Things to do in Jerusalem, Israel

Things to do in Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem is the holiest city in the world.   It is the most religious place you can go and holds so much history.  It is amazing because it holds religious significance to Jewish people, Islamic people, and Christian people! I think that is amazing because even with religious differences everyone is able to come together in peace.  

There are thousands of things you can do in Jerusalem, but these are my top 6 favorites.  You can enjoy Jerusalem even if you aren’t super religious or religious at all.  I went to Jerusalem for the first time not even knowing the importance of anything and knowing almost nothing about anything religious.  Jerusalem is such an amazing and important place not only because of its religious significance, but because it is a holy site for not one not two but THREE different religions.  The religions that are practiced in Jerusalem are Christianity, Judaism, and Islamic.   It is so beautiful to see these three religions inhabitant the same place.  It just goes to show that we can get along. 

I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to go to Jerusalem without any preference in religion.  This way I was able to see each one without bias and learn as much as I can.  Jerusalem is an amazing place that you can only fully experience when you go.  It is one of the few places on Earth I have visited more than once.  If you ever have the opportunity to go..Go.  Make sure you do not go during Shabbat though because most everything will be closed. The best days to go are during the week or Fridays (first day of the weekend). Use this article as a small guide on some of the best things to do in Jerusalem, Israel.

Disclaimer:  I am not claiming to know or be an expert on anything in Jerusalem.  I do not have a religious background so I am not going in depth on that topic because I am not knowledgeable enough to do it justice.  This is my experience and what I learned over the few times I got to visit knowing next to nothing about any of the three religions.   Make sure to do your own more in depth research if you want to know more about the religious side of Jerusalem.

Here are my top picks of the best places to visit in Jerusalem. 

(in no particular order)

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1)    The Tempe Mount – Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Rock is the big beautiful gold Islamic shrine that is the face of Jerusalem.  It is one of the oldest works of Islamic architecture.  It is important to Muslim, Christian, and Jewish people. It is the most iconic building in Jerusalem. Even if you don’t visit it you will be able to see it from miles away.

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2)    Wailing Wall (Western Wall)

The Wailing Wall is a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Jewish people. Jewish people come here to pray at the wall.  They will also leave notes with their prayers and stick them in the wall.  The Western Wall is said to protect its citizens from enemy attack.  It is of great historical significance and is very amazing to experience first hand.  It is also said to not turn back once you pray to the wall so you are not turning your back on your prayers.   Girls and guys also have different sides to pray on. The Western Wall is a very sentimental and amazing place to visit and experience.

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3)    Old City

 The Old City in Jerusalem is where most of the holy sites reside.  It also has lots of shops and markets selling trinkets such as rosaries, prayer scarves, jewelry, small gifts and more! There is also lots of food for sale in the Old City of Jerusalem.  The Old City is a great place to visit and is a great centralized area to start because it is close to so many and connects to many other sites in Jerusalem. This is also a very nice place to go at night. There is wonderful night life and great restaurants to enjoy.

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4)    Mount Olives

 Mount Olives is a great look out on the Old City of Jerusalem.  You can see the entire city from the mount and it is a great place to start before you go down to see the city in person.  The Mount of Olives is said to be a burial ground of several biblical figures.  There is also a memorial of all the figures who are honored from the mount.

5)    Get some food at the Machne Yehuda Market

Food in Israel is really my favorite food ever, and it is even more delicious in more religious towns. Make sure you do not miss the opportunity to try all the food you can. There are so many options on every street corner but also more prevalent at the Machne Yehuda Market. I loved trying the food and my favorite is the classic shawarma bowl with hummus. Remember though, Jerusalem is a very religious city…this means that the market will not be open on Saturdays (or really anything in Jerusalem) or Friday nights! The best days to go in my opinion are Thursday nights and any time during the day on Friday!

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6)    Church Of The Holy Sepulchre

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is where Jesus was crucified buried and resurrected.  This is one of the most religious sites of Christianity in Jerusalem.  It is known to be the holy site of Jesus’s crucifixion and burial. It is located in the Northwest corner of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a very beautiful place and has very amazing historical significance. Make sure you visit as well as do your own research to learn more in depth about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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I hope this guide gave you a little more insight on the beautiful and religious city of Jerusalem in Israel. Jerusalem is one of the very few places on Earth I have ever visited more than once. It is very interesting and very hard to get everything in in just one day. I would recommend going for at least a few days and nights. These are my favorite places I got to visit in Jerusalem. My favorite place was the Western Wall and walking around the shops and markets around the Old City of Jerusalem. What is your favorite place in Jerusalem? Is there some site that I missed that you want to know more about? What can you teach me about Jerusalem? Thank so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy your visit and find many things to do in Jerusalem, Israel.