The Temple Mount is one of the most extraordinary places on earth: a single raised platform in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City that is holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, and one of the most contested pieces of ground anywhere. It is the holiest site in Judaism, the place where the ancient Temples stood, and it is also home to the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, making it the third holiest site in Islam. Standing on it, or looking up at its golden dome, is one of the defining experiences of any visit to Jerusalem. This guide covers what the Temple Mount is, why it matters so deeply, what to see, and exactly how to visit.
What is the Temple Mount?
The Temple Mount is a vast, flat-topped platform in the southeastern corner of the Old City of Jerusalem, raised above the surrounding streets and enclosed by huge ancient retaining walls. Jews know it as Har HaBayit, the Temple Mount, and Muslims know it as the Haram ash-Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary. The platform you walk on today was built up by King Herod around 20 BCE to expand the area around the Second Temple, and its western retaining wall is the Western Wall that draws worshippers below.
On top of the platform stand two great Islamic monuments: the Dome of the Rock, with its unmistakable golden dome, and the silver-domed Al-Aqsa Mosque. Between and around them is a wide open esplanade dotted with fountains, cypress trees, and smaller domes. It is at once a working religious site, an archaeological treasure, and a place of enormous political sensitivity.
Why the Temple Mount matters
For Jews, this is the holiest place in the world. It is where the First Temple, built by King Solomon, and the Second Temple, later expanded by Herod, once stood, and where tradition places the Foundation Stone at the center of creation. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, and ever since, the Mount has been the focus of Jewish longing and prayer, which is why the Western Wall below it is so revered.
For Muslims, the Haram ash-Sharif is the third holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. The Dome of the Rock, completed in 691 CE, shelters the rock from which, in Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during the Night Journey. The Al-Aqsa Mosque nearby is one of the oldest and most important mosques in the world. Because three faiths attach such deep meaning to the same small space, the Temple Mount is also one of the most carefully managed and sensitive sites anywhere. For the full history, the Temple Mount entry on Wikipedia goes into depth.
What to see on the Temple Mount
The Dome of the Rock
The Dome of the Rock is the building everyone pictures when they think of Jerusalem's skyline. Its golden dome and brilliant blue and turquoise tilework make it one of the most beautiful structures in the Islamic world and one of the oldest surviving. It is not a mosque but a shrine, built over the Foundation Stone, the rock sacred to all three faiths. Non-Muslim visitors cannot enter the building, but you can walk around it on the esplanade and admire it up close, which is reason enough to make the climb.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque
At the southern end of the platform stands the Al-Aqsa Mosque, distinguished by its lead-grey dome. It is the main congregational mosque of the compound and gives the whole sanctuary, the Haram ash-Sharif, its name. Like the Dome of the Rock, it is closed to non-Muslim visitors, but its scale and setting are striking from the esplanade, and a guide can explain its long history from the Umayyad period onward.
The esplanade and the views
The wide open esplanade is one of the calmest large spaces in the dense Old City, planted with trees and dotted with prayer niches, fountains, and smaller domes such as the elegant Dome of the Chain. From the edges of the platform there are sweeping views over the Mount of Olives, the Kidron Valley, and the rooftops of the Old City. Walking the space gives you a sense of the sheer scale of Herod's engineering, the same platform whose western edge is the Western Wall far below.
How to visit the Temple Mount
This is the single most important thing to know: the Temple Mount has strict and limited visiting hours for non-Muslims, and they change often. Non-Muslim visitors are generally admitted only during set morning and early-afternoon windows, Sunday to Thursday, and never on Fridays, Saturdays, or Muslim holidays. The only entrance for non-Muslims is via the wooden Mughrabi Bridge, next to the Western Wall plaza, and there is a thorough security check.
Inside, non-Muslims may not enter the Dome of the Rock or the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and visible non-Islamic religious items and overtly religious behaviour are not permitted on the platform. Modest dress is required. Because the hours shift and queues can be long, the easiest way to see it is on a guided tour that knows the current schedule and the entry process. Our Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock tour is built around exactly this, and the Jerusalem full day tour takes in the Mount alongside the rest of the Old City. It pairs naturally with a visit to the Western Wall just below.
Best time to visit the Temple Mount
Aim for the early morning visiting window, when the light on the golden dome is beautiful and the platform is quietest. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons overall. Always go Sunday to Thursday, since the site is closed to tourists on Fridays, Saturdays, and Islamic holidays, and check the current hours before you go, as they are shortened during the month of Ramadan and can change at short notice for security reasons.
Visit the Temple Mount with us
Frequently asked questions about the Temple Mount
Why is the Temple Mount so important?
It is the holiest site in Judaism, where the First and Second Temples stood, and the third holiest site in Islam, home to the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Because three faiths hold it sacred, it is also one of the most contested and carefully managed places in the world.
Can tourists visit the Temple Mount?
Yes, but only during limited visiting hours for non-Muslims, generally set morning and early-afternoon windows from Sunday to Thursday. It is closed to tourists on Fridays, Saturdays, and Muslim holidays. Non-Muslims enter via the Mughrabi Bridge beside the Western Wall.
Can you go inside the Dome of the Rock?
No. Non-Muslim visitors are not permitted to enter the Dome of the Rock or the Al-Aqsa Mosque. You can walk around the esplanade and view both buildings up close, which is still a remarkable experience.
What is the difference between the Temple Mount and the Western Wall?
The Temple Mount is the raised platform itself, where the Temples stood and where the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque now stand. The Western Wall is part of the ancient retaining wall that holds up the platform, at street level below it, and is where Jewish prayer takes place.
Is the Dome of the Rock the same as the Al-Aqsa Mosque?
No, they are two separate buildings on the same platform. The Dome of the Rock is the golden-domed shrine over the Foundation Stone. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the silver-domed congregational mosque at the southern end. Together with the whole compound they form the Haram ash-Sharif.
What should I wear to the Temple Mount?
Modest dress is required: shoulders and knees covered for everyone. Visible non-Islamic religious items and overtly religious behaviour are not permitted on the platform. There is a security check at the entrance, so allow extra time.
How do I get to the Temple Mount?
It is in the Old City of Jerusalem. Non-Muslim visitors enter only through the wooden Mughrabi Bridge next to the Western Wall plaza, closest to the Dung Gate. Because the hours are limited and change often, a guided tour is the most reliable way to time your visit and get through the entry process.
Plan your visit
The Temple Mount is the spiritual heart of Jerusalem and one of the most remarkable places you can stand anywhere in the world. 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.