Jerusalem, Israel

City History

Jerusalem has a long and complex history, with its roots dating back thousands of years. Here is a brief overview of its historical significance and key events:

Ancient History:

– The earliest known settlement in Jerusalem dates back to the 4th millennium BCE.

– In the 10th century BCE, King David established Jerusalem as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel.

– King Solomon built the First Temple on Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount) in the 10th century BCE.

– The Babylonians destroyed the First Temple in 586 BCE, leading to the exile of the Jewish people.

– Persian and Hellenistic periods followed, with Jerusalem falling under the control of various empires.

Roman and Byzantine Rule:

– The Roman Empire conquered Jerusalem in 63 BCE, and it became a provincial capital.

– In 70 CE, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple during a Jewish revolt.

– Emperor Hadrian rebuilt Jerusalem as a Roman city called Aelia Capitolina in the 2nd century CE.

Islamic Rule:

– In 638 CE, Muslim forces led by Caliph Umar captured Jerusalem from the Byzantines.

– The Umayyad Caliphate constructed the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in the late 7th and early 8th centuries.

– Jerusalem became a significant city in the Islamic world, with various dynasties ruling over it.

Crusader Period:

– Christian Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099 during the First Crusade.

– The Crusaders established the Kingdom of Jerusalem, ruling until 1187 when Saladin recaptured the city.

Ottoman Empire:

– The Ottoman Empire conquered Jerusalem in 1517 and ruled for over 400 years.

– During this period, Jerusalem experienced religious tolerance, with Muslims, Christians, and Jews living in the city.

British Mandate:

– After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate over Palestine, including Jerusalem, in 1920.

– During British rule, tensions between Jewish and Arab communities increased.

Modern Israel:

– In 1947, the United Nations proposed the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration.

– Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Jerusalem was divided, with the western part under Israeli control and the eastern part under Jordanian control.

– In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel captured East Jerusalem, including the Old City, from Jordan.

– Israel subsequently annexed East Jerusalem, declaring the united city as its capital, a move not recognized by much of the international community.

Today, Jerusalem remains a city of great religious importance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The status of the city is a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming it as their capital.

Top City Attractions

Here are 10 of the most popular tourist attractions in Jerusalem:

1. Western Wall (Wailing Wall)

– Hours: Open 24/7 – Admission: Free

– Address: Western Wall Plaza, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: https://www.thekotel.org/

– Phone: +972–2–6271333

2. Dome of the Rock

– Hours: Sunday–Thursday: 7:30am–10:30am, 12:30pm–1:30pm | Friday: 7:30am–10:30am | Saturday: Closed for non-Muslim visitors

– Admission: Free

– Address: Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: https://www.al-aqsa.org/

– Phone: +972–2–6283314

3. Church of the Holy Sepulchre

– Hours: Monday-Saturday: 5:00am–8:00pm | Sunday: 4:00am–8:00pm

– Admission: Free

– Address: Christian Quarter, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: Church of the Holy Sepulchre – The most sacred place

– Phone: +972–2–6273314

4. Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial

– Hours: Sunday-Wednesday: 9:00am–5:00pm | Thursday: 9:00am–8:00pm | Friday: 9:00am–2:00pm | Saturday: Closed

– Admission: Free

– Address: Har Hazikaron, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: https://www.yadvashem.org/

– Phone: +972–2–6443400

5. Mount of Olives

– Hours: Open 24/7

– Admission: Free

– Address: Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: No official website

– Phone: No phone number available

6. Israel Museum

– Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday: 10:00am–5:00pm | Tuesday, Thursday: 4:00pm–9:00pm | Friday, Saturday: 10:00am–2:00pm

– Admission: Adults: 54 ILS, Students/Seniors: 39 ILS, Children (5–17): 27 ILS

– Address: Derech Ruppin, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: https://www.imj.org.il/

– Phone: +972–2–6708811

7. Mount Zion

– Hours: Open 24/7

– Admission: Free

– Address: Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: No official website

– Phone: No phone number available

8. Tower of David Museum

– Hours of Operation: Sunday to Thursday (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM), Friday (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM), Saturday (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

– Cost of Admission: Adults (NIS 40), Children (NIS 18), Students/Seniors (NIS 32)

– Address: Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem

– Website: https://www.tod.org.il/en/

– Phone Number: +972–2–6265333

9. Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum

– Hours of Operation: Sunday to Wednesday (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM), Thursday (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM), Friday and Holiday Eves (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM)

– Cost of Admission: Free (except for temporary exhibitions) – Address: Har Hazikaron, Jerusalem

– Website: https://www.yadvashem.org/

– Phone Number: +972–2–6443400

10. Mount of Olives

– Hours of Operation: Open 24/7 – Cost of Admission: Free

– Address: Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: N/A

– Phone Number: N/A

8. Mount Zion

– Hours of Operation: Open 24/7

– Cost of Admission: Free

– Address: Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: N/A

– Phone Number: N/A

12. Mahane Yehuda Market

– Hours of Operation: Sunday–Thursday 8:00am–7:00

Day Trips

Some popular day trips from Jerusalem:

1. Masada National Park:

– Distance from Jerusalem city center: Approximately 87 km (54 miles)

– Hours of operation: Varies depending on the season, typically from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM.

– Cost of admission: 31 ILS for adults, 15 ILS for children (prices subject to change).

– Address: Masada, Israel

– Website: https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/masada-national-park/

– Phone number: +972–8–658–4207 2. Dead Sea:

– Distance from Jerusalem city center: Approximately 35 km (22 miles)

– Hours of operation: Open 24 hours (beach facilities may have specific hours).

