West Jerusalem Attractions in Jerusalem

There's lots more to see and do in Jerusalem than the Old City. Once you've experienced the historic and religious sights within the Old City's walls it's time to head west to see how the modern state of Israel has developed.

Our top pick in western Jerusalem is the world-renowned Israel Museum, restored in summer 2010. Spend half a day here and you'll see everything from the Dead Sea Scrolls to contemporary Israeli art, with archeology and Judaica thrown in. The Museum gift store is a great place to shop for original and reasonably-priced gifts.

From the Museum it's not far to the Monastery of the Cross, which is far less visited, but equally captivating. This Greek Orthodox Monastery is believed to be the site of the tree that became the cross where Jesus was crucified, and the inner church has some of the most striking centuries-old murals in Jerusalem. It's also a tranquil place for a little contemplation and reflection.

Within walking distance from the Monastery is the lovely Jerusalem Botanical Garden--within its grounds are examples of plants and flowers from every continent; beautiful trails through the grounds, a pond and the Caffit Cafe that makes a pleasant rest stop.

In the center of town, the Machane Yehuda scores high on the list of places to visit in western Jerusalem. The alleyways filled with colorful produce and locally hand made items as well as the freshest fast food--felafel, coffee, baked goods--make this a fun stop in any itinerary.

Other worthwhile places to see in western Jerusalem include the Bird Observatory, Yemin Moshe neighborhood and the picturesque Ein Kerem village. Next door to Ein Kerem are Yad Vashem Holocaust Historical Museum and the Mt Herzl Military Museum.

Israel Museum

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Ruppin Blvd
Ruppin St

Israel's national museum reopened on July 26, 2010 after a 3-year face lift...
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Monastery Of The Holy Cross

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Rehavia Valley
below the Israel Museum

Greek Orthodox monastery...
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Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

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Yehuda Burla
Hebrew University ,Givat Ram Campus

Heaven on Earth!...
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Machane Yehuda Market

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Agripas Street and Jaffa Street

Bustling outdoor food market...
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Jerusalem Bird Observatory

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Rothschild Blvd

Jerusalem's center for bird-watching...
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Yemin Moshe Neighborhood

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Yemin Moshe

Picturesque neighborhood overlooking Old City walls...
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Ein Kerem

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Rehov Ein Karem

Village within Jerusalem. Churches and alleys...
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Mount Herzl Military Cemetery

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Herzl Boulevard,
Mount Herzl

Israel's national military cemetery. Burial place of Yitzhak Rabin and Theodor Herzl...
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Herzl Museum

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Herzl Boulevard

Audio-visual encounter with the visionary of the Jewish state...
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The Tisch Family Zooological Gardens

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Derekh Agudat Sport HaPoel
Past the Jerusalem Technological Park

The Biblical Zoo...
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