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The Holy Sepulchre is a large building spanning several areas in which Christ is believed by Christians to have been crucified and died, was buried, and then rose from the dead on the third day. Eastern Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and Oriental Orthodox Christians are each allotted separate areas in the church dating largely to the time of Saladin.…

An abandoned Arab village near the western entrance to Jerusalem. The place is full of spacious, multilevel, half-ruined buildings. Some of the houses are rebuilt and Jewish families live in these. It's easy to find wild opuntia (cactus fruit) and almond trees there. The must-see spot in Lifta is a long, very narrow tunnel going from the bricked-in ancient pool at the bottom of the village.…

Part of the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, it was built by Herod the Great during his expansion of the Temple in 20 BCE. The wall became the Jews' chief place of pilgrimage during the Ottoman Period. In this period it become known as the "Wailing Wall", where Jews lamented the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in AD 70.…

Israel's national museum sprawls over a compound near the Knesset and covers a broad body and extremely unique body of work in its five wings. The Judaica Wing contains an unequalled collection of Jewish ceremonial pieces, tools, and artwork from throughout the Diaspora, as well as an entire replica of both a 17th century Italian synagogue and an Indian synagogue.…

(Arabic: Qubbat Al-Sakhra, Hebrew: Kippat HaSela), located in the middle of the sanctuary opposite of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, is probably the most dazzling and well-known landmark of Jerusalem, with its golden dome and octagonal blue walls adorned with calligraphy of Quranic verses.…

This Armenian cathedral is one of the most beautiful of all the sacred buildings in Jerusalem. It was constructed in the 11th and 12th centuries over the traditional tomb of St James the Apostle. Attending an Armenian Orthodox vespers service is a treat, even for non-believers. Vespers is held each evening (except Sunday) at 3:00 and lasts until 3:30.…

Now occupied by the Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem, the Citadel is an imposing fortress inside the city wall beside the Jaffa Gate. Utilized and expanded throughout the centuries as a means of protection, excavations have revealed remains dating back to the 2nd century BC and indicate that there was a fortress here in Herodian times.…

A model of the city of Jerusalem, with every building painstakingly modeled at 1:500 scale. Planned buildings that have not yet been built are also included, in transparent plastic rather than their real colors. Covers all the significant parts of the city (though not the outer suburbs). Free tours are generally offered every 30 minutes between 10-12:30 weekdays.…

Yad Vashem is Israel's Holocaust museum - documenting the Holocaust, preserving the stories of its six million victims, and teaching future generations through its archives, library, school, museums and recognition of the Righteous Among the Nations. Yad Vashem is a large complex of tree-studded walkways leading to museums, exhibits, archives, monuments, sculptures, and memorials.…

In a maze of narrow and winding streets, Hurva Square is the heart and social center of the Jewish Quarter. Its open areas offer cafes, souvenir shops, and snack bars with outdoor seating. On the west side of the square is the site of the Hurva Synagogue (Hurva means "ruins").…

Also known as the Church of Agony because it is built over the rock where Jesus agonized about his death, this 4th-century church has been rebuilt many times, the most recent structure being the result of financial contributions from 12 nations. To commemorate the benefactors, the church was designed with 12 domes adorned with each country's coat of arms.…

Open 9AM to 4:30PM. Located slightly down the street from Saint James Cathedral, it is housed in what was once either the monastery or the guest house for the Armenian Monastery of Saint James. The museum holds an impressive and very well documented collection demonstrating the history of Armenia both religious and secular.…

This is a tour of the underground parts of the Western Wall, including the evolution of the Temple Mount from the First Temple period to today. A wonderful tour for those interested in the archeology and history of the Temple Mount.…

A West Jerusalem landmark, built in 1933. There is a tower with views of the surroundings. The view is not bad, but less impressive than one might expect (you can see part of the Old City walls, and the top of Dome of the Rock, but little else of note). Going up the tower costs NIS 20 - inquire at the main desk and you should be able to go up with little delay.…

