From the sky, Jerusalem is a mass of white stone dwellings, spread over hilltops, with the walled Old City as a center point. Despite the city's buildings all being made from the same stone, (this is according to a planning law), the diversity from area to area is huge, with each neighborhood being its own little world. Within a matter of kilometers you can switch from the history and intensity of the Old City, to the cosmopolitan buzz of downtown, from the hubbub of a souk to the peacefulness of a panoramic look-out point, from hearing Arabic on Salah Al-Din Street to Hebrew in Malha Mall, from the religiosity of
Mea Shearim to the dance club culture of Talpiot.
Old City
The walled Old City is the center of Jerusalem (but sometimes feels like the center of the world), with Jewish West Jerusalem on its one side and Arab East Jerusalem on its other. It's a wonderful place to get lost in by day and to marvel at its fairytale-like beauty when it is floodlit at night. A walk around the...
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of synagogues in Jerusalem. From the tiny neighborhood shtiebels to the palatial Belz Synagogue that stands out on the northern Jerusalem skyline. But the oldest, and most unusual synagogue in the city is the Karaite Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. Karaite Synagogue, Jerusalem: Photo:Shmuliko@Wikimedia. Karaite Jews believe the structure dates back to the 8th century, but most historians attribute the... Read More
On the ground, Jerusalem’s Old City is a maze of winding, narrow alleyways, crowded with churches, mosques and synagogues, all held together by the shuk–the exotic market streets tightly packed with stalls filled with trinkets, food, pottery and spices. To make sense of it all, it pays to climb up to one of the many observation points scattered throughout the Old City to spend a few moments to take it all in. The top three observation points in... Read More
Jerusalem is surrounded on all sides by astoundingly beautiful, and very different terrain, depending on which direction you choose to travel from the holy city. Many visitors choose to head eastward toward the Dead Sea to experience some of the most astonishing scenery and hikes in the Middle East. Hiking is a revered national Israeli pastime, and the trail system is well developed and generally easy to follow. For an easy family hike, consider a day hike... Read More
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Aish Building Rooftop
- It costs 10NIS (about $3) to walk into the Dan Building of Aish HaTorah's Center overlooking the Western Wall -- admire the Chihuly chandelier,...
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- Religious Sights
- Old City
- Nile Expert Tip: Best uncrowded view over the Western Wall and Temple Mount.
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Genesis Land
- Hands-on place to learn about what life was like in biblical times. Activities for all ages range from pottery restoration and creating...
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- Offbeat Activities
- Jerusalem outskirts
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Bukharan Neighborhood
- Today the once grand mansions belonging to the Mousayyof and Samuiloff families have lost their luster, but the neighborhood itself is still a...
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- Walking
- north-central
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