15 Of The Best Things To Try & Do In Jerusalem

best things to do in jerusalem
Petra
Petra 
Updated
| 4 min read

Israel is a country full of controversy, history, and symbolism. If you are curious to learn more about why certain things are the way they are, you must visit, to better understand. Jerusalem may well be the perfect base for your research on the country and it may provide answers to your questions with a minimum effort and a lot of charm.

1. Wailing Wall

Wailing Wall Jerusalem Victor Grigas 2011 -1-50
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Victorgrigas used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Wailing Wall is legendary and needs no introductions. It is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray.

Trivia: Regarded as a potent symbol, notes containing prayers are placed in the cracks of the wall. They are collected twice a year and buried on the Mount of Olives.

Wailing Wall

Website: Wailing Wall

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2. Temple Mount & Dome of the Rock


The Temple Mount is a hill and one of the most important religious sites in the world, venerated by Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, alike. The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine located on the Temple Mount. It was initially built in 691 AD, but, after collapsing in 1016, it underwent reconstruction in 1021.

Trivia: Except for the 88 years of rule by the Crusaders, the Temple Mount has been in Muslim hands for almost 1300 years.

Temple Mount

Website: Temple Mount

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3. Mount of Olives


A lot of events and discoveries are centred around this place. The Mount of Olives is a Judean necropolis, an extended Jewish cemetery and the place where Jesus is said to have ascended to Heaven.

Local’s Tip: The panorama from its top is Jerusalem’s most iconic view.

Mount of Olives

Address: Judean Mountains, east of and adjacent to Jerusalem’s Old City

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4. Garden of Gethsemane


Found at the foot of the Mount of Olives, this garden is most famous as the place where it is said Jesus prayed and spent the night with the apostles before his crucifixion.

Trivia: The olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane have been dated to be at least 900 years old.

Garden of Gethsemane

Website: Garden of Gethsemane

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5. King David's Tomb


David was – according to the Hebrew Bible – the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah. This place, located on Mount Zion, is regarded as his tomb, according to a burial tradition, which began in the 12th century.

Trivia: With the absence of scientific research, the authenticity of the tomb still gives way to many questions.

King David's Tomb

Website: King David’s Tomb

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6. Mahane Yehuda Market


Mahane Yehuda Market, also known as the ‘Shuk’, is a pulsating centre, in the centre of it all.

Local’s Tip: On weekdays, the market should be visited between 9am and 5pm – you will find it less crowded, full of fresh produce, and with all its stalls open.

Mahane Yehuda Market

Website: Mahane Yehuda Market

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7. Basher Fromagerie


Of course, there are also attractions inside the attraction! Basher Fromagerie is not only that but the best place in town to find European and Israeli cheeses, in a friendly atmosphere.

Local’s Tip: If you’re looking for great souvenirs, you are in the right place! And no, I am not referring only to cheese.

Basher Fromagerie

Website: Basher Fromagerie (in Hebrew)

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8. The Old City - three markets: Butchers, Perfume and Goldsmiths

Jerusalem_OLd City market_8_Noam Chen_ IMOT
Source: Photo by Flickr user Israel_photo_gallery used under CC BY-ND 2.0

We’ve got the Butchers Market, the Perfume Market, and the Goldsmiths Market. The alleys crossing them are narrow and covered.

Local’s Tip: Walk through all three and note the differences and connections between them. The markets will merge into Oil Press Street, where on Fridays, women from nearby villages still come to sell their greens and vegetables.

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9. Armenian Quarter

best things to do in jerusalem | armenian quarter
Source: instagram

Located in the southwestern part of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Armenian Quarter is one of the four main quarters of the Holy City’s core.

Trivia: The Armenian dialect spoken here is highly distinctive, as Arabic has had and still has a large influence on it.

Armenian Quarter

Website: Armenian Quarter

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10. Christian Quarter


Situated in the northwestern corner, the Christian Quarter was built around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is actually the heart of the quarter.

Trivia: The upper part of Via Dolorosa is found in the Christian Quarter.

Christian Quarter

Website: Christian Quarter

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11. Jewish Quarter

Jewish Quarter
Source: Photo by Flickr user Chris Yunker used under CC BY 2.0

Lying in the southeastern part of Jerusalem’s Old City, the Jewish Quarter is home to numerous synagogues and yeshivas.

Local’s Tip: You can now navigate the Jewish Quarter through an engaging treasure hunt-style game, available for your smartphones in English and Hebrew.

Jewish Quarter

Website: Jewish Quarter

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12. Muslim Quarter

best things to do in jerusalem | muslim quarter
Source: instagram

The Muslim Qurter is in the northeastern quarter of Old Jerusalem and is the largest and most populated of all quarters and a true cultural shock, as many travellers exploring it have stated.

Trivia: Currently, there are about 60 Jewish families living here.

Muslim Quarter

Website: Muslim Quarter

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13. Puzzle Quest

Posted by ‎Jerusalem Puzzle Quest- פאזל קווסט ירושלים‎ on Friday, 31 July 2015

What’s Puzzle Quest? It’s an escape room - one of those places that keep you locked in until you find the clues to get out.

Local’s Tip: Bring friends. As this is not an escape room in the classical meaning of the phrase, you will encounter an extra person in the room [in the case of Nazir games], which will make the experience more of a quest, allowing 6 to 12 people to take part. Other sessions are for teams of 2 to 6. The more, the merrier and the price per person decreases when the team is larger.

Puzzle Quest

Website: Puzzle Quest

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14. Cooking class

Food in Israel
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user young shanahan used under CC BY 2.0

With the mix of culinary traditions in the city, this may well be one of the highlights of your time in Jerusalem.

Local’s Tip: Although not apparent, a cooking class in Jerusalem is an experience that will open your eyes to the culture and lifestyle of the local people. Choose wisely.

Cooking class

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15. Soreq Cave


A small, but beautiful natural attraction, just outside Jerusalem, Soreq Cave is also known as the ‘Stalactite Cave’. It is thought to date back some 300,000 years.

Trivia: The bizarre patterns inside the cave, combined with the ghostly lighting, create an eerie vibe.

Soreq Cave

PDF Brochure: Soreq Cave

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The end

Or a new beginning. If you like Jerusalem - you will be back, no doubt about it.

“I don’t think the area of Jerusalem should be part of a Jewish state; it belongs to all people, to Christians and Muslims and the Jewish people” -Patti Smith.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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I write from Braşov, Romania – my base camp when I am not away, on the slopes, on water, or staring at a historical site I’ve dreamed about. What has travelling taught me so far? To be humbler. I...Read more

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