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Asia Israel Jerusalem Do & See Mount of Olives & Garden of Gethsemane

Overview

Mount of Olives & Garden of Gethsemane

The guide was updated: 2024-08-19

According to the Bible and the Gospels, this is one of the holiest places in Jerusalem. The hill offers a beautiful view over the city and the Dome of the Rock — especially beautiful in the morning, with the sun on visitors' backs. The backstory is rough — allegedly, Jesus prayed here the night before he was killed while his disciples were sleeping. Some believe that at the end of days, God will stand there to redeem the dead.

Useful Information

Address: Mount of Olives Road, Jerusalem
More Info: Sunglasses recommended

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Mahane Yehuda Market

Mahane Yehuda Market

The most popular street market in Jerusalem, this busy place feels authentic: locals come to buy groceries and vendors are loud. Catch the opportunity to try out some reasonably-priced specialities from the food stands. Lately, the place has also become a vibrant nightlife hangout, with restaurants and live music. Mahane Yehuda is also called as "The Shuk", which means "market" in Hebrew. A recent project has filled the walls with contemporary urban art.

Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem

This solemn memorial is Israel's tribute to the millions of Jewish victims of the Shoah and an intense, thought-provoking experience for visitors. The conceptual design conveys a striking feeling of how enormous the disaster was. The exhibits mix historical displays with personal testimonies and remains. Yad Vashem also hosts an important research centre.

Israel Museum

Israel Museum

This museum boasts a rich and informative series of exhibits, and it's very helpful in understanding the past and present of Jerusalem. The collection of Dead Sea Scrolls, hundreds of manuscript copies of the Bible found in Qumran, is astonishing. Moreover, you'll view the biggest exhibition of biblical archaeology in the world, a selection of modern artwork, and a stylish, impressive garden of contemporary sculpture.

City of David & Hezekiah's Tunnel

City of David & Hezekiah's Tunnel

At the City of David, you can explore the remains of the oldest part of Jerusalem and walk through the meanders of a subterranean stream. The archaeological site spans two levels: an aboveground area and underground excavations. It is much older than Jerusalem's Old City, with the ancient Canaanites building it near the waters of the Gihon Spring before 2,000 BCE. The biblical King David later conquered it and made it the capital of his domain. Located in the underground part of the site, Hezekiah's Tunnel was used to channel water from the spring. The half-hour walk inside will take you past many archaeological remains, including a millennia-old pool that was said to have healing powers. If you plan to walk through the water, be sure to bring your swimsuit and suitable shoes.

Jerusalem Season of Culture

Jerusalem Season of Culture

The Jerusalem Season of Culture is a rich and fascinating festival that takes place every summer and lasts for an entire month. With its complexity and long history, Jerusalem becomes a vibrant, bustling stage for a wide range of events that gather musicians, DJs, visual artists, chefs, and many more. One of the main goals of the festival is to bring together people of all religions and nationalities, creating a forum for potential conflict resolution.

Bible Lands Museum

Bible Lands Museum

The Bible Lands museum focuses on the history of various cultures listed in the Bible, mixing archaeological findings, information from sacred texts and historical research. You will see religious representations and funerary art as well as jewellery, secular artwork and everyday items. The collection is so extensive it can easily become overwhelming: it's best to get an audio guide or join a free guided tour (in English or Hebrew).

Hebrew Music Museum

Hebrew Music Museum

The Hebrew Music museum is a different and lesser-known experience: its display of original ancient musical instruments is impressive, and it's accompanied by interactive content and fascinating historical information on Jewish diasporas. You can get to know the Jewish people's history through their musical tradition, which is quite an interesting perspective. It is also possible to hear what each of the instruments sounded like.

Museum for Islamic Art

Museum for Islamic Art

The Museum for Islamic Art is a hub for beliefs, traditions and artwork of the Islamic civilisation. Nine different exhibitions display a limited but highly informative ensemble. One of the most interesting features is their rare collection of clocks, which counts more than 200 items.

Palestinian Heritage Museum

Palestinian Heritage Museum

A visit to this museum is a good way to learn more about Jerusalem's culture and complexity. The exhibitions keep a memory of important personalities and dramatic events in the Palestinian community; they also preserve the people's material culture, such as traditional pottery, weaving and working tools, dresses, and jewellery. Ultimately, the museum is a testimony to the strong connection between the Palestinians and the city of Jerusalem.

Museum on the Seam

Museum on the Seam

The past of Jerusalem is hugely fascinating, but the present is at least equally as important. Located on the very border between West and East Jerusalem, the Museum on the Seam provides great food for thought on contemporary social issues in the land. It has hosted exhibitions from some of the most important artists of our time (Bill Viola, Wim Wenders, and Anselm Kiefer, to name a few). Since the exhibitions are often strongly connected to ongoing debates, they can be controversial; however, it is worth paying a visit to the museum, marked as a must-see destination by the New York Times.

