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JPY (Â¥)Celebrating Christmas in Israel is a unique, magical experience that every Christian should have at least once in their life. Though it’s not a public holiday in Israel (the main religions in Israel are Judaism and Islam) and lacks much of the commercialism of the Western world, it’s an extremely meaningful place to spend Christmas. Israel is the actual land where the nativity story took place. You might be wondering where the best place to spend Christmas in the Holy Land is. Whether you’re visiting Bethlehem, celebrating Christmas in Nazareth, Jerusalem, or Tel Aviv-Jaffa, it is sure to be a memorable experience! Join our memorable Israel Christmas tours to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the country’s most festive spots.
Christmas in Israel generally coincides with Hanukkah in Israel, the Jewish festival of light, which spreads a festive spirit across the land. This year, there’s a short gap between them, with Hanukkah running from December 4th, 2026, to December 12th, 2026. We’ve put together this special Hanukkah evening tour so you can celebrate both holidays in style in Jerusalem!
In areas with Christian populations, such as Jaffa, Haifa, Nazareth, the Old City of Jerusalem, and many Russian neighborhoods, Christmas symbols light up the picturesque streets.
Christmas in Bethlehem
If you are visiting Israel for Christmas or just happen to be here and want to celebrate, the most special place to explore is Bethlehem. Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem, in the West Bank. Here, magnificent, famous services take place on Christmas Eve in Manger Square. In northern Israel, Nazareth, Jesus’s hometown, is also an interesting place to be at Christmas, with many festivities.
For a memorable, seamless visit to Bethlehem during Christmas, join our special Christmas Eve in Bethlehem (and Jerusalem) Tour - Midnight Mass, departing from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Herzliya. Discover legendary sites in the old city of Jerusalem, including Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, before venturing to the sacred city of Bethlehem. Next, enjoy a festive dinner before embracing Bethlehem’s joyful holiday spirit and witnessing Midnight Mass celebrations in Manger Square, broadcast on the big screen. For an even more comprehensive, magical Christmas, join our Christmas in Bethlehem and Jerusalem 2 Day Tour, Christmas in Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem - 2 Day Tour, or our Highlights of Christmas in Israel 3 Day Tour to experience the charm of Christmas across Israel.
Looking to see more Christian landmarks? Check out these fully private, multi-day Catholic tour packages in Israel.
Christmas in Jerusalem
Spending Christmas Day in Jerusalem is the dream of millions around the world. Would you like a Christmas Day experience unlike any other? We’ve put together this unique Christmas Day Tour - In and Around Jerusalem. You’ll begin this tour by delving into the history of John the Baptist, starting in the picturesque Ein Karem neighborhood, John’s birthplace and a modern-day idyllic village. Then, you’ll go to Qasr el Yahud, where John baptized Jesus, before ending your Christmas Day relaxing at the lowest point on Earth and admiring a breathtaking sunset over the Dead Sea. This is a once-a-year tour that truly offers the Christmas of a lifetime. Reserve your spot now!
Be sure to check out our other amazing tours of Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem!
Christmas in Tel Aviv-Jaffa
In a city better known for its beaches and nightlife than its holiday traditions, Christmas in Tel Aviv-Jaffa is a quieter affair, but it rewards those who seek it out. December 25th is an ordinary working day in Israel, yet head south to the ancient port city of Jaffa and the season comes alive.
Jaffa’s Arab Christian community has long given the area its festive heart: a towering Christmas tree often stands near the historic Clock Tower, strings of lights wind through the stone alleys of the Old City, and the Franciscan St. Peter’s Church, perched above the harbor, draws worshippers and curious visitors to its Christmas Eve Mass. Beyond Jaffa, the city’s diverse residents add their own touches, from Filipino caregivers gathering for carols and celebrations to Russian-speaking families marking Novy God with decorated trees at New Year’s. The result is an understated but surprisingly warm mosaic of traditions, set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean.
Christmas in Nazareth
If Tel Aviv-Jaffa offers a subtle taste of Christmas, Nazareth delivers the full feast. Jesus’s childhood home and Israel’s largest Arab city, Nazareth centers its celebrations on the Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest church in the Middle East. In the days before Christmas, the Old City glows with lights, a grand tree is lit in the city center, and the festivities continue into January, when the Greek Orthodox community marks its own Christmas.
The best way to experience Christmas in Nazareth is on a journey through the places where the story began. Our Christmas in Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem 2-Day Tour visits Caesarea, Akko, and Nazareth’s Church of the Annunciation, then spends Christmas Eve in Jerusalem’s Old City and Bethlehem, with a holiday dinner and Midnight Mass on the giant screen in Manger Square. For a deeper experience, the Highlights of Christmas in Israel 3-Day Tour adds the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, and ends Christmas Day with sunset over the Dead Sea.
