Jerusalem is among the most well-known tourist sites in the world, with the centuries-old city walls giving it the ancient and collected look that is so identified with it. Its sacred image sometimes overshadows countless sites no less important and interesting, albeit from a different angle. Whether you are looking to follow the stories of the kings of Judah or learn about the stories of the different religions that also see Jerusalem as a holy and unique city, the following list is for you.
In preparation for Jerusalem Day, we have collected for you some interesting and touristic places in the capital, suitable for a family trip, magical visit or walking tour.
Ancient and Cool – City of David
Adjacent to the Dung Gate at the exit from the Western Wall, lies the ancient core of the Holy City. At the entrance to the Silwan neighborhood is one of the most important sites in the story of the Jewish people, which not enough Israelis know about or have visited.
The tour begins with a view of the City of David from the roof of the Visitors Center, where we will hear the story of the conquest of the city by King David 3,000 years ago. Later, the tour passes an impressive archaeological site identified as David's Palace and the remains of the city that were destroyed during the Babylonian conquest, but there is no doubt that the main attraction of the site is the Siloam Tunnel, an ancient trench dug during the reign of King Hezekiah during the Assyrian siege. The female is suitable for children from the age of 6, and the cool water in it makes every summer day an experience suitable for almost the whole family. The stories of the kings of Judah who shaped the identity of the people of Israel accompany visitors of all ages, until the exit at the Pool of Siloam.
City of David (Archive), photo: Arnon Busani
For the well-wishers: In recent years, the "Pilgrims' Road" leading from the City of David to the foot of the Western Wall has been opened. Although the road is long and not always easy, the experience of emerging from the ground to the familiar sight of the Western Wall is unique and exhilarating.
For those who do not connect to walking in the canals and prefer the open air, it is possible to walk in the Hinnom Valley that passes between the Old City and the modern neighborhoods of the city. Apart from the charming corner of tranquility, mostly accessible to strollers and wheelchairs, the Hinnom Valley is an important historical site where pagan worship took place during the time of the kings, and thousands of years later the border between Israel and Jordan passed through the area until the reunification of the city in 1967.
Air conditioned and interesting – Israel Museum
Perhaps the most important museum for studying the history of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. The museum's permanent exhibits, such as the archaeological wing, the Jerusalem model and the Qumran scrolls, are a must-see for those visiting the city even for the 30th time. The model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period was transferred decades ago to the museum, from which one can visually learn about the story of Jerusalem in its glory days – but also in its days of destruction.
In the Shrine of the Book, where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls are kept, visitors are exposed not only to the Qumran cult that existed near the Dead Sea in the first century BCE, but also to the way the Bible was written. Although the full scrolls are kept in a hiding place in the museum, scroll fragments and copies reveal the first copies of the Book of Books bequeathed by the Jewish people to the world, which influenced all Western culture.
The Israel Museum in Jerusalem (archive), photo: Yehuda Peretz
In the permanent exhibition on the annals of the Land of Israel, amazing archaeological finds are presented that tell clearly and sharply the history of the Land of Israel and the various peoples and beliefs that emerged and grew here. The exhibit begins from the prehistoric period to the Ottoman period through countless items and from different angles such as faith, ritual, economics, medicine and life itself.
In the museum you will also find permanent and temporary displays of modern Israeli art, displays from around the world and a children's wing that can keep the whole family busy for hours. Finally, you can visit the sculpture installation "Love" for a family photo or a sunset selfie. It always works.
Gorgeous and Wet – Jerusalem Aquarium
This is a great solution for a hot day for both big and small. The huge aquarium built next to the old Biblical zoo apparently came to compensate Jerusalemites for the lack of beaches in the Holy City. The aquarium is divided as many seas as the shores of the Land of Israel (even the Sea of Death has a place of honor), and of all the huge sharks can not leave indifferent even the most cynical visitor. The air-conditioned place is accessible to strollers and suitable for children from the age of one year (or from the moment they are passionate about fish), and includes all the marine creatures that can be found on the shores of the country.
Two years ago, a huge butterfly cage was inaugurated at the exit from the aquarium, where butterflies can fly freely around visitors, while there is a climate system that mimics the ideal temperature and humidity for them. There is also a transparent hive that shows in the clearest possible way the life and work of honeybees. Don't worry, they go in and out of a key that leads them out of the closed compound.
Jerusalem Aquarium, in 2021,
A site that is a postcard – Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives
Throughout the city you can find countless postcards showing panoramas of the Old City, all of which almost show the view from the Mount of Olives. Apart from its historical role as the cemetery of Jerusalem in antiquity (and also in the present), the Mount of Olives is a very busy site in the morning and afternoon, so it is best to arrive mainly in the afternoon and towards sunset, when you can fully understand the concept of "Jerusalem of Gold", when the sun's rays are reflected on the white bricks and the city is painted a majestic golden color.
