The Old City of Jerusalem is one of the most special places on Earth! At the heart of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian religions, this one-kilometer area in the center of Jerusalem is beyond words and cannot be missed. The Old City is home to the Western Wall (aka Wailing Wall and in Hebrew Kotel). This is the last remaining wall of what was once the Jewish Temple. It is today the holiest site in the world for Jews.
Above the Western Wall lies the Dome of the Rock, which is important for Muslims as the site where the prophet Muhammad was thought to rise to heaven. Just a few minutes’ walk away lies the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is where some believe Jesus was crucified and buried. One of the best ways to experience the Old City is with a tour. Consider joining the Half-Day Old City Tour or the Jerusalem Day Tour to get a full experience.
Highlights of the Old City
The Old City of Jerusalem splits into four quarters; The Jewish Quarter, The Armenian Quarter, The Christian Quarter, and The Muslim Quarter. You can enter the walled city through one of seven entry gates, although the busiest for tourists is the Jaffa Gate next to which is the Tower of David Museum, providing the history of Jerusalem within the Old City Walls. Each quarter has its own unique atmosphere and observations, sites and smells, and experiences.
History of the Old City
The Old City of Jerusalem could be as old as creation itself: as biblical legend holds, the Temple Mount in the heart of the Old City is the very same place where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac in the bible story. It’s been the center of Biblical scenes ever since: the ancient Jewish temples of 2000 years ago, of which today only exists the Western Wall, the last remnant of the second temple; Golgotha, the site where Jesus Christ is thought to have been crucified, now sanctified inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcre; the Dome of the Rock, one of the most significant sites in Islam where it’s thought that Muhammad ascended to Heaven; and countless more incredible sites.
The layout and structure of today’s Old City is relatively more modern, but by our standards, still ancient. The walls were built during the Ottoman reign of Jerusalem around 500 years ago, and still stand strong today.
The Jewish Quarter
In the Jewish Quarter, for instance, the narrow alleyways are lined by the homes of Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish families and Yeshivas (schools for Torah study). Walking around, you can observe the residents of the Jewish quarter go about their daily lives. There are teenage students in the Yeshivas who are often here from around the world, children playing outside schools between lessons, men rushing around between places of worship – and of course, many people praying at the Western Wall. The houses of the Old City – and the Jewish quarter, in particular – are hotly contested real estate, and for good reason. They command spectacular prices on the rare occasion that they trade hands.
The Jewish Quarter’s narrow alleyways open up as you reach the Western Wall Plaza and the wall itself. At times of Jewish festivals, the wall can be more busy than ever. Observing the tourists brushing alongside daily prayers here is an interesting site. Anybody can go up to the wall, although men and women have separate areas. Men should cover their heads (there are paper kippahs available), and women should wear modest clothing. It is customary to place a small prayer on a piece of paper within a crack on the wall. Amazingly, the vast Western Wall represents just a tiny percentage of this elevation of the Temple. The Western Wall Tunnels, accessed via the plaza, allow visitors to see even more of the wall underground. This special tour goes deep underground into the Jewish history of the Old City, exploring the tunnels and the ancient City of David.
The Muslim Quarter
The Muslim Quarter is a huge contrast to the Jewish Quarter. Its streets are busier and more crowded, with vendors – especially within the famous Shuk – selling all varieties of products. In contrast to the other quarters where shops are generally selling religious or tourist-appealing products, here the Shuk is literally an ancient shopping mall in the 21st century where one can practice their bartering skills and buy almost anything imaginable.
As in the Jewish Quarter, and the rest of the Old City, tourists wandering the streets of the Muslim Quarter find it hard to imagine how the locals go about their everyday business so normally in what is such an intense place. Kids play in the street, and men sit out in cafes smoking nargila (hookah or shisha). Also interestingly, within the Muslim Quarter lies whats known as the Little Western Wall. This is where the wall is once again exposed and visible. This iconic section of the wall could be even more important than the Western Wall, because it is closer to the ‘Holy of Holies’ – the holiest part of the Temple.
The Dome of the Rock sits above the Western Wall Plaza. While non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the building itself, tourists can tour the compound and nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque. We highly recommened you visit the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount on a guided tour. Reserve your spot now!
The Christian and Armenian Quarters
Moving into the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, there is yet another change. Home to about 40 holy sites to Christians, in the streets here you will see priests and pilgrims from around the world. This quarter rose around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is where Jesus is said to have been crucified and buried. Even the Church can’t decide who controls this hot patch of real estate. Different Christian sects oversee different parts of the structure, and there are often disputes over maintenance and some parts are in poor condition.
The smallest quarter of the Old City is the Armenian Quarter. This area is home to some 2,500 Armenians, an ancient community who have resided here for over 2,000 years.
For a great overview of the Old City, walk along the Ramparts Walk on top of the walls of the Old City. If you’d like to visit the Christian Quarter in depth, check out this special tour of Christian Jerusalem.
