Jerusalem
IsraelBSh
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
ירושלים של זהב | القدس الشريف | Jerusalem of gold | The Noble Sanctuary
Why visit
The Old City within its Ottoman walls is the densest concentration of sacred sites on the planet, a few hundred metres encompass the Western Wall, the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif and the Tower of David. Add the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, the Israel Museum (with the Dead Sea Scrolls), the Mahane Yehuda market, the Mount of Olives panorama, and the Garden of Gethsemane.
When to avoid
The ongoing Israeli to Palestinian conflict means rocket alerts, security incidents, and hassle at religious sites are real possibilities. Check current advisories. Dress conservatively at all religious sites (covered shoulders, long pants/skirts, head covering for women at the Wall and the Dome). Friday to Saturday Sabbath shuts most Jewish services. Friday is the Muslim prayer day. Some Old City quarters tense after dark.
