You are a first time visitor to Jerusalem? Since childhood, you have heard many stories about this city and now you want to see for yourself what makes this place so special? You want to understand why this city is considered holy by three world religions and you want to finally understand why so many people fight about every inch of this city?

During the eight hours of this tour, we will immerse ourselves in the history, religion, sounds, smells and problems of Jerusalem. We will visit the main religious and historic sites of the Old City, after which we will enter the parallel universe of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews. The tour will end in Jerusalem’s modern part, where we will experience regular life in an anything-but-regular city.

SITES INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

Jaffa Gate

One of the eight gates that lead into the Old City of Jerusalem. Built by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Great in the 16th century, its doors were closed every day by sunset until 1860. In 1898, part of the city wall next to Jaffa Gate was torn down in order to permit German Kaiser Wilhelm II to enter the city with his entourage.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The holiest site for most Christians, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was first built by Queen Helena in the 4th century AD and destroyed and rebuilt numerous times throughout its tumultuous history. This church includes the last five stations of the Via Dolorosa, the Hill of Golgotha on which Jesus was crucified and the Aedicula, which is the structure built above the grave of Jesus.

Roman Cardo

The Old City of Jerusalem was under Jordanian control between 1948 and 1967. During these 19 years, the Jewish Quarter was almost entirely destroyed by the Jordanians, which meant that everything had to be rebuilt after the Six Day War of 1967. Before the rebuilding, archaeologists were allowed to perform archaeological digs in the Jewish Quarter, resulting in some of the most amazing discoveries ever made in the Old City. One such discovery was the Roman Cardo, which was the main North-South axis that stretched through the city that was then called Aelia Capitolina.

Hurva Synagogue Square

The word "Hurva" means "ruin" in Hebrew. The Hurva Synagogue had been destroyed various times throughout its history - but after each destruction the inhabitants of the Jewish Quarter decided to rebuild this house of prayer. Today the square in front of the Hurva Synagogue is the center of the Jewish Quarter and the synagogue itself is seen as a symbol for the resilience of the inhabitants of the Jewish Quarter.

Aish HaTorah Center

Aish HaTorah is a Jewish Orthodox organization, which maintains a beautiful center in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. A visit to the Old City is never complete without a visit to the rooftop terrace of the Aish HaTorah center, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, as well as over the Mount of Olives.

Western Wall

This holiest site in Judaism is the remainder of the western supportive wall of the Temple Mount Plaza, upon which the Jewish Temple once stood. The Jewish Temple had been destroyed twice in history: once by the Babylonians in 586 BC and once by the Romans in 70 AD. Since Jews are longing for the rebuilding of the Temple, this is the venue where they come to express their sorrow, as the Western Wall is the closest point to where the Holy of Holies used to stand. Here we will soak up the spiritual atmosphere that engulfs this site.

Austrian Hospice

Definitely one of the most charming place in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Austrian Hospice used to be the lodging of choice for the upper classes of the Austrian Empire during their visits to the Holy Land. We will visit the rooftop terrace for one of the finest views over the Old City, we will relax in the garden of the Viennese Café and with some luck we will meet Sister Bernadette, who runs the entire operation and who is doubtless the coolest person in the entire Old City of Jerusalem.

Damascus Gate

This majestic gate is still today the main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. This is nothing less than the "Grand Central Station" of Jerusalem, and we will be able to watch Jews, Muslims and Christians entering through this gate, each group hurrying to their specific places of worship. Below the Ottoman gate of the 16th century we will discover remainders of the original Roman triple-gate, making this the main entrance to the Roman city of Aelia Capitolina.

Me'ah She'arim

The neighborhood of Me'ah She'arim (Hundred Gates) is located outside the Old City walls and it is home to Jerusalem's ultra-orthodox (or hHaredi) Jews. Here we will wander the alleyways of the neighborhood, exploring and experiencing the lifestyle of this enclosed community, which sometimes seems to belong to a different place in time.

Kidane Mehret Ethiopian Church

Located between modern downtown Jerusalem and the ultra-orthodox neighborhood of Me'ah She'arim, this Ethiopian church stands here since the late 19th century. Inside this church we will marvel at the beautiful interior of the church and understand the history of this branch of the Christian Orthodox Church.

Nahalat Shiv'a

The neighborhood of Nahalat Shiv'a (Estate of the Seven) was the third Jewish neighborhood built outside the City Walls of Jerusalem in 1869, being named after its seven founding families. We will stroll through the beautiful pedestrian mall of this Nahalat Shiv'a, while learning about the history of this quaint neighborhood in the middle of Jerusalem's downtown.

Ben Yehuda Street

Until 1983, Ben Yehuda Street was open to car traffic, after which it was turned into a pedestrian mall. Today this street constitutes the beating heart of Jerusalem's downtown, where shops, cafes, restaurants and street artists compete for your attention. The street is named after Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the "inventor" of the modern Hebrew language.

Mahane Yehuda Market

Mahane Yehuda (Hebrew for Juda's Camp) is a bustling produce market (referred to as Shuk), part of which is covered and part of which is open. Here we will learn the history that stands behind today's bustling and colorful market, which recently has become a prime spot for Jerusalem's nightlife, as the alleys of the market are turned into party-venues after dark.

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