5 unmissable historic sites in Jerusalem
Last updated on February 10th, 2026.
There are plenty of incredible historic sites in Jerusalem, but knowing where to start can be challenging.
In this post, I'll be listing all of Jerusalem's historical sites and where you can find them. Ideal for first-time travelers to Jerusalem, use this post to help plan your own trip.
Start at zero
Jerusalem is one of those places where it doesn't matter if you know nothing about its history.
In fact, it probably works to your advantage given that Jerusalem's history is so rich. What's more, by visiting Jerusalem, you'll be learning the history firsthand and seeing the places for yourself.
More than 'Jesus' stuff
It's normal to think that in one of the most holiest cities, you'll only come across 'Jesus' stuff. However, you'd be hugely mistaken as Jerusalem is historic, but it's also modern.
Whether you’re religious or not makes no difference in Jerusalem. The following historic sites in Jerusalem are awe-inspiring, grandiose and worth bustling your way through the crowds for.
5 best historic sites in Jerusalem
1. The Tower of David
The Tower of David is an ancient citadel at the edge of the Old City in Jerusalem. From its exterior, you can immediately tell it's a historical asset of great significance.
The medieval fortress can trace its architectural origins to several periods. They include the Byzantine and early Muslim periods. Within the citadel are important archaeological relics dating back over 2,000 years.
Within the complex site
The site’s also home to the Tower of David Museum, an exhibit of 4,000 years of Jerusalem’s history.
Check the website for the most up-to-date information on ticket prices and opening times. For a mind-blowing experience, I'd encourage you to also book for the night spectacular.
At night, the Tower of David becomes a sound and light extravaganza, teaching guests about its rich history at the same time.
2. Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is considered one of the holiest Christian sites in the world. Located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, it's believed to be the place where Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected.
Because of this, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a significant pilgrimage destination for millions of Christians worldwide.
Dating to the 4th century AD, the church has been destroyed, damaged and rebuilt multiple times. Invasions, fires and earthquakes have all taken its toll.
Inside the church of the Holy Sepulchre
The church is carefully divided between Christian denominations that protectively guard their areas. Greek Orthodox has the largest area in the church and share custody with Roman Catholics and the Armenian Apostolic.
When entering the grand doors of the church, you immediately see the Stone of Unction ahead of you.
The limestone slab, dating from 1808, marks the preparation of Jesus’ body for burial. Armenians, Coptic Orthodox, Greeks and Latin groups contributed the white lamps that hang over the stone slab.
A moving experience
Probably the most moving sight in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the tomb of Jesus. The Edicule (the tomb) is covered by a flat roof with a small dome at its center and narrow columns for support.
The edicule was rebuilt after a fire in 1808 and contains the Angel's Stone; a tradition which says that an angel announced Jesus' resurrection.
A notable architectural feature is the rotunda. The central dome of the church located above the Edicule dominates the interior.
Be prepared for a long line to enter the tomb of Jesus. It's the main attraction at the church, and if it's something you'd like to see, come early.
As a non-practicing Catholic, I've to admit, I was very moved by my visit here. The energy and spirit of the church, even with the crowds of people, is something I'll never forget.
Map of Jerusalem
3. City of David
To see the site of ancient Jerusalem, you need to go to the City of David. Its beginnings date back to the Early Bronze Age (1850 BC).
It’s the same place from the Bible where David established the capital of ancient Israel. The City of David was also the seat of rule for the Davidic dynasty for centuries. Today, it's home to a mixed Jewish-Arab neighborhood.
How to get to the City of David
The City of David is outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. It's approximately a 4-minute walk from the Western Wall. This historic place is the most excavated archeological site in Israel.
In fact, there have been more than 19 archeological delegations that have excavated in the City of David since 1867. These teams have come from England, France, Germany, the US and Israel.
Excavating hidden treasures
Though the City of David is the most excavated archeological site in Israel, to date, only 20% has been uncovered.
One of the most important discoveries was the Canaanite Water System, which dates back to the 18th century BC. The water system's a series of underground passages and fortifications, that the ancient Canaanites used to access the city’s primary water source.
If you're interested in visiting the City of David, taking a tour is an excellent way to explore the site. You'll get to see the ancient city and with your very own expert guide.
4. Temple Mount
Temple Mount is a steep hill in the Old City and one of the most historic sites in Jerusalem. It's also one of the most religious sites in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
There are 3 significant structures on Temple Mount: the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the Dome of the Chain.
