Things to Do in Jerusalem: A Visitor's Guide
Travel advisory: Jerusalem is a functioning, well-visited destination, but the security situation in Israel and the West Bank can shift on short notice. Check your own government’s current advice, such as the US State Department or UK FCDO , before booking, since advice for the West Bank and areas near Gaza differs from advice for Jerusalem itself.
Jerusalem’s activities split cleanly into free sites, ticketed museums, and a market that eats up an easy half-day on its own. Everything runs in Israeli Shekels (ILS), and the city’s rhythm bends around Shabbat every single week.
Historical and religious sites
The Old City’s four quarters - Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Armenian - hold the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (free, open roughly 05:00-20:45 in summer) and the Western Wall (free, 24/7, gender-segregated prayer sections, modest dress required). Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif is also free for non-Muslim visitors, but access runs only through the Mughrabi Bridge, Sunday to Thursday, in two short windows (roughly 07:30-11:00 and 13:30-14:30 in summer); non-Muslims cannot enter the Dome of the Rock or Al-Aqsa Mosque interiors. Mount of Olives adds a panoramic overlook plus the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations, both free.
Museums and culture
The Israel Museum holds the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book for 54 ILS adult admission. Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, requires a mandatory timed online reservation (10-15 ILS booking fee) and bars children under 10 from the main history museum - budget at least three hours if you go. For a guided introduction to the Old City instead of navigating alone, search Jerusalem tours on GetYourGuide .
Beyond the Old City walls
Mahane Yehuda Market is free to wander, with fresh produce, spices, street food and an evening bar scene once the stalls close. Ein Kerem, a village neighborhood in the southwest hills, trades the market’s density for shaded lanes around the Church of St. John the Baptist.
Practical notes for visitors
Dress modestly at religious sites - shoulders and knees covered. Most businesses and public transit close from roughly one to two hours before Friday sunset until about an hour after Saturday sunset for Shabbat; build a walking day around the Old City or Mount of Olives for that stretch instead of anything ticketed or transit-dependent. The Light Rail and Egged buses cost 5.90-6.00 ILS a ride with a Rav-Kav card, and taxis run through Gett or Yango rather than Uber, which doesn’t operate as a passenger rideshare service in Israel. Stay hydrated - the climate is hot and dry for much of the year.
For the headline sights covered in more depth, see the attraction tours guide , or start from the Jerusalem overview .