Other Sites of Interest in Jerusalem

 

Aish HaTorah Observation Point

 

Aish HaTorah's Observation Deck overlooking the Western Wall sits atop the Aish HaTorah World Center in the Jewish Quarter and was named “One of the Top Ten Panoramic Views in the World.” It offers a 360-degree view of Jerusalem's most important sites: the Western Wall Plaza, the Temple Mount, the Mount of Olives, the City of David, the Judean Hills, and the Judean Desert. A detailed model of the original temple built by King Solomon also helps visitors visualize the magnificence of Mount Moriah in the 10th century BC. 

 

Bible Lands Museum

 

The Bible Lands Museum places an exciting journey of the people of the Bible and their cultures into historical context, bringing greater appreciation and understanding of biblical stories within human history from a biblical perspective. On display are the great civilizations that rose and flourished in this region: Sumer, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Canaan, Persia, Greece, and Rome, which were responsible for the advancements of Western civilization. Established in 1992, the Bible Lands Museum is situated in the city's cultural heart and holds a unique collection dating back to the beginning of written history. An audio guide is available in English and Hebrew. 

The Burnt House Museum

 

This museum is an excavated house from the Second Temple period located six meters below the current street level of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. A wealthy priestly family inhabited it at the end of the Second Temple period, and it is believed to have been set on fire during the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. In the early Roman period, this area was the “Upper City,” located on the higher hill west of the temple. In the museum, visitors can watch a short film about the Roman invasion and life in the Second Temple period. The Burnt House is included in the “Jewish Quarter Combined Ticket” purchase, which includes access to the tower at Hurva Synagogue and the Herodian Quarter Museum. The site is on Tiferet-Yisrael Street in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.  

 

Christ Church Jerusalem

 

Christ Church Jerusalem is an Anglican church located inside the Old City of Jerusalem. Bishop Samuel Gobat consecrated it in 1849, and it is the oldest Protestant church building in the Middle East. The Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ) helped finance the church’s construction and has been active in the Land of Israel since the 1820s. Their mission statement reads: “Driven by a commitment to the God of Israel and the people of Israel, our purpose at CMJ Israel is to represent the Love of Yeshua (Jesus) in word and deed with the Jewish people and Gentiles living in the Land and visiting from abroad.” The church is part of a small compound just inside the Jaffa Gate opposite King David’s citadel, and the compound includes the Heritage Center museum, Beit Bracha guest house (meaning House of Blessing), which is a bed and breakfast and prayer garden.

 

The Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

 

This Catholic church is in the picturesque village of Ein Karem, 4.5 miles (7.5 km) southwest of Jerusalem. The church and monastery were built over the ruins of ancient Herodian, Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader layers. Inside the church is a cave, where, according to tradition, was the birthplace of John the Baptist. The Franciscan Order of monks purchased the property in 1674 and restored the church with help from the Spanish royal family. In 1941–42, excavations west of the church uncovered graves, rock-cut chambers, wine presses, and small chapels with mosaic tiling. The southern rock-cut chamber contained ceramics dating back to the first century BC, which is the presumed lifetime of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John. 

 

Church of St. James

 

Located within a walled compound in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City is the Church of St. James, honoring two martyred believers of that name — James the Great, one of the first apostles to follow Jesus, and James the Less, believed to be a close relative of Jesus and a key leader of the church in Jerusalem. James the Great was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I, around 44 AD (Acts 12:1–2). James the Less was martyred by temple authorities about 20 years later by being thrown from the temple platform, then stoned to death. According to Armenian tradition, the church contains the head of James the Great and the body of James the Less.

 

Church of St. John the Baptist

 

The Greek Church of St. John the Baptist, in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, is easy to spot by its distinctive silvery dome. This is Jerusalem's oldest church, built in the mid-5th century and restored after the Persians destroyed it in 614 AD. Italian merchants built the current building between the 8th and 11th centuries, and the Crusaders renovated it in the 12th century. The ancient church, more than seven meters below street level, is still accessible via a staircase. According to Greek Orthodox tradition, this church held the head of John the Baptist. The entrance is on Christian Quarter Rd., where it intersects David St.