You can also see the 4 minarets — architectural structures similar to a tower — adjacent to the mosque. The golden-domed Dome of the Rock is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been called ‘Jerusalem’s most recognizable landmark’.
Holiest places in the world
The Al-Aqsa mosque is the third holiest site in Sunni Islam. Muslims believe that it's the place where Muhammad was taken from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.
Visitors can reach Temple Mount through 11 gates. However, please note that 10 gates are only for Muslims and 1 is for non-Muslims.
5. The Western Wall
The Western Wall is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It’s also known as the ‘Wailing Wall’, or ‘Kotel’ in Hebrew.
The wall’s extremely holy for the Jewish people because of its connection to Temple Mount.
Probably the holiest site in the Jewish faith lies behind the Western Wall. The Foundation Stone is the name of the rock at the center of the Dome of the Rock.
Leave your note
Many Jewish people regard the Foundation Stone as the Holy of the Holies — the spiritual junction between heaven and earth. Therefore, it’s the direction that all Jews should face when praying.
If you want, you can write — and leave — prayer notes in any of the crevices in the wall. It’s a beautiful practice, made more spiritual by the surroundings of the Old City.
Arrive early
Lines to visit the Western Wall build up quickly, so arrive as early as possible. The holy land of Israel has more historic sites to visit; you just need to know where to find them.
What do you think about this post listing the most historic sites in Jerusalem? Which of these places would you most like to see? Let me know in the comments below.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.
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Israel is quite high on my list of places to visit and I enjoyed reading your excellent summery about the main sites. I can imagine that it has been very moving to visit Church of the Holy Sepulchre as well as the Western Wall. Good to know that it pays to arrive early at the Western Wall.
Jerusalem is incredible and really a city that moved me in so many ways. Early is always best!
A very inspiring and exciting article. I dream about seeing Jerusalem because it is a fantastic city, full of history, cultural heritage, and beautiful monuments. For sure, I would love to see the Tower of David Museum, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa mosque as well.
Thank you Agnes! I loved visiting Jerusalem and would return again to Israel!
Fascinating. The ancient water system going back all those centuries makes you realise just how much history is here. An amazing city no doubt.
Visiting Jerusalem was an intense experience. It's amazing how much history is in one place
It sounds very interesting and definitely a place on my list to see one day. Will pin your post for when we go.
Thanks Wendy! It's an amazing city with tons of sites to see
Have always wanted to visit Israel but somehow have never managed it. Maybe because of the overall tensions in the region. But I will refer to this post when I decide to go. A good collection. I did not know that only 20% of Jerusalem had been excavated!
It's something most people don't realise! I totally understand your point; I was a bit nervous upon visiting, but honestly, I had such a great time, and would return to explore Tel Aviv 🙂
We are yet to explore Middle East and making a list of the must see places! Jerusalem seems to make on top of the list thanks to this post. It looks spectacular. The fact that it is rich in historical sites makes it even more special as there is a unique charm associated with places that reflect the historical heritage! The golden-domed Dome of the Rock looks outstanding and am not surprised that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. City of David fascinates me as there is so much more to be uncovered here! A good guide to plan a historical sites trip to Jerusalem!
You must visit Jerusalem. It's so spiritual, and it doesn't matter what religion you are, or even atheist, it's a culturally rich city.
Jerusalem is a city that is a living historical museum in the literal sense of the word. There are so many sites with ancient history associated in the place. As you rightly mentioned though it is the birthplace of one of the most important religions of the world, the city is all about history. Hope to get to this fascinating place some day. Apart from the main landmarks, my attention was riveted reading about the Canaanite Water System, which dates back to the 18th century BC. This sounds so awe inspiring.
It's an incredible place, and all politics aside, an amazing city with a rich history.
So many historical and holy places there. Jerusalem is high on my list of places to visit and this post has inspired my wanderlust even more 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Perfect! I hope you visit one day, it's an incredible city.
I would love to visit Jerusalem for these and many other historical sites. So much history and culture to see and imbibe. Definitely on the bucket list.
I loved my time in Jerusalem. It's historic, spiritual and with a rich culture too.
Jerusalem is the place of history. I have been following some modern and well-made youtube channels, talking about the history of Jerusalem. You summarised the important spots good.
Thank you! I really had an awesome time there, and the history is incredible.
As a self confessed history addict, I've always had a special fascination for Jerusalem. It is a city over which many empires and civilizations have left their mark, and continue to do so even in this modern day and age. I look forward to visiting Jerusalem at some point in time.
It's a great city to explore, and many good surprises too.