A few minutes away is another observation deck that many are not familiar with (unless you studied at the Hebrew University). At the foot of Mount Scopus, facing east, a mysterious and magical side of the city is revealed – the side facing the Judean Desert. The green-and-yellow Desert Book can be seen from the steps of the auditorium of Israel's first university, a spot that was an Israeli enclave in East Jerusalem between 1967 and 1948. If you decide to descend from Jerusalem towards Ma'ale Adumim or the Dead Sea, do not miss this observation point, and you can also enjoy a pleasant breeze and an amazing view.
Mount of Olives Cemetery (Archive), photo: Oren Ben Hakon
European and Romantic – The German Colony
Their start was actually good, but wrong decisions by the Templars in Israel put an end to the European community that existed here for several decades, parallel to the development of Jerusalem and the Land of Israel in modern times. At least they left us a very romantic neighborhood, full of fascinating stories through which we can learn about German Protestants who arrived in Israel about 150 years ago, and their story that has been almost forgotten.
After identifying as Nazis and supporting Hitler's rule in Germany, the Templars were expelled by the British Mandate, and some were even imprisoned and exchanged for British prisoners of war. A tour of the mysterious and magical neighborhood is located between the Mishkenot Sha'ananim neighborhood and the Katamon neighborhood, not very large, but there are quite a few historical sites that are also very photogenic and suitable for families or couples.
A typical Templar house in the German Colony, photo: Yossi Zamir/Pupash 90
Restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops can be found at the city's first train station, long before anyone thought of the modern and advanced train station in the city center. It was here that Eliezer Ben Yehuda first saw the machine that transports people from place to place, and decided that a name was needed for this strange vehicle, and decided to call it "train". In this neighborhood you can find all the elements that will later turn Jerusalem into the mighty and vibrant city it has become in its 3000,<> years of existence.
Sights & Events
The site most identified with the war, Ammunition Hill, will open its doors on Jerusalem Day free of charge. The Six-Day War Museum, located on the site of one of the most difficult and famous battles on the way to the liberation and unification of the city, presents visitors with the reality of the soldiers and civilians who took part in it and experienced this war firsthand, including testimonies, newspaper clippings, letters from soldiers from the front and free training. Entry is subject to advance registration.
The communication trench at Ammunition Hill, 1967, photo: Mishna Milner/GPO
As part of the festivities, 17 heritage sites that tell the history of the capital from different points in time will open tomorrow to the general public, who will not have to pay to enter them. Among the attractions will be an innovative audiovisual meeting about the journey of the State Contractor Benjamin Zeev Herzl at the Herzl Museum; festive prayer and klezmer performance at the home of Rabbi Kook, who was one of the founders of religious Zionism; and a tour in the footsteps of the Jerusalem Brigade, which will take place in the Hinnom Valley.
List of heritage sites that will be opened for free: Herzl Center, Rabbi Kook House, Prisoners of Italy Museum, Solomon's Hall, Mishkenot Sha'ananim, Levi Eshkol House, Jerusalem Municipality Visitors Center, Museum for Islamic Art, Karaite Synagogue, Guy Ben Hinnom Farm and Bank of Israel Visitors Center. More details can be found on the website of the Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel.
Among the most interesting sites that will be opened to the general public during the week of the city's reunification celebrations, also free of charge, you will find the City of David, the earliest nucleus from which the city grew and became one of the most talked about holy cities in the world. The beloved night show "Fire and Water" offers visitors a fascinating night experience in a light show projected on top of the antiquities of the City of David, renewed with fascinating content and pyrotechnics that combine special effects. The unique show tells the story of the return to Zion, in which Nehemiah succeeded in harnessing the Persian Empire to rehabilitate the city and return the Jews to their homeland. Details and registration on the City of David website.
Hallelujah show in the City of David, photo: Kobi Harati
The Revelation of Samuel the Prophet in the Renewed Compound: The Civil Administration, in cooperation with the National Center for the Development of the Holy Places, invites the public to participate in the revelry, which will take place on Thursday and Friday. According to tradition, the 2019th of Iyar, which is the day of the liberation of Jerusalem, also serves as the day of the praise of the Prophet, whose grave is located in northern Jerusalem, near Givat Ze'ev. As every year, tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the compound. The site, which was rehabilitated and renovated in <>, is under the joint responsibility of the Civil Administration and the Nature and Parks Authority, including, inter alia, a comprehensive reconstruction of the buildings at the site.
Tomb of Samuel the Prophet, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us