A vibrant shopping street which forms the bouncing heart of Haredi Jerusalem. Especially on the evenings preceding the Sabbath and major holidays, and on summer nights, it is one of the busiest areas of the city.…

Disputed to be an alternative to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the location of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, the Garden Tomb is located a block north of the Damascus Gate. British general, Charles Gordon, popularized the view that the skull shaped hill just north of the city was the Golgotha referred to in the New Testament.…

The point from where Mohammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. This association has made the building the third-holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina. Construction of the mosque began less than 20 years after the completion of the Dome of the Rock. Al-Aqsa has undergone many changes since its original construction.…

This Crusader-era church was built between 1131 and 1138 to replace a Byzantine church. It is traditionally believed to be the spot where Anne and Joachim, the parents of the Virgin Mary, lived. the church fell into ruins until it was donated to France by the Ottomans in 1856.…

Adorned by a conical dome and a tall bell tower, this Mount Zion church is the traditional site of the Virgin Mary's death. Several churches have been built on the site. The present-day structure was built in the early 20th century for the visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The main part of the church contains a mosaic floor featuring the signs of the zodiac and the names of various saints and prophets.…

Located to the east of Mount Zion and overlooking the Kidron Valley, this church commemorates the traditional site of St Peter's denial of Christ. In the crypt below the church are ancient caves, purported to be the place where Christ spent the night at the hand of Caiphas before being presented to Pontius Pilate.…

Once running nearly the entire length of the Old City from north to south, the Cardo is an excavated and partially reconstructed section of the Jerusalem's main thoroughfare in the Byzantine era. Visitors can get a good idea of how the whole once looked by descending to the 200 m (650 ft) section alongside the Jewish Quarter. The central roadway was 12.5 m (41 ft) wide and lined with shops.…

It is possible to walk above the central souk along the rooftops of the city. Visitors can climb up to the rooftops via a small staircase at the corner of St Mark's Road and Khabad Street. A second set of stairs leads up from Muristan Road and visitors can exit into the courtyard of Khan el-Sultan, which allows exit onto Chain Street.…

This neighborhood is perhaps the closest the 21st century can get to the shtetl Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. Minimally influenced by the modern world, the Hasidic residents of Me'ah Shearim continue to dress like their great-grandparents and speak Yiddish conversationally.…

Directly across from the Church of All Nations, the Tomb of the Virgin is believed to be where the Disciples entombed Mary, the mother of Jesus. Forty-seven steps lead past side niches and down to crypt, which contains the burial place of Queen Melisande of Jerusalem, St. Anne and St. Joachim (Mary's parents) and the Virgin Mary.…

The traditional burial site of the prophet Samuel, who chose Saul and David to be kings. Over the centuries this has been a pilgrimage site for Christians, Muslims, and Jews. It is one of the highest points in the Jerusalem area, and has a stunning view in all directions. A number of bus routes from Jerusalem to Givat Ze'ev or Modiin Ilit stop here.…

Archaeological digs have shown that this hill is the Biblical city of Gibeah, which was King Saul's capital before David came to the throne. The ancient ruins are not visible, but you can see a large ruined modern building. King Hussein of Jordan started building a palace here in the 1960s, but the 1967 war interrupted this and the palace was never finished.…

the Israeli Parliament Building - The Knesset offers guided tours (in Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Amharic, Yiddish, and Finnish) for the public. For both groups and individuals, one must call and arrange their guided tour in advance. One may observe the Knesset sessions from the public gallery on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.…

This arch, which spans the Via Dolorosa, was built by the Romans in AD 70 to support a ramp for the attack on the Antonia Fortress. The arch was reconstructed as a monument to victory when the Romans rebuilt Jerusalem in AD 135.…

An impressive burial monument, approximately 20 meters tall, that is mistakenly attributed to King David's rebellious son Absalom. It is in the valley between the Old City and the Mount of Olives. Just to the south is the so-called Tomb of Zechariah which is also impressive. Between these is Tomb of Bnei Hezir which is cave cut into the cliff, rather than a free-standing monument.…

