Jerusalem Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Jerusalem tours and things to do in the Holy City: walk the Old City to the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock, take in the Mount of Olives panorama, float in the Dead Sea below the fortress of Masada, and visit nearby Bethlehem. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
rating
Explore Jerusalem by interest
Whatever brings you to Jerusalem — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Jerusalem
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Western Wall
Holiest site.
Dome of the Rock
Temple Mount.
Mount of Olives
Panoramic view.
Dead Sea
Lowest on Earth.
Masada
Desert fortress.
Bethlehem
Church of the Nativity.
Machane Yehuda
Buzzing market.
Holy Sepulchre
Christian shrine.
Jerusalem in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old City
- 2Day 2: Dead Sea & Masada
- 3Day 3: Bethlehem
- 4Markets
Jerusalem Old City
- 1Western Wall & the tunnels
- 2Temple Mount & Dome of the Rock
- 3Via Dolorosa to Holy Sepulchre
- 4Four quarters walking loop
Dead Sea & Masada day trip
- 1Early drive to Masada
- 2Cable car & fortress ruins
- 3Ein Gedi oasis walk
- 4Float in the Dead Sea
1 hr awayDead Sea
Float & Masada.
30 min awayBethlehem
Church of the Nativity.
1.5 hrs awayMasada
Desert fortress.
City awayOld City
Holy quarters.
North awayGalilee
Nazareth & sea.
Jordan awayPetra
Rose-red city.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Jerusalem visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Mar–May)
Warm, pleasant and green — one of the best times to visit.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot and dry; the Dead Sea is very hot but doable.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Warm and comfortable — an ideal time to visit.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool and occasionally rainy; rare snow can fall.
Holy days
Expect crowds around Easter, Passover and major holidays.
Best overall
Spring and autumn offer the best weather.
One day
The Old City.
Two days
Add the Dead Sea and Masada.
Three days
Add Bethlehem.
For pilgrims
The Holy Land sites.
For adventure
The Dead Sea and desert.
With kids
Markets and the Dead Sea.
On foot
The Old City is car-free and best explored on foot.
Light rail
The tram links the centre with key areas.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours are easiest for the Dead Sea, Bethlehem and Galilee.
Taxis
Taxis and ride-hailing are handy for spread-out sights.
Where to stay
Stay near the Old City or city centre for convenience.
Shabbat
Public transport pauses from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
Israeli shekel
Jerusalem uses the shekel; cards are widely accepted.
Dress modestly
Cover shoulders and knees at holy sites; some require head coverings.
Mind Shabbat
Many shops and transport close from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
Book day trips
Dead Sea, Masada and Bethlehem tours sell out — book ahead.
Sun & water
It gets hot — bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
Spring or autumn
Visit in spring or autumn for the best weather.
Dead Sea trips
Dead Sea and Masada tours sell out — book ahead.
Bethlehem tours
Bethlehem day tours fill up — reserve early.
Old City tours
Guided Old City tours book out — reserve ahead.
Petra tours
Two-day Petra trips have limited spots — book early.
Food tours
Small-group market food tours sell out — reserve ahead.
Holy days
Book well ahead around Easter and major holidays.
Old City tour
Around $45–80 for a Jerusalem Old City walking tour.
Dead Sea trip
About $65–110 for a Dead Sea and Masada day trip.
Bethlehem tour
Roughly $45–80 for a Bethlehem day tour.
Galilee tour
Around $90–140 for a full-day Galilee tour.
Petra tour
About $250–400 for a two-day Petra trip.
How to save
Join group day trips and combine nearby sites.
Jerusalem through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Green & mild.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal.
- Best for
- Hot & dry.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Very hot.
- Best for
- Warm.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal.
- Best for
- Cool & quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some rain.