Just so you know, more than half the photos don't load for me! ASIDE from that... thank you for this post! I would most definitely like to visit Jerusalem some day in the near future. I went to Catholic school until I was 17, studying soooo much about this melting pot of a city. I wouldn't be interested in the religious sites for religion's sake, but definitely for the fact that they are so OLD and historical!! Great post.
So sorry to read that! I'm glad you still enjoyed it! I'm also Catholic, and though not practicing, I did feel more spiritual when there.
I would love to visit old Jerusalem! As a history buff, it is something that has always been on my list. Christian denominations jealously guarding their areas is intriguing. Hopefully this does not result in any instability or safety issues. I've heard it's pretty much safe to travel. The architecture of Al-Aqsa mosque must also be a beautiful experience.
Trust me it's very safe, and stable! The country gets a lot of bad press because of the political situation, but it doesn't take away from the stunning city and history.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre was one of my favorite parts of Jerusalem! So beautiful and historic. It was such a powerful feeling just being in there
Ah great, I'm so glad you enjoyed it too! It's incredible inside.
Great post! Jerusalem is a place I never think of going but I know I should. Reckon its safe for kids to go? All that history would make a great trip for her.
Honestly, I found it very safe, and for kids, it's really interesting and educational too 🙂
I only got one full day to explore Old Jerusalem, and I only got to see a handful of these! I really wish I could have seen Temple Mount up close.
You must go back, it's so interesting and just a great place to visit!
Awesome tips and recommendations - we've been desperate to visit the Middle East for a long time and Jerusalem is high on our list. Would love to see the city of David and Temple Mount!
It's an incredible city and one I wouldn't mind returning to!
I would love to visit Jerusalem for precisely these sites, especially the city of David. It would be amazing to get lost in those ruins and the stories they have to tell. Sigh! Don't know when though
Aw, I'd definitely add it to the list, as it's a wonderful city with plenty of great things to see and do.
Jerusalem is on my bucket list for a while now and all my Israeli friends are encouraging me to visit. I like your guide and I particularly am curious to see the City of David. I wonder if the Jews and the Arabs leave in peace, given the known animosities between them. I did enjoy how you emphasized at the beginning about the fact that Jerusalem is a city of many faiths. My friends are telling me the same!
It really is mainly a peaceful place. Unfortunately, the news only shows the bad things of the city. Yes there are tensions, but it's a mainly peaceful place. 🙂
It's good to know that there's more to Jerusalem than the 'Jesus stuff' 🙂 I love historical cities and since I live in the Middle East, it is actually not very difficult for me to make a trip to Jerusalem. In fact, I was planning to when I was visiting Jordan but was short on time then! Thanks for sharing this guide, it's very useful.
You're welcome Medha! Jerusalem is stunning and I would recommend it to everyone. Since you're in the Middle East, you need to visit!
Jerusalem has definitely been high on my bucketlist for a long time now and after reading your post, I want to go even more now. I want to go to the Temple Mount is looks and sounds interesting.The City of David, what can I say but wow. I just believe the city has so much culture.
Jerusalem's magnificent, and really you won't be disappointed. Don't listen to the media hype, it's safe!
Thank you for sharing this post. City of David looks quite an interesting place. Living in middle east i wonder how I missed this places. Will bookmark this post and definitely will try to cover it soon.
Ah you're so welcome. It's an incredible country with such a rich cultural mix. Plus, the buildings are awe-inspiring 😀
Jerusalem is an intriguing place I'd like to visit. It was never on the top of my list but as I learn more about its historical significance and some of the architectural pieces, hopefully, I'll check it out one day. Temple Mount looks particularly impressive and I'd love to see that
It's stunning, and really one of the best places I've travelled to. I recommend to bring a good jacket, as the nights can get quite chilly.
Jerusalem is an important historical city. I have nursed the dream to visit Jerusalem ever since I made a trip to the neighbouring country Jordan. It is mostly seen as a Jesus trail. Thankfully you have mentioned some offbeat gems. The Tower of David looks interesting.
You need to visit, it's so awe-inspiring and something interesting around every corner 🙂
I visited Jerusalem recently and loved it. Although I'm not into the bible stories I still enjoyed visiting all the religious sites. It was interesting to see the places which were mentioned in the bible. You've photographed the points of interest beautifully, especially the Dome of the Rock. I didn't actually know this was a UNESCO site!
Thank you James! I'm not big on the biblical stories either, but the place is incredible and yes, very Instagrammable.
