Old City

Dome of the Rock

Knesset

Supreme Court

3.2.1 around town
3.2.2 museums
3.2.3 active
3.2.4 culture
3.2.5 shopping
3.2.6 nightlife
3.2.7 eat
3.2.8 sleep

Photo credits from top:

Banner - Flickr user dlisbona
1 - Flickr user david55king
2 - Flickr user papalars
3 - Flickr user hoyasmeg
4 - Flickr user yxejamir

3.2.1 Around Jerusalem

Jerusalem has its fair share of cool places to explore

The Old City

Jerusalem's Old City is a walled one kilometer area in the center of the city. It is home to the Western Wall, the remaining wall of the Jewish Temple, Dome of the Rock, where Muhammad is said to have risen to heaven in Islam, and Church of the Sepulcher, where Jesus is believed to be crucified and buried. The Old City is divided into four quarters; The Jewish Quarter, The Armenian Quarter, The Christian Quarter, and The Muslim Quarter, and its main entrance is through the Jaffa Gate (although there are six other gates.) This is a cool place to take a walk, and brush shoulders with some of the most religious people of the three major world religions. A visit to Jerusalem is not complete without a visit here.

Visitors are welcome at the Western Wall provided they cover their heads, whilst the Church of the Sepulcher is also open to tourists. Only Muslims are allowed into the Dome of the Rock although non-Muslims can tour the compound of the nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque if they wish.

The New City

West Jerusalem, the area to the west of the Old City, where the new city has been built recently, is home to a number of interesting places including Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum, and the Knesset (Israeli parliament building.)

Jerusalem's newest trendy area is the Old Train Station Compound. On the city's outskirts, this area has recently been transformed with a fashionable selection of restaurants, and bars, alongside a courtyard hosting cultural events. This is also fast becoming THE place to go for nightlife in Jerusalem.

Also worth a visit is Emek Refaim, Jerusalem's Sheinkin Street, and it isn't far off. With Templar Period buildings, housing chic boutiques, and trendy cafes, this is well worth a visit.

City Tours:

Tours run around Jerusalem in many forms. They might not (all) be the coolest ways to see the city, but do present the city in an interesting way.

Walking Tours are run by the Jerusalem Municipality. These tours meet at Safra Square, 26 Jaffa Street at 10AM on Fridays and Saturdays, and are in English. The cost is NIS 30 on Friday, and are free on Saturday.

Bus Tours - Bus Route 99 is a double decker bus which passes most of the city's major sites. With an audio tour it is useful as a general overview of the city which takes two hours, or for getting between sites.

Alternatively, and we think this is a cooler way of touring the city, www.jerusalemmp3.com offers mp3 tours of the city. With 80 sites included, simply download and listen.