This museum is large and has so many Ancient Near Eastern artifacts. I enjoyed walking through because we were learning and studying about these time eras and a perfect spot to walk around on a humid day.

Must-See

Upper Room

Activities

Orson Hyde Park

This park was named after one of the first LDS missionaries to go to Jerusalem, Orson Hyde. It is a beautiful little place to walk through on your way to the Church of All Nations and Gethsemane.

Shops

Al Addin Money Exchange

Al Addin (all-a-deen) is a great place to get your money changed, he’s a great guy! He is honest and will tell you good places to go! This is where all the BYU Jerusalem study abroad students are told to get their money exchanged and you will find a bunch of post-it notes on the wall from past students! Look for the east side green sign. You can view their Facebook page here.

Shops

Jimmy’s Bazaar

Jimmy sells olive wood carvings. He is nice and does good work, he will travel to Utah every so often too! Look on the north side for green doors.

Shops

Omar’s Souvenirs

He is the top olive carver. He loves BYU students and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You’ll find a few olive wood carvings of Joseph Smith or other early-church-history in his shop! He has a great variety and his faces are top notch. He is more than willing to talk about all of his experiences with the church and BYU. Wonderful man and will be very honest. You can find his website here.

Tips

Damascus Gate

This is my preferred entrance to the Old City, but watch your valuables when you enter through. I never had a problem, but that seems to be the place where you could due to the bottle neck opening once you walk in.

Free

Garden Tomb

A definite must-see. It is such a beautiful area that you want to spend some time walking through, sitting and pondering, maybe even singing a hymn or two. A great place to slow down and feel the Spirit.

Shops

Shaban – Ali Baba Souvenir Shop

Shaban is an amazing guy. He will be honest with you on what things actually cost. If he has it, he’ll be reasonable, if not, he’ll tell you where you can get it. He may even offer you some juice!

Activities

Dome of the Rock

Obviously a must see while there. It may be a bit of a wait and a trick to get the times it is open, but morning would be a safer bet. It is the old temple mount and is awesome. Don’t bring any religious articles, your bag will be searched and stuff will be confiscated, so maybe leave scriptures at your hotel. Remember to wear modest clothing although they will provide a simple scarf to cover short sleeves or too short shorts.

Activities

Western Wall

Explore the entire Jewish quarter while here. There are lots of unique museums and it’s a neat little area. Males will receive a kippa (yamaka) that you can keep and on the left side the men can check out the tunnels by the wall. The Kotel Tunnel tour is also neat!

Activities

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Definitely worth looking at, it is a beautiful place with a lot of history. Be prepared that it will most likely be very crowded but it has a unique Spirit to it.

Activities

Austrian Hospice

This hospice has a beautiful view. You will need to knock or press a doorbell type thing and then someone on the inside will let you in. It has a beautiful view of the city and has a bit of space to have a small lunch that you bring.

Free

BYU Jerusalem Center

Church is on Saturday’s in Jerusalem, you will for sure want to visit for a sacrament meeting and see the grounds because they are gorgeous and has a pretty spectacular view of the Old City.

Activities

Me’a Shearim

If you have time, go visit this ultra-orthodox neighborhood. Wear long sleeves and neutral colors. It’s a very unique and one-of-a-kind area, you won’t find many people that speak English but you can get immersed in the culture!

Activities

Augusta Victoria

The bell tower view is gorgeous as well as the building itself.

Outdoor Activity

Ramparts Walk

This is a great activity to do when you first arrive to Jerusalem and the Old City to help you orient yourself to the area. It is a self-guided walking tour along the entire wall of the Old City. A fun way to get around and see a lot!

Activities