 

Christian Information Center

 

The Christian Information Center (C.I.C.) has been sponsored by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land since 1973. The Center is located opposite the Tower of David, just inside the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City. The purpose of the C.I.C. is to provide information about Christianity and the Holy Land – such as holy places and shrines, churches in the region, and aspects of religious and cultural life.

 

Herodian Quarter/Wohl Museum of Archaeology

 

Archaeologists discovered the Herodian Quarter when the Jewish Quarter was rebuilt after the Six-Day War. Located underground, it preserves the remains of six houses from the Herodian period (the reign of King Herod), excavated in 1967, and is considered one of the world's largest underground archaeological sites. In the Herodian period, this part of the city was home to wealthy priestly families. Homes were built on the western hill (today’s Mount Zion) overlooking the Temple Mount, with each home's roof at the basement level of the house above it, so every house enjoyed a clear view of the temple. There are three distinct levels, with the lowest considered to be a mansion with a possible 6,000 square ft. (557 m.) of original floor area. None of the upper stories survived the Roman torching of the city in 70 AD.

 

Hurva Square Plaza

 

In the center of the Jewish Quarter, surrounded by a maze of narrow, winding streets, is Hurva Square Plaza, an open area with outdoor seating, cafes, souvenir shops, and snack bars. On the west side of the square stands the Hurva Synagogue. During the War of Independence in 1948, the 19th-century synagogue was destroyed; then, in 2010, it was reconstructed in its original Ottoman style. From the upper balcony, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. You can purchase the Jewish Quarter special ticket, which includes entry to the Hurva Synagogue, the Wohl Museum of Archaeology (Herodian Quarter), the nearby Burnt House, and the Jerusalem Archaeological Park-Davidson Center. This combined ticket requires a reservation made through the Company for the Restoration and Development of the Jewish Quarter and can save you a bit of money if you intend to visit these 4 attractions. 

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Israel Museum – Shrine of the Book – Model City of Jerusalem

 

Founded in 1965, the Israel Museum was extensively enlarged, refurbished, and reopened in 2010. Within this sprawling 20-acre (8 hectares) compound, you will find the Archaeology Wing, the Shrine of the Book, the Model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period, the Wing for Jewish Art and Life, the Fine Arts Wing, the Youth Wing, and the Art Garden. 

 

The Archaeology Wing tells the story, chronologically, of the ancient Land of Israel, which was home to peoples of different cultures and faiths, from prehistory through the Ottoman Empire.

 

The Shrine of the Book is a white-tiled dome building that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world. Researchers found these scrolls, along with rare early medieval biblical manuscripts, in Qumran in 1947.

 

The Model of Jerusalem reconstructs 1st-century Jerusalem in the Second Temple period, showing the city's topography and architecture before the Romans destroyed it in 66 AD. The model is at a 50:1 scale and covers nearly an acre (0.4 hectares).

 

The Jewish Art and Life Wing exhibits four complete synagogues brought from various locations around the world and reconstructed.        
 

Jeremiah’s Grotto

 

Jeremiah's Grotto is a cave located just outside the north wall of Jerusalem, where tradition says Jeremiah wept bitter tears and composed the book of Lamentations. The grotto is under what is called Scull Hill near the Garden Tomb.

 

Little Western Wall

 

The Little Western Wall (also known as Small Kotel) is a small portion of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount located in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem near the Iron Gate. The Kotel is near the middle of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, and it is the second-closest place to the Holy of Holies (outside the Temple Mount) where Jews can pray.  The passage alongside the wall is a courtyard of Ribat Kurd, a hospice for Muslim pilgrims founded in 1293.

