All citiesEast Jerusalem Things to do and walking itinerary
Palestine East Jerusalem travel guide
23 things to do in East Jerusalem. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in East Jerusalem
- Al-Aqsa Mosque — Main prayer hall of the Al-Aqsa compound (Haram al-Sharif, also known as the Temple Mount) (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Dome of the Rock — Historic Islamic shrine on the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Western Wall — Holy site of Judaism; known to Muslims as the Buraq Wall (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre — church in Jerusalem, containing the two holiest sites in Christianity (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Gethsemane — garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (visit ≈ 45 min)
- City of David — archaeological site in Jerusalem (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Damascus Gate — one of seven open Gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Western Wall Plaza — Public square in the Old City of Jerusalem (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Jaffa Gate — one of seven open gates in Jerusalem's Old City walls (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Pool of Bethesda — reservoir in Jerusalem (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Golden Gate — architectural structure; Gate of ancient city wall of Jerusalem (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Mosque of Omar — mosque in the Islamic Quarter of Jerusalem (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Tomb of the Virgin Mary — church building in Jerusalem (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Walls of Jerusalem — walls that surround the Old City of Jerusalem (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Cenacle — In Christian tradition, the room in which the Last Supper was held (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Chapel of the Ascension — shrine in Jerusalem (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Church of Mary Magdalene — church building in East Jerusalem (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Church of the Pater Noster — church in Jerusalem (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Lions' Gate — one of seven open Gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Dung Gate — one of seven open Gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Zion Gate — one of seven open Gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Acra — ancient fortress in Jerusalem (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Hurva Synagogue — synagogue (visit ≈ 30 min)
1-day East Jerusalem walking itinerary
Starting point: City centre. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 4.4 km · 5,870 steps · 57 min on the way): Damascus Gate → Church of the Holy Sepulchre → Western Wall → Western Wall Plaza → City of David → Al-Aqsa Mosque → Dome of the Rock → Gethsemane
Day trips
- Church of the Nativity — 9 km from the centre
- Ibrahimi Mosque / Cave of the Patriarchs — 31 km from the centre
- Qumran — 22 km from the centre
- Al Maghtas — 30 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting East Jerusalem
- Fine: Photographing soldiers, checkpoints or security sites is banned, as are drones.
- Warning: Security and access rules change often; check current official travel advice.
- Warning: Access is via Israeli-controlled crossings; carry your passport at checkpoints.
- Warning: Holy sites in Jerusalem have restricted visiting hours and rules, with dress checks at entry.
- Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and change often; check official government sources before you travel.
- In parts of Jerusalem transport and shops stop from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
- Emergency: police 100, ambulance 101, fire 102
- Plugs: H/C, 230V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use bottled.
- Tipping: 10–15% is customary.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Palestine, Wikivoyage — Palestinian territories, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
East Jerusalem travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in East Jerusalem?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 1 day at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 2 days for the top 20 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Church of the Nativity and Ibrahimi Mosque / Cave of the Patriarchs).
- What are the top things to do in East Jerusalem?
- Highlights: Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Gethsemane. The map has 23 things to do in total.
- What is the emergency number in East Jerusalem?
- Emergency: police 100, ambulance 101, fire 102.
- Do you tip in East Jerusalem?
- 10–15% is customary.
Nearby cities
Ramallah · Amman · Damascus · Beirut · Nicosia · Cairo · Alexandria · Gaziantep
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