Jerusalem Sights

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Jerusalem has an amazing array of attractions for the traveller to see. The following are some of the must-sees. For more attractions see individual district articles.

• The Israel Museum www.english.imjnet.org.il/HTMLs/Home.aspx is the largest museum in Israel. The Museum contains the "shrine of the book" where the dead sea scrolls are kept. It also has a large scale model of Jerusalem in ancient times. Normally it has a large archeology and art section but because of major renovations these sections are closed until 2010. Entrance fee is 45 NIS.
• Yad Vashem www.yadvashem.org is Israel's Holocaust museum. There is no fee to enter but tours can cost about 30 NIS. Children under ten are not allowed to enter the museum proper but they go to other areas.
• The garden tomb on Nablus Road, east jerusalem marks the traditional spot where Jesus was killed. The tomb is located in a big garden which is luch and a good breakaway from the hussle and bussle of East Jerusalem. Must do.
• The Biblical Zoo is one of Israel's most popular tourist sites, in West Jerusalem
• Visit the Belzer Rebbe's tish on Friday night in(men only!) Charedi Jerusalem
• Old City — the atmospheric historical core of Jerusalem surrounded by Ottoman period walls, filled with sites of massive religious signficance and a bustling approach to life.

• The most important Jewish Holy Place is the Temple Mount (Har Habayit) and the Western Wall (Hakotel Hamaaravi) in the Old City, which is part of the outer retaining wall of the Temple, built 2000 years ago.
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the end of the Via Dolorosa (Way of the sorrows) in the christian quarter. It is the most holy christian spot in the world. It is very old as it was built by the crusaders in 1099. The Old City. It is Jerusalem's number 1 site.
• The Temple Mount in the Muslim quarter of the Old City is the third most important site in Islam, and a showcase for Islamic architecture and design from Umayyad to Ottoman times that continues as an important religious and educational centre for Muslims to the present. It is crowned by the magnificent Dome of the rock. Encompassing over 35 acres of fountains, gardens, buildings and domes, the temple mount houses the following Islamic landmarks:

• Al-Aqsa Mosque (The Far Mosque) is the point from where the prophet of Islam, Mohammad, is believed to have ascended to heaven.
• Qubbat Al-Sakhra (Dome of the Rock) located in the middle of the sanctuary opposite of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, is probably the most known landmark of Jerusalem with its golden dome and octagonal blue walls that are adorned with Arabic calligraphy of Koranic verses. It is currently closed to non-muslims. It is also labelled the most amazing Islamic building in the world

• The Jewish quarter in the old city was completly re-built in 1969 after the war. It still holds many ancient masterpeices such as the Cardo (700 BC), Burnt House (70 AD), and Western Wailing Wall (50 BC). All of which are among the most holy jewish sites in the world. Definitely worth a visit, especially the western wall.

• www.english.imjnet.org.il/HTMLs/Home.aspx
• www.yadvashem.org