At Machane Yehuda Market, you can buy sweets, fruit and other small snacks, among other things.
Fascinating old town
According to Abbreviation Finder, the main attraction of Jerusalem is the Old City. The old town is divided into four parts: the Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Armenian blocks, each with its own character and its own attractions.
Walking in the old town is already an experience in itself. The narrow alleys of the city are full of various outlets, locals and tourists, as well as religious buildings. The alleys are surrounded by walls that in their current form date from the 16th century. The old city of Jerusalem was located entirely within the city walls.
A special experience is walking on the old city walls of Jerusalem. Also worth a visit is the Jerusalem Fortress, located next to the Jaffa Gate. The fortress serves as an interesting museum, and you can climb the tower of the building.
Christians Via Dolorosa
There are many dozen religious buildings in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem: from churches and monasteries to pilgrimage inns. The main attraction of the area is Via Dolorosa, the road of suffering, the last Passage of Jesus , which is a popular place of pilgrimage.
Via Dolorosa leads from Jesus ’court to Calvary Hill, where Jesus was crucified and buried. Today, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is divided between different denominations. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher houses important relics of Christians, such as the remaining parts of the Rock of Calvary and the cave supposed to be the tomb of Jesus.
Via Dolorosa is easy to get through, as the route is divided into 14 different stops, the last five of which are located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Each stop is related to the stages of the biblical story of suffering.
The Wailing Wall of the Jews
The Western Wall of Jerusalem, or Weeping Wall, is the holiest place in the Jews and is one of the most famous attractions in Jerusalem. The wall is the only remaining part of the ancient second temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
The Wailing Wall gets its name from the fact that Jews mourn the temple destroyed on the wall, complaining aloud. The wall was originally created as a place of prayer so that the Jews would not enter the site of the actual temple, i.e. the Temple Mount, which is considered sacred.
After a security check, the tourist gets to the Wailing Wall to follow the practice of the Jewish religion. Perhaps the most special part of praying at the Wailing Wall is the small pieces of paper that the worshipers place in the smallest cracks in the wall. Requests and prayers are written on the papers.
You can also explore the Itkumuuri tunnels on guided tours, where you can get more information from the information point at the Jaffa Gate.
The Mosque of the Rocks is a symbol of Jerusalem
The Temple Mount was once the site of the Temple in Jerusalem. Like the Jews, the area is sacred to Muslims, who consider the Temple Mount the holiest place immediately after Mecca and Medina. Today, the landmark of Jerusalem, the Golden-Dome Mosque of the Rocks, rises in the area.
The Rock Mosque was completed in the 6th century. It is located where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. However, most tourists have to settle for just watching the Rock Mosque, as non-Muslims cannot get inside the mosque. Instead, it is possible to enter the Temple Mount area at limited times, which are worth checking in advance.
The Mount of Olives and Mount Zion
Right next to the Old City in East Jerusalem rises the Mount of Olives, which offers a classic, Mosque-dominated panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem. You can climb the hill at either sunrise or sunset, when the view is at its most beautiful.
The Oil Hill is also associated with a lot of religious symbolism, and there are many important religious attractions on site, including the Russian Church, the Mosque of the Resurrection, and the Jewish Cemetery, which is still in use.
On the other side of the old town is Mount Zion, where Jesus is believed to have enjoyed the Last Supper. There is a church built in memory of the Virgin Mary , as Mary is said to have died on Mount Zion.
Mount Zion is an interesting place to visit full of small sights and historical beliefs. A grave site alleged to be the tomb of King David has also been found, and Oskar Schindler is buried in the mountain’s Catholic cemetery.
Between the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion, outside the walls of the Old City, remains the city of David, the largest and most interesting archaeological site in Jerusalem. The remains of the city of David date back more than 3,000 years from the oldest known urban settlement in the Jerusalem area.
The modern side of Jerusalem
The best opportunities to shop and experience modern Jerusalem are on the west side of the Old City walls. Of the shopping areas, you should try the Mamilla center in particular, which is located right next to the old town.
In addition, a shopping destination worth visiting is Machne Yehuda’s market area, whose alleys and stalls are nice to wander leisurely amidst an exotic world of sound, color, taste and smell.
Sights of Jerusalem’s modern architecture include the buildings of the Supreme Court, the National Museum of Israel and the Israeli Parliament, among others. Abundant restaurants can be found in the center of Jerusalem just outside the Old City in abundance. Although prices may be high, the level of food in Israel is generally high.
Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem is called the Holocaust Museum, but the designation of the museum is partly misleading. It is a large park-like area outside the city center. Yad Vashem has plenty of different and even surprising things to see about the Holocaust and Judaism.
In the large area of the museum you will find, among other things, many exhibitions, memorials and interactive performances excellently executed to commemorate the Holocaust.
Yad Vashem can be reached from the city by bus, among other things.
THE BEST OF JERUSALEM
Kipa is a small hat worn by Jewish men, symbolizing that man cannot come before God “naked”. Jewish men wear either a black cylinder hat or a cape, while women wear scarves or wigs.
The best of Jerusalem
- Climb the Mount of Olives and enjoy classic city views of Jerusalem’s Old City.
- Go through 14 stops on Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
- Visit the Yad Vashem Museum.
- Climb the walls of the Old City to walk and see an overview of the entire Jerusalem
- Visit the Dead Sea.