The Mount of Olives is the ridge that rises east of Jerusalem's Old City, and from its crest comes the most famous view in the Holy Land: the golden Dome of the Rock, the walls of the Old City, and the Temple Mount spread out below you. For three faiths it is sacred ground. It holds the oldest continuously used Jewish cemetery on earth, a string of beautiful churches marking moments from the life of Jesus, and the Garden of Gethsemane at its foot. This guide covers what the Mount of Olives is, why it matters, what to see, and how to visit.
What is the Mount of Olives?
The Mount of Olives is a hill, part of a long ridge, immediately east of Jerusalem's Old City, separated from it by the Kidron Valley. It rises to more than 800 meters and takes its name from the olive groves that once covered its slopes. Because it directly faces the Temple Mount, it has been a place of burial, prayer, and pilgrimage for thousands of years.
Today the mount is layered with sacred sites. Its western slope holds a vast Jewish cemetery, the oldest in continuous use anywhere, with an estimated 150,000 graves. Scattered across the hillside are churches commemorating events from the final days of Jesus, and at the bottom lies the Garden of Gethsemane. The summit offers the panoramic viewpoint that appears on countless postcards of Jerusalem.
Why the Mount of Olives matters
Few places carry such weight across the three Abrahamic faiths. In Judaism, the mount faces the Temple Mount and has been the most prestigious burial place for over three millennia, tied to traditions about the coming of the Messiah. In Christianity, it is woven through the Gospels: Jesus wept over Jerusalem here, prayed in agony in Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion, and, by tradition, ascended to heaven from its summit.
It is also simply the best place to understand Jerusalem's geography. Standing at the top, with the Old City laid out across the valley, the relationship between the Temple Mount, the walls, and the surrounding hills suddenly makes sense. For the wider history, the Mount of Olives entry on Wikipedia goes into depth.
What to see on the Mount of Olives
The panoramic viewpoint
The observation point near the top is the reason most visitors come, and it does not disappoint. The whole Old City fills the view: the Dome of the Rock glinting gold, the Temple Mount platform, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre's domes, and the ancient walls. It is best in the morning when the sun is behind you and lights the city. This is the postcard view of Jerusalem, and it is free.
The Church of Mary Magdalene
Halfway down the slope, the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene is unmistakable, its seven gilded onion domes rising above the pines like something from Moscow transplanted to Jerusalem. Built in the 1880s by Tsar Alexander III in memory of his mother, it is one of the most photographed buildings on the mount and a striking counterpoint to the surrounding stone.
The Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations
At the foot of the mount lies the Garden of Gethsemane, where ancient olive trees, some thought to be over a thousand years old, still grow. Beside it stands the Church of All Nations, also called the Basilica of the Agony, built over the rock where Jesus is said to have prayed the night before his crucifixion. Its mosaic facade and dim, violet-lit interior make it one of the most atmospheric churches in Jerusalem.
The other churches and the cemetery
The slope is dotted with other sites: the teardrop-shaped Dominus Flevit chapel, where tradition says Jesus wept over the city; the Pater Noster church, where the Lord's Prayer is displayed in dozens of languages; the Chapel of the Ascension at the summit; and the Tomb of Mary in the valley. Spread below them all is the ancient Jewish cemetery, its white tombs covering the hillside, a powerful sight in its own right.
How to visit the Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives sits just east of the Old City, across the Kidron Valley. Many visitors start at the top for the view and walk down the steep path past the churches to Gethsemane at the bottom, which is the most rewarding way to see it. Jerusalem is about an hour from Tel Aviv by road, and the Old City gates are a short distance from the foot of the mount.
Because the sites are spread across a steep hillside and rich with history, a guided tour makes the visit far more meaningful and handles the logistics. Our Jerusalem full day tour takes in the Mount of Olives viewpoint along with the Old City, and the Christian Jerusalem tour follows the sites of Jesus's final days here and across the city. The mount looks directly onto the Temple Mount and Western Wall, and pairs naturally with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre across the valley.
Visiting tips
Go in the morning for the best light on the Old City and to beat the heat, since the walk down is exposed. Wear sturdy shoes, the descent is steep and uneven in places. As you will visit active churches, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. Allow two to three hours if you want to walk the whole slope and stop at the churches and Gethsemane. The viewpoint area can get busy with tour groups and vendors, so an early start helps.
Visit the Mount of Olives with us
Frequently asked questions about the Mount of Olives
Why is the Mount of Olives important?
It is sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It holds the oldest continuously used Jewish cemetery in the world, and in Christian tradition it is where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, prayed in Gethsemane before his crucifixion, and ascended to heaven. It also offers the most famous panoramic view of the Old City.
What is there to see on the Mount of Olives?
The main sights are the panoramic viewpoint over the Old City, the golden-domed Church of Mary Magdalene, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations at the foot, the Dominus Flevit and Pater Noster churches, the Chapel of the Ascension at the summit, and the ancient Jewish cemetery on the slope.
How do I get to the Mount of Olives?
It sits just east of Jerusalem's Old City, across the Kidron Valley. Jerusalem is about an hour from Tel Aviv by road. Most visitors come on a guided tour, which handles the route and the history; many start at the top for the view and walk down to Gethsemane.
What is the Garden of Gethsemane?
Gethsemane is the garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives where, in the Gospels, Jesus prayed in agony the night before his crucifixion. Ancient olive trees still grow there, and the adjacent Church of All Nations is built over the rock where he is said to have prayed.
Can I walk from the Mount of Olives to the Old City?
Yes. The classic route is to start at the viewpoint on top, walk down the slope past the churches to the Garden of Gethsemane at the bottom, then cross the Kidron Valley to the Old City gates. Wear sturdy shoes, as the path is steep.
What is the best time to visit the Mount of Olives?
Morning is best, both for the light on the Old City and to avoid the midday heat on the exposed slope. Allow two to three hours to walk the whole hillside and visit the churches and Gethsemane.
Can I see the Mount of Olives and the Old City in one day?
Yes. The Mount of Olives looks directly onto the Old City and is a short distance away, so a single Jerusalem day tour easily combines the viewpoint with the Western Wall, Temple Mount, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Plan your visit
The Mount of Olives gives you Jerusalem in a single sweep: the view, the cemetery, the churches, and the garden where so much of the Gospel story unfolds. 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.