Location: Jerusalem
Top Things to do in Jerusalem
Countries
What to do and see in Jerusalem, Jerusalem District: The Best Architectural Buildings
Religious pilgrims have been traveling to Jerusalem for centuries, yet you don’t have to share their zeal in order to appreciate this city’s profound cultural and historical significance. Plan on seeing the major sights, but also leave plenty of time to walk through the streets and simply immerse yourself in the daily life of such an ancient and revered place.
Restaurants in Jerusalem
1. BYU Jerusalem Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By cearnshaw
Incredible visit, stunning view of the Old City through the all glass front, wonderful organ concert, beautiful spirit here.
2. Eglise du Saint-Sepulcre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,791 reviews
Built in the fourth century over the site of a Roman Pagan temple, this is considered one of the world’s holiest shrines to Christians, preserving the most important moments of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Reviewed By BillPNo1 - Friendswood, United States
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most Holy and Sacred places in Jerusalem, or actually in all of Christendom! The Church of the Holy Sepulchre may be the most sacred places for anyone to visit in Jerusalem; although at times the lines of Pilgrims and crowds of reverent worshippers may be somewhat distracting, one cannot be in awe of what occurred there and what Our Lord suffered there. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre may be the single most important reason to visit the Holy Land and a visit there is certain to leave anyone with a hushed and powerful feeling for the sanctity of the place. I have been blessed to have been able to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on two occasions: each tome I was filled with inspiration and the feeling of awe for the sanctity of the Church. I hope I will be able to visit again, sometime, but feel that my life was changed by even my first two visits!
3. Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,204 reviews
Located in the restored ancient Citadel of Jerusalem at the entrance to the Old City, the Tower of David Museum tells the story of the city through history. The exhibition takes the visitor on a journey through 3000 years of history, using models, displays and multi media so that the timeline of the city comes to life. The museum stages temporary exhibitions which integrate the unique location and majesty of the ancient Citadel and its history with a contemporary presentation of artistic and historical issues. It hosts lectures and special musical, educational and cultural events. The 2 night shows, both the Night Spectacular and KING DAVID are world renowned and present Jerusalem's special character and beauty screened in lights, images and music on the ancient walls in the Citadel courtyard. Admission to the unique 360° view point over the old and new city of Jerusalem is 15 NIS only!
Reviewed By Rossow1066
The audio tour, available to rent at the ticket counter, is very good, gives a lot of extra detail to the exhibits. The Citadel is very impressive and the tour ties it in with the various stages of the region's history and the development of the town. Good place to visit with kids as they can go up on the ramparts.
4. Italian Synagogue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Built in a lavish Baroque style, this beautiful synagogue’s interior belonged to a 1719 synagogue in Conegliano Veneto, Italy, which was removed and transported to Jerusalem in its entirety after the Holocaust.
5. Church of Saint Anne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 800 reviews
Built in honour of St. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, this 12th-century Basilica in Jerusalem is one of the finest examples of Crusader architecture in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East.
Reviewed By KimGTravels - Pacific Grove, United States
Located in the Muslim Quarter of Old Jerusalem, near the confluence of the Lion's Gate, the start of the Via Dolorosa and across from the rear exit of Temple Mount, sits the lovely Romanesque Church of St. Anne. This beautiful French, Roman Catholic Church built by The Crusaders in 1138, replaced an earlier Byzantine church above the Pools of Bethesda. Built in tribute to St. Anne, mother to the Virgin Mary, a simple shrine commemorating the birth of Mary at this location lays in the cave/crypt below the church, which is said to be the original home to Mary and her parents, Anne & Joachim. With soaring, vaulted ceilings the Church is light and airy, and possesses exceptional acoustics. We had the pleasure of entering while a Christian group was singing "How Great Thou Art", which absolutely moved me to tears. Gardens surrounding the church are tree-shaded, lovely and serene. The healing waters of the Pools of Bethesda and where Jesus Christ healed the paralytic man, are adjacent to the Church of Saint Anne, where the original Byzantine Church was located earlier. This is the oldest remaining Crusader Church in Jerusalem, with an interesting history surrounding it. This felt like a highly sacred area, where we witnessed many groups singing, praying and conducting Bible worship. My adult son and I were deeply, spiritually moved throughout the Church and its grounds.
6. Mishkenot Sha'ananim Guest house
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By RosePacatte - Culver City, United States
I was invited to be part of the interfaith jury for the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival in December, 2019. This is the guest house where they put me up. It's in a great location - you can walk to the Holy City if you have good legs! However, I understand that you have to be invited to stay here; it's not a hotel or hostel but more of a conference/artists retreat center. I feel blessed to have been able to stay here. The restaurant keeps kosher so there was no meat in the restaurant. However, the food is wonderful.
7. Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 392 reviews
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
The Church of St Peter of Gallicantu (Latin for ‘cockcrow’) was built in 1930 on the foundations of previous Byzantine and Crusader churches and consists of 4 different levels. The site is managed by a French Catholic order, so many of the inscriptions in the church are in French. The church is located on the site of the house of the Jewish high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was taken after His arrest. It was there in the courtyard that Apostle Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed, as Jesus predicted. The church is contemporary and has beautiful stained glass and murals depicting Peter’s denial, his immediate repentance, and his later reconciliation with Jesus after the Resurrection. What is totally unexpected is that the lower levels of the church contain a guardroom and dungeon! The dungeon could only be accessed by a narrow shaft from above. A picture depicts how Jesus would have been harnessed and lowered to the cell the night after His arrest. From the lower levels, you enter the guardroom where prisoners were flogged and the dungeon, known as Christ’s cell or the Sacred Pit. It is chilling! I was overwhelmed by the reality of what occurred here. Outside, view the stone street that dates to the time of Jesus. Jesus and His disciples would have walked this way from the Last Supper to the Garden of Gethsemane.
8. YMCA Tower
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 111 reviews
Landmark tower designed by Arthur Lewis Harman, the Empire State Building's architect affords dramatic views over the entire city.
9. The Supreme Court of Israel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
The edifice housing the Supreme Court is widely acclaimed as the pinnacle of modern Israeli architecture. Like all public buildings in the capital, it is faced with distinctive Jerusalem stone.
Reviewed By tamarbeer
The visit is free and interesting. Every day at 11:00 there's a guided tour in hebrew and at 12:00 in english. The building is beautiful and the architecture is meaningful- past vs. Present, outdoor vs. Indoor, and lines vs. Cyrcle. You can visit the court room during a hearing, you can walk through the library and do not miss the little museum describing the evolution of the hebrew law since the bible period till today. You can walk to the rose garden and you see the kneset in view. Totaly worth it.
10. Pools of Bethesda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
Reviewed By F5102ELbarbarar - Erie, United States
From the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus miraculously heals a paralyzed man. It is described in the Bible as being near Sheep Gate. It is associated with the site of a pool in the current Muslim quarter near what is now called the Lion's Gate or St Stephen's Gate and the church of St. Anne, that was excavated in late 19th century. BETHESTA, in Hebrew means "house of mercy" Definitely worth seeing!
TAGS