A prominent hill guarding what used to be the southern approach to Jerusalem. In the First Temple period there was a royal palace here. Its remains, as well as some later archaeological findings, can be seen freely outside. In 1948, the hill was conquered by Jordanian and Egyptian forces, but finally ended up in Israeli hands. There is an excellent view from here in all directions.…

A Jordanian military position from 1948-1967, on the flat land between Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and the Arab village Sur Baher. In 1967 it was conquered by Israeli forces who circumvented it and attacked it from behind. There is now a tall monument on the site, and just to the south a military post with trenches and bunkers that can be explored.…

To get here, exit the Old City through Dung Gate (by the Kotel), turn left, and then take the first street on your right. The site comprises two archeological findings. The City of David is the oldest part of Jerusalem with remains of buildings up to the city's capture by the Babylonians in 586 BC.…

A neighborhood southeast of the city center, founded in 1873 by German Protestants of the "Temple Society", who were expelled by the British during World War II. It's now an upscale residential neighborhood full of restored 19th century homes. Its main street, Emek Refa'im, is a wonderful place to drink coffee and to eat in its many cafes and restaurants.…

Adjoining the Church of the Dormition and located on the lower floor of the Crusader building is a small chamber venerated as King David's Tomb. The chamber—divided for separate viewing by men and women—contains a sarcophagus covered by a drape. From 1948-1967, when the Old City was under Jordanian control and there was no access to the Western Wall, Jews would come here to pray.…

Following the 1967 Israeli victory, a vast reconstruction program in the Jewish Quarter resulted in many important archaeological finds. One of the most significant was the unearthing of the foundations of a massive wall. These fortifications, measuring 7 m (22 ft) thick and 65 m (215 ft) long, are possibly part of the fortifications built by King Hezekiah in the 8th century BC.…

In 1948, Mount Zion was an isolated Jewish outpost exposed to Arab snipers on the Old City walls. A cable car was built between West Jerusalem and Mount Zion to safely provide supplies to Mount Zion. In this small museum, you can see the original cable car, as well as documents and other buildings relating to it.…

The first neighborhood of Jerusalem to be built outside the Old City. The Mishkenot Sha'ananim housing project and the landmark windmill were finished in 1860; the rest of the neighborhood was built in the 1890s. Nowadays the neighborhood is quaint, beautiful, surrounded by parkland, and with a direct view of the Old City walls.…

Down the hill from the Zion Gate is a small Christian cemetery. It is here that the grave of Moravian-born German Oskar Schindler is located. Schindler, an industrialist during World War II, went out of his way to hire Jews as laborers in his factory. By doing so, he saved 1,200 people from the Nazi death camps.…

A fairly interesting place which has reconstructed most of the more obvious ritual tools to be used in the Temple services in the hopes of one day restoring the Temple itself. The front of the store is a book store while the back is a four room museum with one room set aside as a theater to show a 15 minute movie.…

Located directly opposite the Tomb of David on Mount Zion, this small museum is maintained by the Diaspora Yeshiva. The collection includes Holocaust artifacts, artwork inspired by the Holocaust, an exhibit of anti-Semitic publications throughout history, and memorials to individuals and communities that perished.…

This area on the southern side of the Temple Mount had been rebuilt many times over the centuries. Remains from the Herodian (34–4 BC), Byzantine (AD 395–661) and Omayyad (AD 661–750) periods can be found on the grounds. Audio guides are available for 6 NIS, but the map given at the front desk does not follow the audio guide's number arrangement towards the end of the tour.…

At the top of the Jewish Cemetery, which spans the southwestern slope of the Mount of Olives, lies a large catacomb complex containing oven-shaped graves (kokhim). The Palestinian family which discovered the catacomb claims that the tombs belonged to the 5th century BCE prophets Haggai, Malachi and Zechariah.…

The Karaite Jews, numbering 30-50,000 worldwide, are a unique sect of Judaism that has been at odds with mainstream rabbinic Judaism for centuries. The Karaites reject the Talmud (Oral Law) and only rely on the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. You must call ahead for a tour of the synagogue.…