Ades Synagogue

Ades Synagogue

Lesser known by tourists, Ades Synagogue boasts typical, well-kept interiors, with chandeliers and a walnut ark inlaid with mother-of-pearl. If you're visiting in winter and you're interested in Jewish religious culture, come early on Saturday (Shabbat) morning and listen to bakashot, songs based on Kabbalistic poetry.

Mount of Olives & Garden of Gethsemane

Mount of Olives & Garden of Gethsemane

According to the Bible and the Gospels, this is one of the holiest places in Jerusalem. The hill offers a beautiful view over the city and the Dome of the Rock — especially beautiful in the morning, with the sun on visitors' backs. The backstory is rough — allegedly, Jesus prayed here the night before he was killed while his disciples were sleeping. Some believe that at the end of days, God will stand there to redeem the dead.

Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu

Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu

The Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, a Byzantine-style Catholic church located on Mount Zion, offers stunning views of the City of David and the village of Silwan, a Palestinian community. The current building, which has some interesting decorations such as stained glass windows, was completed in the 1930s on the site of earlier churches, including a Byzantine monastery. Inside, visitors can admire mosaics and remains from previous churches. According to tradition, the church marks the spot where the Apostle Peter wept in regret after denying Jesus before his death. The Roman stairs next to the church are believed to have been used by Jesus on his way to Gethsemane.

St Anne's Church

St Anne's Church

St Anne's Church was built by crusaders in the 12th century in a Romanesque style. Many pilgrims take advantage of the perfect acoustics inside and sing religious hymns. Hidden in the courtyard you'll find some remains of a Roman pagan temple. The church was a Muslim school for some time under the Saladin and is considered to be the site of many important events in the Christian religion: the home of Virgin Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, and of the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a sick man.

Dormition Church & Monastery

Dormition Church & Monastery

The Dormition Church and Monastery is an imposing, elegant complex just outside the Old City, near the Sion Gate. It belongs to Benedictine monks and showcases beautiful decorations and Romanesque revival architecture. The luxuriously decorated crypt celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is believed to have happened here.

Monastery of the Cross

Monastery of the Cross

An Eastern Orthodox Monastery, this Georgian-style building is said to be located where the head of the biblical ancestor Adam was buried. The origins of the foundation are mysterious, possibly dating back to the 4th century and Emperor Constantine's mother. Inside the church, you'll find colourful ceremonial art, Georgian frescoes and manuscripts, remains from the Crusade Era, and a small museum.

Herodian Quarter — Wohl Museum of Archaeology

Herodian Quarter — Wohl Museum of Archaeology

The Herodian Quarter Museum is a small but surprisingly well-preserved mansion from two thousand years ago. The house of a wealthy Jewish family until Titus's destruction in 70 AD gives a taste of what life of the richest was like in Jerusalem at the time. Tours and audio guides are available.

Jerusalem Archaeological Park & Davidson Centre

Jerusalem Archaeological Park & Davidson Centre

The Jerusalem Archaeological Park & Davidson Centre comprises remains from the Second Temple era, 2,000 years ago. You'll admire columns, gates, streets, and the typical Jewish baths (mikve'ot). Audio guides and educational videos will help you understand the site's history.

Biblical Zoo & Tisch Zoological Gardens

Biblical Zoo & Tisch Zoological Gardens

If you feel in need of a break from cultural sightseeing, find some natural beauty and light-hearted entertainment in this 62-acre-big zoo. Children will enjoy exploring the zoo and seeing the animals up close. The facility hosts a variety of endangered species. The zoo's main theme is peculiar: it focuses on animals mentioned in the Bible — you're in the cradle of Western religion, after all.

Herodyon National Park

Herodyon National Park

The Herodyon National Park, not to be confused with the Herodian Quarter, is located on the top of a hill, and showcases what remains of Herod the Great's megalomania for palaces. It is the best place to combine a relaxing nature hike, some archaeological sightseeing, and a stunning natural environment: on sunny days, the Dead Sea sparkles in the distance.

Monastery of Saint George of Choziba

Monastery of Saint George of Choziba

For an off-the-beaten-path, adventurous, and possibly spiritual hiking trip, head to the Monastery of Saint George in the West Bank. Hidden in the rocky landscape and hanging solitary in the deep gorge of Wadi Quelt, it is a breathtaking destination. Hermits founded it in the 5th century, and it spreads over three floors, boasting a beautiful mosaic and a reliquary inside. The monastery is also well-known for its hospitality and friendliness towards female pilgrims.

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