 

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

 

The Church of the Redeemer was built on the ruins of the medieval St. Mary la Latine Church. The site is said to have been a hostel and hospital for Western pilgrims and served as the headquarters for the Knights of St. John, where members of the order nursed patients in the complex’s hospital. In the late 1800s, the church was reconstructed and personally dedicated by Kaiser Wilhelm. The church is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City near the famous Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This Protestant church's square bell tower has graced the Old City's skyline since 1898. It's worth buying a ticket to access the tower for a 360-degree view over the Old City, but be prepared: it’s a winding staircase of 170 steps to the top.

 

Mahane Yehuda Market (the Shuk)

 

Mahane Yehuda Market, affectionately called “the Shuk”—Hebrew for “the market”—is one of Jerusalem’s liveliest places to experience everyday local life. It stretches between Jaffa Road and Agrippas Street, with covered walkways, open-air lanes, and small connecting alleys filled with shops and stalls.

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Established in the late 19th century during the Ottoman era, it originated as an unpaved marketplace where local Arab villagers sold produce to residents of the newer Jewish neighborhoods built outside the Old City walls. Over decades of British Mandate rule and Israeli municipal expansion, it transformed into a bustling permanent bazaar that serves as both a culinary epicenter and a cultural barometer of the city.

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• Layout & Navigation: The market is organized primarily around two main parallel arteries—Eitz Chaim Street (the covered market alley) and Mahane Yehuda Street (the open-air lane)—crisscrossed by smaller side streets named after fruits and nuts.

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• Daytime Commerce: By day, vendors sell fresh produce, spices, halva, freshly baked rugelach and challah, cheeses, olives, and street food staples like falafel, shawarma, and sabich. The energy peaks on Thursday evenings and Friday mornings as residents shop ahead of Shabbat.

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• Nightlife Transformation: After the produce stalls shut their metal shutters in the evening, the market transitions into a busy nightlife district. Alongside the traditional stalls are cafés, restaurants, and bars that give the market a different character after dark. Live music is often performed, too.

 

Old City Rooftop Walk

 

The easiest entry point to the Chabad street rooftops is from the narrow metal steps on the right as you walk down Rehov Chabad just as it meets St. Mark’s Street. You may have to ask for directions as it’s not easy to find, but it’s worth the effort. From there, you can explore large parts of the Old City and enjoy some truly unique views. One of the most fascinating is standing over the Old City's central point, where the main north-south and east-west roads intersect. At this point, the division of the Old City of Jerusalem into its four quarters – Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian can be seen.  

 

Ramparts Walk

 

Walk the walls of the Old City, built around 485 years ago by Suleiman the Magnificent. The Ramparts Walk offers a great overview of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. For a small entrance fee, you can climb the Old City ramparts and circle the city from above. The walk is divided into two parts: The Northern Ramparts Walk begins at Jaffa Gate and can be exited from New Gate, Herod’s Gate, or Lions’ Gate. The Southern Ramparts Walk also begins at Jaffa Gate and can be exited from Zion Gate or Dung Gate. The walk requires a lot of stair climbing and descending. Make sure you have enough water, as once you’re on the ramparts, you can’t get off until you reach an exit.

 

Temple Institute

 

The Temple Institute is an organization in Israel focused on establishing the Third Temple on Mount Moriah (Temple Mount Platform) in Jerusalem. The Institute’s work touches on the temple’s history, the present day, and the divine promise of Israel’s future. As part of its ongoing effort to prepare for a future rebuilt temple, the Temple Institute has been preparing more than ninety ritual items suitable for temple use. The Institute’s activities include education, research, and development. You can visit and tour its facilities, located up the stairs southeast of the Western Wall Plaza.

 

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

 

Yad Vashem (meaning: “a monument and a name”) Holocaust History Museum is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Yad Vashem is located on the western slope of Mount Herzl, also known as the Mount of Remembrance, and was established in 1953. It is dedicated to the memory of the Jews who died under Nazi oppression and Gentiles who selflessly aided the Jews.