Jerusalem
A mountainous walled city with a 5,000-year history, Jerusalem is sacred to the three great monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This means it is sacred to more than a third of the world's population.
For Jews, Jerusalem is the site of the Temple, now in ruins except for the Western Wall; for Christians, the site of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection; for Muslims, the site of the Prophet Muhammad's night journey to heaven. Jerusalem is thus a major site of pilgrimage for all three religions as well as, unfortunately, a place of religio-political tension over this important piece of land.
Jerusalem is a popular destination for religious and non-religious travelers alike, thanks to its unmatched historical and spiritual importance, its network of museums and concerts, and the archeological treasures that are continually rediscovered and displayed in ways that interact with the daily life of the city.
| Jerusalem Satellite Map Locate any major sight and explore the city from above with our interactive satellite map! |
Jerusalem Hotel Reviews Planning a trip to Jerusalem? See what hotels other travelers recommend before you book. |
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| Jerusalem Timeline At-a-glance chronology of Jerusalem's history from King David to the Six Day War. |
Jerusalem Travel Forum Ask a question or browse ravel advice and insider tips on Jerusalem with this popular online forum. |
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Al-Aqsa Mosque This large mosque on Temple Mount was originally built in 710 AD. It has 11th-century mosaics, a 12th-century mihrab, and Crusader arches. |
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Armenian Mosaic This beautiful mosaic with an Armenian inscription dates from the 6th century and was part of a mortuary chapel. The birds symbolize the souls of believers. |
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Bethany The home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, this village on the east slope of the Mount of Olives was frequented by Jesus during his ministry. The Tomb of Lazarus can still be visited. |
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Bible Lands Museum This museum opened in 1992 and has an incomparable collection of artifacts surrounding the ancient Israelite world, including pieces from early Christianity. |
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Church of All Nations Built in the early 1900s by several different nations, this church stands over the traditional site where Jesus prayed on the night of his betrayal. |
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Chapel of the Ascension Both a Christian and Muslim holy site, this Crusader chapel marks the spot where Jesus ascended into heaven after his resurrection. His footprint is imprinted in the floor. |
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Church of Dominus Flevit This Franciscan church marks the spot where Jesus wept over the future destruction of Jerusalem. There is a beautiful view of Temple Mount from here. |
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Church of the Holy Sepulchre This historic church shelters the holiest site in all Christendom, the Holy Sepulchre where Christ was buried and rose from the dead. It is shared by several denominations. |
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Church of the Pater Noster Built on the traditional place where Jesus instructed his disciples in prayer, the walls of this church and convent are inscribed with the Lord's Prayer in 44 languages. |  |
Church of the Redeemer Built by Kaiser Wilhelm in 1898, this Romanesque-style Lutheran church on the Muristan has a tall tower with excellent views. |
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Church of the Visitation Built over the traditional home of John the Baptist's parents, this Franciscan church commemorates the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth when they were both pregnant. |
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Church of St. Anne & Bethesda Pool This Crusader church honors the birthplace of Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary. Nearby is the Bethesda Pool, where Jesus healed a paralytic. |
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Church of St. John the Baptist This is one of the oldest churches in Jerusalem as well as the site of the founding of the Knights of the Hospital of St. John, a.k.a. the Hospitallers. |
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Church of St. Mary Magdalene With golden domes that can be seen from afar, this Russian Orthodox Church was built in 1888 by Tzar Alexander III. |
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Dome of the Chain This small dome stands at the center of Temple Mount, which is the center of the world according to some accounts. The interior tiling is more splendid than the Dome of the Rock. |
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Dome of the Rock The third holiest site in Islam, this beautiful blue-and-gold shrine houses the rock from which the Prophet took his Night Journey into heaven. |
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Dormition Abbey This round Catholic church on Mount Zion commemorates the death (or "falling asleep") of the Virgin Mary. It was dedicated by German Benedictines in 1910. |
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Garden Tomb Discovered in 1867, this ancient tomb in a peaceful garden is honored by many Protestants as the site of Jesus' burial instead of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. |
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Hurva Synagogue This ruined (Hurva = "Ruins") Ashkenazi synagogue was one of the largest buildings in the city until it was destroyed in the war of 1948. Plans are underway to rebuild it. |
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Israel Museum Opened in 1965, this large museum includes art exhibits, a Judaica Wing, an Archaeological Wing, and the wonderful Shrine of the Book containing the Dead Sea Scrolls. |
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Last Supper Room This vaulted room built by Crusaders in the 12th century commemorates the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples in an "upper room." |
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L.A. Mayer Museum of Islamic Art This modern, purpose-built museum contains a well-presented collection of artifacts from the Islamic world beyond Jerusalem. |
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Monastery of the Cross This 11th-century Orthodox monastery outside the walls is said to mark the place where the tree grew that provided the wood for Christ's cross. |
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Mosque of Omar This 12th-century mosque was built by Saladin's son in honor of Caliph Omar, who prayed on the steps of the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulchre instead of inside. |
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Pool of Siloam Excavations in 2004-05 have revealed what is believed to be the actual Pool of Siloam in which the blind man healed by Jesus washed the mud from his eyes. |
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Ramban Synagogue Founded by the Spanish rabbi Moses ben Mahman in the 1200s, this synagogue was the first Jewish presence in Jerusalem's Old City since the exile of 135 AD. |
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Rockefeller Museum Based on a substantial donation from American John D. Rockefeller, this museum houses a variety of archaeological finds from the Holy Land. |
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St. George's Cathedral Named for the patron saint of England, this Anglican cathedral is a surprising sight in its Arab neighborhood. |
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Temple Mount A holy site to both Jews and Muslims, this is the historic site of the Second Temple and the current site of the Dome of the Rock. |
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Tomb of David This site on Mount Zion has been venerated as the burial place of King David by Christians, Muslims and Jews since the Middle Ages. |
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Tomb of the Virgin Mary A Crusader church and Byzantine crypt shelters an ancient tomb said to be that of the Virgin Mary. The site is reminiscent of the tomb of her son in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. |
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Tombs of the Prophets Medieval Jewish tradition identified these burial chambers as the tombs of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, but they actually date from the 1st century BC. |
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Via Dolorosa This route through the Old City is revered by Christian pilgrims as the route taken by Jesus as he was led to his crucifixion. It is the setting of regular processions. |
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Western Wall This is all that remains of the Temple that was once the center of Jewish worship. The Western Wall Plaza functions as a vast, open-air synagogue that is the preferred place to pray for Jews worldwide. |
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Wohl Archaeological Museum This museum preserves the recently rediscovered houses of the ancient Upper City, occupied by Jewish temple priests during the era of Herod the Great (37-4 BC). |
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Yad Vashem This powerful memorial features a wide range of artworks commemorating the suffering endured by Jews around the word during the Holocaust. |