– Cost of admission: Varies depending on the beach or resort you visit.

– Address: Dead Sea, Israel – Website: https://www.deadsea.com/

– Phone number: Varies depending on the beach or resort.

3. Bethlehem:

– Distance from Jerusalem city center: Approximately 10 km (6 miles)

– Hours of operation: Varies depending on the attraction you visit (e.g., Church of the Nativity, Manger Square).

– Cost of admission: Varies depending on the attraction.

– Address: Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories

– Website: No official website, but you can find information about Bethlehem at https://www.visitpalestine.ps/

– Phone number: Varies depending on the attraction.

4. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve:

– Distance from Jerusalem city center: Approximately 50 km (31 miles)

– Hours of operation: Varies depending on the season, typically from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM.

– Cost of admission: 29 ILS for adults, 15 ILS for children (prices subject to change).

– Address: Ein Gedi, Israel

– Website: https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/ein-gedi-nature-reserve/

– Phone number: +972–8–658–4285

5. Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum:

– Distance from Jerusalem city center: Approximately 4 km (2.5 miles)

– Hours of operation: Sunday to Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Thursday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday and holiday eves from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

– Cost of admission: Free (reservation required for the Holocaust History Museum).

– Address: Har Hazikaron, Jerusalem, Israel

– Website: https://www.yadvashem.org/

– Phone number: +972–2–644–3400

Local Transportation

The top forms of transportation in Jerusalem, Israel are:

1. Light Rail:

– Hours of operation: Sunday–Thursday: 5:30 AM to 12:00 AM, Friday: 5:30 AM to 2 hours before Shabbat, Saturday: After Shabbat ends until 12:00 AM.

– Cost of admission: Single ticket – 6.90 NIS (approx. $2.10 USD), Rav-Kav card – 5.90 NIS (approx. $1.80 USD).

– Address: Various stops throughout the city.

– Website: https://www.citypass.co.il/en

– Phone number: +972–2–678–2333

2. Bus:

– Hours of operation: Varies by line, but generally from around 5:30 AM to 12:00 AM

. – Cost of admission: Single ticket

– 5.90 NIS (approx. $1.80 USD), Rav-Kav card – 5.20 NIS (approx. $1.60 USD).

– Address: Various bus stops throughout the city.

– Website: https://www.egged.co.il/

– Phone number: +972–3–694–8888

3. Taxi:

– Hours of operation: Available 24/7.

– Cost of admission: Metered fare, starting at around 13.30 NIS (approx. $4.10 USD).

– Address: Taxis can be hailed on the street or found at designated taxi stands.

– Website: N/A

– Phone number: +972–2–500–0787

4. Private Car Rental:

– Hours of operation: Varies by rental agency.

– Cost of admission: Dependent on the rental agency and duration of rental.

– Address: Various rental agencies throughout the city.

– Website: https://www.hertz.co.il/

– Phone number: +972–2–624–1111

Please note that the provided information is subject to change. Please check with providers while making plans.

Airport

There are no airports in Jerusalem, Israel. The nearest major international airport is Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), which is located in Lod, approximately 50 kilometers west of Jerusalem.

Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

-Address: Airport City, 7015001, Israel Website: https://www.iaa.gov.il/en-US/airports/bengurion/

–Phone Number: +972 3–975–5555

Forms of transportation to and from Ben Gurion Airport:

1. Taxi: Taxis are available outside the arrivals hall. The distance from Jerusalem city center to the airport is approximately 50 kilometers. The cost ranges from 250–350 ILS (Israeli Shekel), depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.

2. Shared Shuttle: Several shuttle services operate between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem. The cost is around 65–75 ILS per person. Advance booking is recommended.

3. Train: The airport has a train station with direct connections to Jerusalem‘s Yitzhak Navon Station. The train operates from early morning until late evening. The cost is around 17 ILS per person.

4. Car Rental: Various car rental companies have counters at the airport. The distance from Jerusalem city center to the airport is approximately 50 kilometers.

Please note that the hours of operation, cost range, and other details may vary. It is recommended to check the official website or contact the airport for the most up-to-date information.

Currency

The currency in Jerusalem, Israel is the Israeli Shekel (ILS). The currency symbol for the Israeli Shekel is ₪. The paper denominations of the Israeli Shekel are:

– ₪20

– ₪50

– ₪100

– ₪200

– ₪500

The coin denominations of the Israeli Shekel are:

– 10 agorot (₪0.10)

– 50 agorot (₪0.50)

– ₪1

– ₪2

– ₪5

– ₪10

Climate

Israel has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, humid summers and mild winters. Here are some packing tips:

• Summer (June – August): Pack lightweight, breathable clothing like linen, cotton and synthetic fabrics. Bring shirts, shorts, tank tops, and sandals. A wide–brimmed hat is useful to protect from the sun. Temperatures typically range from 75–95°F during the day and stay warm at night. Humidity tends to be high, so stay hydrated.

• Spring/Fall (March – May, September – November): Shoulder seasons are mild and comfortable, averaging in the 60s and 70s°F during the day. Pack travel clothes suitable for 50–70°F weather like light jackets, jeans, shirts and closed–toe shoes. You may still need shorts and T–shirts on warmer days.

• Winter (December – February): Winters are fairly temperate with occasional rainy days. Bring warm clothing layers like coats, sweaters, long–sleeve shirts and pants. Temperatures typically range from 40–55°F during the day and may dip into the 30s at night. Cold and wet weather gear like an umbrella and water–resistant jacket are a good idea. Other items to consider packing regardless of the season: