church of Mary Magdalene with gold onion domes.
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
Religious site · Mount of Olives
5.Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations
At the foot of the Mount of Olives, a small garden of very old olive trees is venerated as the place where Jesus prayed before his arrest. The adjoining Church of All Nations, completed in 1924, has a mosaic facade and a dim interior with violet-blue windows.
Combine it with the walk down from the Mount of Olives and enter the Old City through Lions' Gate.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · South of Dung Gate
6.City of David archaeological park
On the ridge just south of the Old City walls, near Dung Gate, this archaeological park explores the oldest settled part of Jerusalem, with Bronze and Iron Age remains. The highlight is wading through Hezekiah's Tunnel, a water channel cut through rock about 2,700 years ago, where knee-deep water flows for about 500 metres.
Bring water shoes and a torch or phone light for Hezekiah's Tunnel; a dry alternative tunnel is available.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Active
Religious site · Mount Zion
7.Mount Zion and the Dormition Abbey
Just outside Zion Gate, Mount Zion holds the Room of the Last Supper (the Cenacle), the site venerated as King David's Tomb below it, and the Benedictine Dormition Abbey with its round tower and gold mosaics. Zion Gate itself still shows bullet marks from 1948.
Visit after the Jewish Quarter, leaving through Zion Gate.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Mount Herzl
8.Yad Vashem
Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust includes the Holocaust History Museum, a triangular concrete prism by Moshe Safdie, the Hall of Names, the Children's Memorial and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations. Entry is free; the museum is not suitable for young children.
Allow at least three hours and plan something quiet afterwards; the light rail stops at Mount Herzl, a short walk away.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Check the official site before visiting for any advance registration requirement.
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · Armenian Quarter
9.Armenian Quarter and St James Cathedral
The quietest of the four quarters is home to an Armenian community dating back many centuries, centred on the Cathedral of St James, its interior hung with oil lamps and lined with blue tiles. Workshops nearby paint the distinctive Armenian ceramics sold across the city.
The cathedral opens to visitors mainly for afternoon services; arrive a little early and stay quietly at the back.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Art
Viewpoint · Muslim Quarter
10.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.
Ring the bell at the gate; the rooftop costs a small fee and the garden is a calm break from the souq.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
- Food
Neighbourhood · Ein Karem
11.Ein Karem
A hillside village on the western edge of the city, revered as the birthplace of John the Baptist, with the Church of St John the Baptist, the Church of the Visitation and Mary's Spring. Its lanes, galleries and terrace restaurants feel far removed from the Old City crowds.
Go in the late afternoon and stay for dinner on a garden terrace.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
- Outdoors
Zoo · Malha
12.Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
Set in a landscaped valley with a lake, the zoo focuses on animals mentioned in the Bible and on endangered species, with large enclosures, a petting area and a small train. It is one of the city's best outings for families.
Combine it with the Jerusalem Aquarium nearby for a full family day.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Israel Museum, Tower of David Museum, Yad Vashem and Armenian Quarter and St James Cathedral |
| History | Western Wall, Western Wall Tunnels, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock |
| Views | Old City walls and Ramparts Walk, Tower of David Museum, Jewish Quarter, Cardo and Hurva Synagogue and Mount of Olives |
| Outdoors and nature | Old City walls and Ramparts Walk, Ein Karem and Jerusalem Biblical Zoo |
| Food and markets | Mahane Yehuda Market, Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter souq and Austrian Hospice rooftop |
| After dark | Western Wall, Tower of David Museum and Mahane Yehuda Market |
| With children | City of David archaeological park and Jerusalem Biblical Zoo |
| On a rainy day | Western Wall Tunnels, Tower of David Museum, Israel Museum and Yad Vashem |
What to book ahead
- 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.
- Yad Vashem: Check the official site before visiting for any advance registration requirement.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Jerusalem?
Western Wall. The Western Wall is a surviving retaining wall of the Herodian Temple Mount and the holiest place where Jews pray.
+What can you do for free in Jerusalem?
Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock, Via Dolorosa and Mahane Yehuda Market. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Jerusalem when it rains?
Head indoors to Western Wall Tunnels, Tower of David Museum, Israel Museum and Yad Vashem.
+What is there to do in Jerusalem at night?
Western Wall, Tower of David Museum and Mahane Yehuda Market are best after dark.