Jericho is, by most reckonings, the oldest city on earth, a green oasis in the Judean Desert where people have lived continuously for some 11,000 years. It is also the lowest city in the world, sitting more than 250 meters below sea level near the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. For visitors it offers a remarkable mix: the excavated mound of the world's most ancient town, a cliffside monastery reached by cable car, palm groves and fresh springs, and a deep well of biblical history. This guide covers what Jericho is, why it matters, what to see, and how to visit.
What is Jericho?
Jericho is an oasis city in the Jordan Valley, in the West Bank, just north of the Dead Sea and a few kilometers west of the Jordan River. Fed by the Spring of Elisha, it has been an island of green in the desert for thousands of years, which is why it became one of the earliest places on earth where humans settled down to farm. Archaeologists have traced continuous habitation back roughly 11,000 years, making it a strong candidate for the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.
At around 258 meters below sea level, it is also the lowest city on the planet. Today it is a relaxed town of palm groves, banana plantations, and citrus orchards, with a warm winter climate that has drawn visitors since antiquity. The combination of extreme age, biblical fame, and oasis setting makes it one of the most distinctive places to visit in the whole region.
Why Jericho matters
Jericho's importance runs on two tracks. Archaeologically, the mound of Tell es-Sultan preserves the remains of the ancient town, including the famous Tower of Jericho, a stone structure built around 8000 BCE that is among the oldest monumental buildings ever found. The site is part of a wider oasis of ancient palaces and monasteries recognized on the UNESCO listing for Jericho as a millenary city.
Biblically, Jericho appears throughout scripture. It is the city whose walls, in the Book of Joshua, fell after the Israelites marched around them. In the Gospels it is where Jesus healed the blind man and met Zacchaeus the tax collector, who climbed a sycamore tree to see him, and the nearby Mount of Temptation is where Jesus is said to have fasted for forty days and resisted the devil. Few places pack so much history into so small an oasis. For more background, the Jericho entry on Wikipedia covers it in detail.
What to see in Jericho
Tell es-Sultan, ancient Jericho
Tell es-Sultan is the heart of ancient Jericho, a layered mound where excavations have peeled back thousands of years of settlement. Here you can see the remains of mud-brick walls, the celebrated Neolithic stone tower, and the deep trenches that revealed the town's astonishing age. It sits right beside the Spring of Elisha, the water source that made the whole oasis possible. For anyone interested in the dawn of civilization, walking this mound is a rare chance to stand where city life essentially began.
The Mount of Temptation and its monastery
Rising sharply above the town is the Mount of Temptation, traditionally the hill where Jesus fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil. Clinging to its cliff face is the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Temptation, a dramatic building that seems to grow out of the rock itself, perched some 350 meters above the valley. It is one of the most striking sights in the Holy Land, and reaching it is half the fun.
The Jericho cable car
The easiest and most spectacular way up to the monastery is the Jericho cable car, which glides from near Tell es-Sultan up the slope of the Mount of Temptation. Because it starts below sea level, it is promoted as the lowest cable car in the world. The short ride gives sweeping views over the oasis, the ancient mound, and the Jordan Valley stretching toward the mountains of Jordan, and it saves a hot climb in the desert sun.
Hisham's Palace and the oasis
On the edge of town stands Hisham's Palace, an early Islamic Umayyad-era complex famous for its extraordinary mosaic floors, including the celebrated Tree of Life mosaic. Beyond the monuments, Jericho rewards a slower wander: the date palms and banana groves, the bustling market, fresh juice and dates from local stalls, and the gentle warmth that makes it a favorite winter escape. The legendary sycamore associated with Zacchaeus is also pointed out in town.
How to get to Jericho
Jericho sits in the Jordan Valley, roughly 40 minutes by road from Jerusalem and about an hour and a half from Tel Aviv, close to the Dead Sea. It lies in the West Bank, so most travellers visit on a guided tour, which handles the route and the context. There is no direct train, and public transport is limited, so a tour or private car is the practical way to go.
Because Jericho pairs so naturally with the other low-lying sites, it is usually combined with the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. Our Jericho, Dead Sea and Jordan River tour links all three in one day, and the Bethlehem, Jericho and Qasr al-Yahud tour combines it with the birthplace of Jesus and the river baptism site. It also sits near the Dead Sea, so the two are easy to see together.
Best time to visit Jericho
Jericho is famously a winter destination. From November to March the oasis is warm and pleasant while higher places like Jerusalem are cold, which is exactly why it has drawn visitors for millennia. Spring and autumn are also comfortable. Summer is extremely hot, often well above 40 degrees Celsius in the valley, so if you visit in the warmer months, start early, carry water, and use the cable car rather than climbing. The desert light is beautiful year-round.
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Frequently asked questions about Jericho
Why is Jericho famous?
Jericho is famous as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, with habitation going back around 11,000 years, and as the lowest city in the world. It is known biblically for the walls that fell in the Book of Joshua, and as the place where Jesus met Zacchaeus and was tempted on the nearby Mount of Temptation.
How old is Jericho?
Archaeologists have found evidence of continuous settlement at Jericho dating back roughly 11,000 years, to around 9000 BCE. The stone Tower of Jericho was built about 8000 BCE, making it one of the oldest monumental structures ever discovered.
What is there to see in Jericho?
The main sights are Tell es-Sultan, the mound of ancient Jericho with its Neolithic tower; the Mount of Temptation and its cliffside Greek Orthodox monastery, reached by cable car; Hisham's Palace with its famous mosaics; and the oasis town itself with its palm groves and markets.
How do I get to Jericho?
Jericho is in the Jordan Valley, about 40 minutes by road from Jerusalem and around 90 minutes from Tel Aviv, near the Dead Sea. It is in the West Bank, so most visitors come on a guided tour, which is the practical way to manage the route and the history, often combined with the Dead Sea and the Jordan River.
What is the Mount of Temptation?
The Mount of Temptation is the hill above Jericho where, by Christian tradition, Jesus fasted for forty days and resisted the devil's temptations. A Greek Orthodox monastery is built into its cliff face, and visitors can reach it by the Jericho cable car.
What is the best time to visit Jericho?
Winter, from November to March, is the classic time, when the oasis is warm and pleasant while the hill country is cold. Spring and autumn are also comfortable. Summer is very hot in the valley, so start early, carry water, and take the cable car.
Can I visit Jericho and the Dead Sea in one day?
Yes, and it is the most popular way to do it. Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River all lie close together in the low-lying Jordan Valley, so a single day tour comfortably combines them.
Plan your visit
Jericho rewards a curious traveller: the oldest town on earth, a monastery in a cliff, and an oasis that has felt like a small miracle for thousands of years. Browse all our Israel tours, 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.