Sacred to Muslims and Christians, this medieval chapel—now part of a mosque—is on the supposed site of Christ's ascension. The chapel was built around AD 380 around a venerated imprint, now set in stone, of Christ's right foot. The chapel became a Muslim shrine after Saladin's conquest in 1187.…

The monastery is open all day, simply ring at the gate. According to tradition, this church was built on the site of the house of Mary, mother of St Mark. Every weekday the three resident monks hold the 25 minute vespers service at 4PM for the small community of Syriac believers as well as visitors.…

Named after Teddy Kollek, Jerusalem mayor from 1965-1993, this park is located in the valley just below Jaffa Gate. The highlight is a fountain with 256 water spouts which performs a choreographed water show once an hour; you are encouraged to run through the fountain on a hot day.…

This is Israel's national cemetery and memorial. It contains the graves of Theodor Herzl and four prime ministers including Yitzhak Rabin. The Herzl Museum is in the entrance plaza. There are memorials for terror victims and MIA soldiers.…

This Russian Orthodox Church, with its gilded onion domes, was built by Tsar Alexander III in 1885 in memory of his mother, Maria Alexandrovna, whose patron saint was Mary Magdalene.…

Amid an old Muslim cemetery which contains graves of Muslim leaders, there is also a large ancient pool once used to hold water. The cemetery is now the center of some controversy, as the Center for Human Dignity (which will include the Museum of Tolerance) is expected to be constructed on the parking lot of the cemete…

Built over Constantine-era ruins, this church sits atop a grotto where Christ is believed to have taught the Paternoster (meaning "Our Father"), or Lord's Prayer. The church is famous for its tiled panels inscribed with the Lord's Prayer in more than 130 languages.…

A picturesque old neighborhood of narrow lanes and courtyards, built starting in 1875. Nowadays it has a distinctive character that is both religious and hipster.…

The central prison run by British authorities from 1917-1948. Towards the end of that period, many members of underground Jewish militias were incarcerated here, including several who were later executed. Now the site is a museum commemorating the underground movements and their members who went through this prison.

According to the Bible, this valley was once used for child sacrifice. Due to its association with evil, Gehinnom/Gehenna later became a name referring to Hell. Now, it is a pleasant though somewhat neglected park. If you come at night, you will see the cliffs lining the valley lit up in a variety of colored lights.

Adorned by a silvery dome, this church is visible from the Muristan even though the entrance is fairly difficult to locate. Founded in the 5th century, the church is significant as one of the most ancient churches in Jerusalem. The church was used as a hospice during the Siege of Jerusalem in 1099.

Designed by starchitect Santiago Calatrava, this monumental bridge carries the light rail over a major intersection at the entrance to Jerusalem. The bridge covers a vast sweeping span supported only by metal chords stretched at oblique angles. You can also walk across on a pedestrian path.

Located between the Knesset and the Central Bus Station, the Supreme Court building (opened 1992) is a mixture of traditional Jerusalem architecture and modern elements. Tours are available each weekday in Hebrew (11:00) and English (12:00), or you could sit in on an ongoing court session.

Laid out chronologically, the Bible Lands Museum provides a detailed look at the ancient societies of the Middle East. The museum's wide range of artifacts from around the region, including among others Egyptian, Minoan, and early Christian works, appeal to a variety of different segments.

Its name meaning "The Lord Wept", this chapel was identified by medieval pilgrims as the place where Jesus wept over the fate of Jerusalem. The chapel's west window frames a breathtaking view of the Old City. A small collection of stone artifacts from nearby excavations are on display.

While small by international city square standards, this square is a common location for political rallies, concerts, street culture, and other events. The light rail runs through here without stopping; the Jaffa Center and City Hall stations are a short walk away in either direction.

Owned by the Franciscans, this site is traditionally held to be where Christ was flogged by Roman soldiers prior to his crucifixion. Opposite the courtyard is the Chapel of the Condemnation, built on the site popularly identified with the trial of Christ before Pontius Pilate.