Christian Jerusalem and Bethlehem 2 Day Tour

Overview

1. Day 1Jerusalem's Old City and Bethlehem
2. 1
   07:15 AMPickup from your hotel

   Your guide collects you from your Tel Aviv hotel at around 07:15, or from your Jerusalem hotel at around 08:30. Be ready in the lobby up to an hour early, since pickups can start 30 to 60 minutes ahead. We confirm your exact time the day before.

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3. 2
   MorningMount of Olives and the Kidron Valley

   The first stop is a lookout over the ancient Jewish cemetery, where tradition says the resurrection will begin. From here you see the Old City and the Temple Mount. Driving down, you pass the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations and the rock-cut tombs of the Kidron Valley, including the Tomb of Absalom.

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4. 3
   Late morningArmenian Quarter, the Cardo and the Western Wall

   Step through Zion Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem and cross the quiet Armenian Quarter. A section of the Byzantine Cardo, the city's main street 1,500 years ago, now hosts shops under its arches. Continue through the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall, the most sacred place of prayer in Judaism.

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5. 4
   MiddayStations of the Cross and the Holy Sepulchre

   Walk the Via Dolorosa and stop at several Stations of the Cross, just as thousands of pilgrims do each year. The route ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christians honor the site of the crucifixion and the empty tomb. Afterward you wander through the bazaars of the Christian and Muslim Quarters before driving to Bethlehem.

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6. 5
   AfternoonManger Square and the Church of the Nativity

   In Bethlehem, you bend through a low doorway into the 4th century Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches still in daily use. Below it, a silver star in the Grotto of the Nativity marks the traditional spot where Jesus was born. Crowds sometimes make it impossible to go down into the grotto, so your guide will tell you on the day. Next door, St. Catherine's Church leads to the caves where St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin.

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7. 6
   Late afternoonShepherds' Field

   End the day at Shepherds' Field, where the angel announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds watching their flocks. The small Church of the Angels, designed by Antonio Barluzzi, tells the Christmas story in bright panels. On the way back you pass the Field of Ruth, linked to Ruth and Boaz.

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8. EveningOvernight at your tourist class hotel

   Settle into your tourist class hotel, which is listed on your booking voucher. The rest of the evening is free for dinner on your own or an early night. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you set out on day 2.

9. Day 2Mount of Olives to the Via Dolorosa
10. 7
    MorningAscension and the Lord's Prayer

    Day 2 opens at the top of the Mount of Olives with the Chapel of the Ascension, where a rock is said to show the footprint of Jesus. A short walk away, the Church of the Pater Noster covers its walls with the Lord's Prayer in over 100 languages. You also see the Crusader cloister and the grotto where Jesus is said to have taught his disciples.

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11. 8
    Mid-morningDominus Flevit

    Head down the slope to Dominus Flevit, the small chapel shaped like a teardrop. It marks where Jesus wept as he foresaw the fall of Jerusalem. The window behind the altar looks straight across to the Temple Mount.

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12. 9
    Late morningGethsemane and the Church of All Nations

    In the garden of Gethsemane, ancient olive trees grow beside the Church of All Nations, where Jesus prayed before his arrest. Look up at the ceiling, decorated with the emblems of the countries that helped pay for it, and at the bright mosaic above the entrance.

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13. 10
    AfternoonBethesda, St. Anne and the Lithostrotos

    Enter through Lions' Gate to see the Pools of Bethesda and the Crusader Church of St. Anne, linked by tradition to the birth of Mary. Beneath the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, you see a Second Temple era cistern and Roman flagstones where many believe Pilate judged Jesus. Then walk the Way of the Cross through the Old City.

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14. 11
    EveningReturn to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem

    After the last stop, the air-conditioned vehicle takes you back to your hotel in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. You go home having seen the places of both the first Christmas and the first Easter.

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What's included

Pickup & meeting point

Know before you go

Cancellation policy

This tour includes flights or accommodation that are booked for you as soon as you book, so it is non-refundable, including no-shows. Border and visa fees are also non-refundable once paid. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation. If we cancel or materially change the tour, you can choose an alternative date, a credit or a full refund. Read the booking terms.

Frequently asked questions