The Old City of Jerusalem is a historic district covering an area of approximately 1 km². It is undoubtedly the most concentrated and captivating part of the city for visitors. This is where the most important sacred sites of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are located.
Until 1860—when the Jewish neighbourhood of Mishkenot Sha’ananim was established—the Old City essentially comprised all of Jerusalem.
The walls of the Old City were built in 1538 by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. They stretch for about 4.5 km, with heights ranging from 5 to 15 metres and thickness reaching up to 5 metres. Today, nearly every visitor to Israel’s capital explores the Old City.
Within the Old City are located some of the most significant landmarks:
Temple Mount
The Temple Mount is a large rectangular platform rising above the rest of the Old City and enclosed by high walls, reaching up to 45 metres at their highest point. It is considered the holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam.
This is where the First and Second Temples once stood, and according to Jewish tradition, the Third Temple will be built here in the future.
Today, the site is home to major Islamic shrines, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
Following the Six-Day War in 1967, control of the Temple Mount was transferred to the Islamic Waqf authority, a status that remains in place today.
Dome of the Rock
The Dome of the Rock is one of the most important Islamic shrines, built over the Foundation Stone at the centre of the Temple Mount, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
According to Islamic tradition, this is the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during the Night Journey (Mi’raj). Some traditions associate this event with the nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the largest mosque in Jerusalem and the third holiest site in Islam, after the mosques in Mecca and Medina.
It was also the first qibla—the direction of prayer in Islam—before it was established towards Mecca.
According to Islamic belief, this is the place connected with the Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey (Isra) from Mecca to Jerusalem.
Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
The Western Wall (in Hebrew: HaKotel HaMa’aravi) is a surviving section of the western retaining wall that once enclosed the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It stretches for about 156 metres in length and rises to a height of approximately 15 metres.
As the only remaining part of the Temple complex, it is the most sacred site in Judaism outside the Temple Mount. For centuries, it has been a powerful symbol of faith, continuity, and hope for the Jewish people, as well as a central place of pilgrimage and prayer.
Today, the Western Wall attracts visitors from all over the world. A long-standing tradition invites people to place written prayers and wishes into the cracks between the ancient stones.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (also known as the Church of the Resurrection) is the most important Christian shrine and a major pilgrimage destination for believers from around the world.
The church is a vast architectural complex built around the sites associated with the key events of the Gospel story. It is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, at the end of the Via Dolorosa.
⚠️ Note: The church is usually very crowded. Visiting in large groups (50 people or more) may limit your ability to fully see and hear everything. For a more comfortable and meaningful experience, smaller guided tours are highly recommended. Key sites within the Church:
Golgotha (Calvary) — Orthodox Altar
Located on the upper level to the right of the entrance, this altar marks the place of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. According to Christian tradition, this is where Jesus and the two criminals were crucified.
Golgotha — Catholic Altar
Also situated on Golgotha, near the Orthodox altar, the Catholic altar is separated by a colonnade and the Franciscan altar of Stabat Mater (“the Sorrowful Mother”).
Holy Sepulchre (Tomb of Christ)
The Tomb of Christ is located in the Rotunda, within the Edicule (a small chapel structure). It is considered the holiest place in Christianity.
The tomb stands on the site of an ancient Jewish burial cave, traditionally believed to have belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin and a follower of Jesus.
Stone of Anointing
Situated near the entrance to the church, this stone marks the place where, according to tradition, the body of Jesus was prepared for burial after the Crucifixion.
It is venerated by pilgrims from all over the world and is associated with the final stages of the Via Dolorosa.
Jewish Quarter of the Old City
The Jewish Quarter is the oldest district of the Old City of Jerusalem, alongside the Christian, Muslim, and Armenian Quarters. It is located on the site of the Upper City from the Second Temple period, where the wealthy and noble residents once lived.
Jews first settled here around 3,000 years ago. Following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, they were forced to leave the city and only returned in the 16th century.
Today, the Jewish Quarter is home to several important historical and cultural sites:
Cardo
The Cardo was one of the two main streets of ancient Jerusalem and the commercial heart of the city. Economic life once flourished here.
Today, visitors can see the remains of ancient columns that once lined the street. Parts of the Cardo still serve their original purpose, with shops operating in restored spaces, some of which date back to the Crusader period.
Hurva Synagogue
The Hurva Synagogue was originally founded in the early 18th century. It was destroyed in 1721 and remained in ruins for more than 140 years—hence the name “Hurva” (Hebrew for “ruin”).
Rebuilt in 1864, it became the main synagogue of the Ashkenazi community in Jerusalem. It was once again destroyed in 1948 during the conflict that led to the establishment of the State of Israel.
In 2000, a decision was made to reconstruct the synagogue as an exact replica of its 19th-century form. The restored building was officially reopened on 15 March 2010 and today stands as one of the key landmarks of the Jewish Quarter.
Alexander Nevsky Church Compound (Threshold of the Judgement Gate)
The Threshold of the Judgement Gate is an Orthodox Christian shrine located within the Alexander Nevsky Compound in the Old City of Jerusalem.
