Things to Do in Jerusalem

The Western Wall was built in 20 BC by King Herod and occupies a part to the west of the Temple Mount. The Western Wall is also called as ‘The Wailing Wall’ since for centuries, Jews have gathered here to grieve over the loss of their Temple.

The wall has seen its fair share of troubles and has been a witness to the destruction caused by the Romans in 70 AD. During the 16th century under the Ottoman rule, the wall became a place of worship for the Jewish people and even today, you can see hundreds of people come here to offer their prayers, write notes and place them in the wall.

Many celebrities and important personalities have also visited the wall to offer their prayers and experience an inseparable part of Jerusalem’s history. 

The Second World War took a toll on the whole world and Israel was no exception. The atrocities against the Jews by the Germans are shown at the Yad Vashem - Holocaust Memorial which in its own way, is a reminder of the times when humanity was lost.

See the photos of the victims and see art combined with history to depict the heartbreaking moments during the Second World War

Highlights include:

• Personal belonging, artefacts of the victims and testimonials of those who survived the Holocaust.

The place also has a Visitor Center, Art Museum and a Synagogue in the premises. 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains the 2 holy sites of Christianity - the ‘Calvary’ where Jesus was crucified and the empty tomb where he was buried and believed to have resurrected.

The entrance of the church is where you will find the Anointing Stone where Jesus was laid down to be prepared for his burial. Visitors rub oil on the stone and kiss it as a mark of respect.

Mythology and history really do breathe life into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and missing a visit here is simply missing out on a huge part of Jerusalem. 

The Mount of Olives is probably one of the most fascinating places on Earth. It is believed that Jesus Christ visited the Mount of Olives 3 times before he took his last breath and every time he did, incidents of great importance have taken place.

Today, the Mount of Olives shapes yet another of Jerusalem’s historic stories. A tomb of Mary is also located near the Mount and many churches, convents and Monasteries are located here.

Highlights include:

• The view of the city from the mountain.
• Historic tombs and graves of Rabbis.

The Jewish Quarter stretches along the Armenian wall, starting from the Zion Gate all the way to the Western Wall and is still the residential place for the Jewish population of the city. The place was established around 135 CE and its archeological findings includes a 2000 year-old illustration of the Temple Menorah.

Highlights include:

• Burnt House
• Remnant of the Broad wall
• Pool built by the Romans found in the excavation of 2010

The quarters form an integral part of Jerusalem’s history and a walk here is nothing short of exploring a new world altogether. 

Mahane Yehuda Market is fresh market by day and hustling-bustling night hub after dark. From Spices and Fruits to Nuts, Tahini, Teas and Cheese, to Jewelry and Clothes, the market literally has everything and more!

If you think Jerusalem does not have a prominent night life, a visit here after dark to try some amazing food and drinks, will prove you wrong!

The market is loved for its sheer energy with shopkeepers adding to the charm of the place. If you are good at bargaining, you can buy gifts for great bargains. 

The Old City of Jerusalem consists of 4 quarters- Muslim, Armenian, Jewish and Christian and has preserved Churches, Mosques and Temples that cover an area of 0.9 square kilometers.

The place has many other old buildings and structures including the Western Wall (wailing wall), ‘Yeshivas’ or homes of Israeli settlers, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock and innumerable Synagogues among others.

Every building adds up to form this magnificent, time-travel experience which adds to the spectacle. 

The Israel Museum has some of the best artifacts and unique objects in not just the history of the country but of the world. The museum was established in 1965 and is one of the largest museums in Middle East!

Highlights include:

• A Nail which is believed to be one of the nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
• Dead Sea scrolls (the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world).

The museum also has a Fine Art museum and an Art Garden and functions the other museum on their off-site location including the Rockefeller Museum and Ticho house. 

The Garden of Gethsemane has an ancient Olive garden where Jesus would visit quiet often with his disciples to pray and where they slept the night before Jesus was crucified.

It was at this very place that the soldiers arrested Jesus Christ and handed him over to Pontius Pilate. Today, the garden is a place of worship and still echoes its stories.

The calm, tranquil ambience of the place is apt for taking a few minutes and offering a prayer in silence while a walk through the premises is akin to touching history.  

The Garden Tomb is the worship place for Anglicans and Protestants, believed to the place where Jesus was buried (to the controversy of the other burial place).

The controversy comes from the place of Jesus’s burial being called ‘Golgotha’ or ‘Skull Hill’ assumed to be this very place by Scholars since the mid-19th century.

The tomb along with the garden does make for a pleasant place to visit when in Jerusalem. Join the innumerable people who come here to pray at the tomb and to experience the tranquil environment.

The Tower of David Museum is an ancient Citadel located in the Old City of Jerusalem. The original tower was destroyed by theAyyubid and Mamluk rulers. The present day structure was built around the Ottoman rule.

The place is where archaeological objects were found that are over 2000 years old.

The Citadel has a mosque inside and has a courtyard where the archeological ruins (around 2700 years old) are still preserved. The museum encompasses around 4000 years of history within its walls!

Highlights include:

• Night show
• Holograms and audiovisual presentation which represents the story of the structure and its findings. 

The Hezekiah's Tunnels are a part of the ancient City of David and is an archeological site where you can walk though the historic ruins of the city including water tunnels called the Hezekiah's Tunnels/ Siloam tunnel which were built to function as aqua-ducts to provide water to the whole city.

Today, you can still take a walk through its tunnels which spread for kilometers.

Highlights include:

• Pool of Siloam mentioned in the Old and New Testament
• The Biblical tour of the whole city which includes a view city, a walk through the tunnels and Palace excavations. 

The Temple Mount is considered to be a Holy place for Jews and for Muslims. Parts of the temple date back to 1 BCE.

The temple is where Prophet Mohammed is believed to take the journey from being a human being to God. For Jews, this place is important since this is where Abraham offered his son Isaac, as a sacrifice.

The Golden dome was added in the 7th century and till today only Muslims can enter to offer their prayers. 

Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) of the ‘Path of Sorrow’ was where Jesus walked through to the Crucifixion. Following the same path through the old part of Jerusalem is nothing short of an out of body experience.

The whole route consists of 14 stations which start from the place where Jesus was condemned by Pilate and end to the ‘Calvary’ where he was crucified.

The station includes the place where Jesus met Mary, where Simon took up the cross and where Jesus spoke to the women of Jerusalem. The final station where Jesus was buried endsthe walk.

The Church of Saint Anne was built in early 12th century near the ruins of a Byzantine basilica. The church is built on what is believed to be Mother Mary’s childhood home and later where Jesus performed healing miracles for the people.

The Church survived through Salah ad-Din's capture of Jerusalem and still remains in the Muslim Quarters of the city.

Highlights include:

• Fantastic acoustics of the church
• The Alter dedicated to Mother Mary
• One of the Pools of Bethesda which were believed to have healing powers

The church adds to the mystique and legendary stories of Mother Mary and Jesus and if you love places with a deep meaning and historic architecture, a visit here will add to your curious bone!