This is a great list of places to visit in Jerusalem. I have always wanted to visit this place and after seeing your post, I would definitely visit it soon. I can't wait to visit the iconic landmark , the Dome of the Rock there.
Jerusalem is incredible beautiful and you won't regret at all when you visit. You also feel more spiritual there too.
These look like the essential places to visit, especially the city of David. I hope to see Jerusalem one day. great guidelines and tips. you photos looks amazing as always.
Thanks Bee, always nice to read such positive feedback! You need to visit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv if you have time; it's so beautiful there 🙂
I've never really considered visiting Jerusalem before, even though a bunch of my family members have gone. However, the more I think about it and read about it, the more appealing Jerusalem sounds to me!I would love to go see the City of David and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Thanks for sharing!
Jerusalem is unbelievable, and in a good way! I highly recommend visiting, and not to pay so much attention to the media!
We always wanted to go to Israel. Hopefully soon. Now that we live in the Middle East, it's not quite a popular destinations for its residents! Can't wait to go after ready through!
I can imagine it's a different view if you live there, but trust me, you don't want to miss out on Israel, it's so wonderful.
It looks like there is a great deal to see in Jerusalem. A lot more than I thought there would be. The picture at night is incredible, I would love to stare at that view
It's pretty spectacular Natasha, especially seeing it in person. But be sure to bring your jacket and scarf, as it can get really cold at nighttime!
What a beautiful picture! I've never been to Israel. I would like to visit someday! It's must be beautiful!!
Thanks Fumiko, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Please add it to your list, it's totally worth it!
I've been looking for an informative guide to Jerusalem, couldn't be better timed! Super informative, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Marlo, really appreciate your comment! I hope you have just as good a time as I did!
Ah I have heard so many great things about Israel! I would be so keen to check it out, especially after reading this post! Your photos are amazing, makes me feel like I'm already there <3
Thanks Alexxa, I really appreciate your kind comments. Hope you get to visit one day!
I would definitely love to visit Jerusalem one day. Very nice pictures! Do you know which is the best season of the year to visit?
Thanks Fabiola, I would say to visit in May; I went in March, and it was still quite cold during the day, and night! Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome pics! I was always fascinated by these, may be someday I can visit them.
Thank you, I hope you get to visit too! Glad you enjoyed the photos
Wow. This was actually eye opening. I always thought of Jerusalem only as a "Jesus site"...
Thanks Tiasa, glad you enjoyed it!
It is a dream of mine to one day visit Israel just to visit every site mention in the Bible specially the places where Jesus went through. Thanks for sgaring this place is very dear to my heart.
Thanks Yadira, I really hope you get to visit one day, it's more spectacular in person 🙂
What beautiful pictures and an awesome informational guide for a visit. With three young kiddies, it will be a while before I can take a trip like this, but based on your information here, Jerusalem should be should be near the top of my travel bucket list for when I eventually can take a trip like this! Thanks for sharing the info, descriptions and pictures!
Thanks Nicole, yes, maybe once the kids are older you can get the chance to go! It's really a magical place, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I've never really thought of going here, but it looks beautiful! And there's so much history there, I'm sure there's a lot to see and learn!
Hi Alicia, Jerusalem is really one of those places that just surprises you, but in a good way! Definitely add it to your list!
Jerusalem isn't really a city I've considered visiting, but it looks like there is loads to do there that I had no idea about! I may have to rethink my plans to visit x
Hi Becca, you absolutely must visit; Jerusalem and Israel has many great places of interest, plus the beaches in Tel Aviv and the landscape in general! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
The Temple Mount looks so majestic. I know you said Jerusalem is more than just "Jesus" stuff so what other things are there to do or see that has nothing to do with religion?
Hi Justine, I would suggest spending a good amount of time at Machane Yehuda market. It's vibrant during the day, and turns into a street of bars at night. Definitely no sign of religion there!
Great post! Jerusalem and Israel have been on my list for a long time. Will bookmark this for when I finally go!
Thanks James, hope you get to visit soon!
All of these are certainly the must-see places in Jerusalem, but I would add at least two more: stop for a few minutes and watch the worshipping at the Western Wall. That way you've see the holy places of three religions, not two. And do at least part of the walk on the city walls to see the Old City from above!
Thanks Rachel! I did actually visit the Western Wall, maybe I should amend this post! Thanks for your comment.
Love the photo of the ceiling. What an inspiring place. I also like how the images pop up on your page as you scroll down.
Thanks Tanya, I appreciate your kind comments, glad you enjoyed it!