It is believed to be the threshold of an ancient gate through which, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was led to his execution.
City of David
The City of David is an archaeological park located on the site of ancient Jerusalem. It preserves remarkable remains of early urban life, including ancient water systems, reservoirs, and tunnels dating back to the Canaanite period and the time of the First Temple.
More than 3,000 years ago, this area was known as the fortress of Zion, which was conquered by King David. It was here that the history of Jerusalem as a sacred city began—a city that has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.
The site is closely associated with the Gihon Spring, an ancient water source where kings of the Davidic dynasty were traditionally anointed.
Tower of David
The Tower of David is a historic citadel located near the Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. Despite its name, the structure is not directly connected to King David, but is part of a complex of fortifications built and rebuilt over different historical periods, including the Ottoman era.
During the Hasmonean period, and later under Herod the Great, a magnificent royal palace stood on this site. Herod fortified it with three towers, named in honour of his brother, his wife, and his close friend.
According to tradition and literary interpretation, this location is sometimes associated with Pontius Pilate. It is also famously referenced by Mikhail Bulgakov in his novel The Master and Margarita.
Today, the Tower of David houses a museum dedicated to the history of Jerusalem and offers panoramic views of the Old City.
Via Dolorosa
Via Dolorosa (Latin for “Way of Sorrow”) is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem traditionally believed to be the path that Jesus Christ walked on his way to the Crucifixion.
Along the Via Dolorosa are nine of the fourteen Stations of the Cross, marking key moments of this journey. The remaining five stations are located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
One of the notable sites along the route is:
House of Saint Veronica
The House of Saint Veronica is located at the intersection of Via Dolorosa and El-Wad Street, on the way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Above the entrance, an inscription in Latin marks it as the “Sixth Station.”
According to Christian tradition, Saint Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with a cloth as he passed by on his way to Golgotha. It is believed that the image of Christ’s face was miraculously imprinted on the fabric, and this act led to her veneration as a saint.
Armenian Quarter of the Old City
The Armenian Quarter is the smallest of the four quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem, covering an area of approximately 0.126 km². It is bordered by the Old City walls to the south and west, adjoins the Christian Quarter to the north, and the Jewish Quarter to the east.
The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, established in the 7th century, is located here and functions independently from other Christian institutions in Jerusalem.
Key sites in the Armenian Quarter include:
Armenian Patriarchate
Founded in the 6th century, the Armenian Patriarchate is situated in the centre of the Armenian Quarter, on Armenian Patriarchate Street.
The complex includes the St. James Cathedral, built in the 11th–12th centuries, the Chapel of Etchmiadzin, and the Monastery of the Holy Cross (Khachavank).
Armenian Monastery of Mount Zion
This Armenian monastery is located just outside the Old City walls, near the Zion Gate.
According to tradition, it stands on the site where the house of the High Priest Caiaphas once stood, where Jesus Christ was brought for questioning.
House of Saints Joachim and Anne
The House of Saints Joachim and Anne is located near the Lions’ Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
According to tradition, this is where the parents of the Virgin Mary once lived. Saint Anne is believed to have been the younger daughter of a priest named Matthan, from the lineage of Aaron, while Saint Joachim was considered a distant descendant of King David.
Golden Gate
The Golden Gate is one of the gates located in the eastern wall of the Old City of Jerusalem. The present structure forms part of the fortifications rebuilt in the 16th century by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
At that time, the main purpose of the city walls, including this gate, was to protect Jerusalem’s inhabitants from invasions, including raids by Bedouin tribes.
In ancient times, this gate provided access to the main street of the Roman city of Aelia Capitolina, which led toward the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The Golden Gate is also associated with important religious traditions and is considered significant in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic eschatology.
Pool of Bethesda
Bethesda (from Hebrew, meaning “House of Mercy”), also known as the Sheep Pool, is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, near the Lions’ Gate.
It is a rectangular artificial reservoir measuring approximately 40 by 50 metres, with a depth of about 6 metres. During the time of the Jerusalem Temple, water from the pool was channelled via an open conduit to the Temple and used for the ritual washing of sacrificial animals.
The site is also mentioned in the Gospel of John as the place where Jesus Christ healed a paralysed man, adding to its significance as a place of spiritual healing.
Herod’s Gate (Flower Gate)
Herod’s Gate, also known as the Flower Gate, is one of the entrances to the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is located in the north-eastern section of the city walls.
According to tradition, the gate received its name from a nearby road leading to the residence of Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. It is believed that Pontius Pilate sent Jesus Christ to Herod along this route.
Between Damascus Gate and Herod’s Gate lies the traditional site of the cave of Jeremiah, where, according to legend, he foretold the fall of Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah.
Damascus Gate
The Damascus Gate, also known as the Shechem (Nablus) Gate, serves as the main entrance to the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
From here begins the historic road leading north toward Damascus and Nablus.
The gate in its present form was built in 1537 during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. Beneath it lie the remains of two earlier ancient gateways, revealing the deep historical layers of the city.