The Western Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray, and one of the most moving sites anywhere in Jerusalem. Day and night, people press close to its ancient stones, slip folded notes into the cracks, and pray inches from two thousand years of history. Whether you come to pray, to leave a note, or simply to stand and watch, it is an experience that stays with you. This guide covers what the Western Wall is, why it matters, what to see, how to visit, and the etiquette to know before you go.
What is the Western Wall?
The Western Wall, known in Hebrew as the Kotel, is a section of ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is not the wall of the Temple itself, but part of the great retaining wall that the Jewish king Herod built around 20 BCE to support the expanded platform of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. When the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 CE, this stretch of the western retaining wall survived, and over the centuries it became the focus of Jewish prayer and longing.
Today the exposed section in the main plaza stands about 19 meters high, its lower courses made of the huge, precisely cut stones of the Herodian period. Because it is the closest accessible point to where the Temple's Holy of Holies once stood, it is considered the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray. The plaza in front of it functions as a vast open-air synagogue, open day and night, every day of the year.
Why the Western Wall matters
For two thousand years, since the destruction of the Temple, the Western Wall has been the heart of Jewish prayer and a symbol of the connection to Jerusalem. Jews around the world traditionally face toward it in prayer, and for centuries pilgrims wept at its base for the lost Temple, which gave rise to its older English name, the Wailing Wall.
The site carries enormous modern weight too. When Israeli forces reached the Wall in 1967, the images became some of the most iconic in the country's history. Today it draws Jewish worshippers, families celebrating bar and bat mitzvahs, soldiers being sworn in, and visitors of every faith from around the world. For the history and archaeology, the Western Wall entry on Wikipedia covers it in depth.
What to see at the Western Wall
The prayer plaza
The wide plaza in front of the Wall is the main prayer area, and it is divided into two sections, a larger one for men and a smaller one for women, in keeping with Orthodox Jewish custom. You can approach the Wall, place your hand on the warm stone, and pray or simply take in the atmosphere. At almost any hour you will see people swaying in prayer, reading from prayer books, and leaning their foreheads against the stones. It is busiest and most powerful on Friday evenings as Shabbat begins, and during the Jewish festivals.
The prayer notes in the cracks
One of the Wall's most touching traditions is the placing of small, folded notes into the gaps between the stones. Visitors write prayers and personal wishes and slip them into the cracks, a custom said to date back centuries and now followed by people of every background, not only Jews. Millions of notes are left each year. Twice a year the notes are carefully collected and buried on the Mount of Olives, so the practice can continue. You are welcome to write and leave your own.
The Western Wall Tunnels
The section of Wall you see in the plaza is only a small part of the whole. Most of it runs hidden underground, beneath the buildings of the Old City. The Western Wall Tunnels, entered from the northern end of the plaza, let you walk the length of the buried wall, see the largest of the Herodian stones, one weighing several hundred tonnes, and understand the sheer scale of Herod's engineering. The tunnels are visited on a separate guided tour and should be booked ahead, especially in high season.
The view and the Old City around it
The Wall sits in the heart of the Old City's Jewish Quarter, with the golden Dome of the Rock rising on the Temple Mount directly above and behind it. The whole area is dense with history, from the restored Roman-era Cardo to the rooftops with their views across the four quarters. Most visitors combine the Wall with the rest of the Old City, since the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Armenian quarters all sit within a few minutes' walk.
How to get to the Western Wall
The Western Wall is in the Old City of Jerusalem, in the Jewish Quarter. The nearest gates are the Dung Gate, closest to the plaza, and the Jaffa Gate, a longer but more scenic walk through the Old City lanes. Jerusalem is roughly an hour by road from Tel Aviv, and the city's light rail and buses connect to stops near the Old City, from where it is a short walk.
Because the Old City is a maze and the Wall sits within a layered web of history, the most rewarding way to visit for first-time travellers is a guided tour that brings the context to life. Our Christian Jerusalem tour walks the holy sites of the Old City, the Jerusalem full day tour covers the city's highlights including the Wall, and the Temple Mount tour takes in the great platform above it.
Visiting tips and etiquette
The Western Wall is open 24 hours a day, every day, and entry is free. It is an active religious site, so modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered for everyone, and men are asked to cover their heads, with paper kippahs provided free at the entrance. On Shabbat, from Friday evening to Saturday evening, photography is not permitted out of respect, and the same applies on major Jewish holidays. There is a security check at the entrance to the plaza. Approach quietly, and remember that for many of the people around you this is a deeply sacred moment, not a tourist backdrop.
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Frequently asked questions about the Western Wall
Why is the Western Wall so important?
The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray. It is the surviving retaining wall of the Temple Mount, the closest accessible point to where the ancient Temple's Holy of Holies stood, and for two thousand years it has been the focus of Jewish prayer and connection to Jerusalem.
Is the Western Wall the same as the Wailing Wall?
Yes. "Wailing Wall" is an older English name that comes from the centuries of pilgrims mourning the destroyed Temple at its base. In Hebrew it is called the Kotel. They all refer to the same wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Can anyone visit the Western Wall?
Yes. People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome to approach the Wall, pray, and leave a note. The plaza is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and entry is free.
What are the notes in the Western Wall?
Visitors write prayers and personal wishes on small slips of paper and tuck them into the cracks between the stones. The tradition is said to go back centuries and is now followed by people of all faiths. The notes are collected and respectfully buried twice a year.
What should I wear to visit the Western Wall?
Modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered for everyone. Men are asked to cover their heads, and free paper kippahs are available at the entrance. On Shabbat and Jewish holidays, photography is not permitted out of respect.
How do I get to the Western Wall?
It is in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, closest to the Dung Gate. Jerusalem is about an hour from Tel Aviv by road, and city buses and the light rail stop near the Old City. A guided tour is the easiest way to find it within the Old City and understand its history.
What are the Western Wall Tunnels?
Most of the Western Wall runs hidden underground beneath the Old City. The Western Wall Tunnels are a guided underground route along the buried length of the wall, where you can see the enormous Herodian foundation stones. They require a separate ticket and should be booked in advance.
Plan your visit
The Western Wall is the spiritual heart of Jerusalem, and standing at its stones is the moment many travellers remember most from a visit to the city. Browse all our Israel tours, see our full things to do in Jerusalem guide, or head back to the travel guide hub for more itineraries and tips. Questions before you book? Message us on WhatsApp at 08-6338361 or email sales@booking-tours.com and a real person from our Eilat office will answer.