Jerusalem Activities

Jerusalem has various attractions specifically aimed at children, while there are also a number of other highlights that will appeal to both young ones and adults. The city’s museums are almost all child-friendly, with the Bloomfield Science Museum and the Time Elevator being ideal for families. Meanwhile, the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens and Liberty Bell Park give children chance to get outdoors and up close with nature.

Bloomfield Science Museum
Both educational and fun, this museum is a great escape from the summer heat of the city. Ideal for children and teenagers, there are many interactive exhibits that will keep you entertained as well as workshops, demonstrations and activity corners.
Phone: +972 2 561 8128.

Time Elevator
Children will love this attraction; the Time Elevator is a simulator ride through Jerusalem's history, covering everything from warfare, destruction and earthquakes to the rebuilding of the city, the Six Day War and the diversity of religion in Jerusalem. Passengers are buckled in and given headphones for the 25-minute journey through time, which culminates in an aerial flight over the city. This attraction is not suitable for children under five years old.
Phone: +972 2 625 2227
Website: www.time-elevator-jerusalem.co.il

Tisch Family Zoological Gardens
Ideal for children and an excellent family day out, the zoological gardens offer both indoor and outdoor exhibits, housing everything from reptiles, fish, a petting zoo, birds and monkeys. Outdoor areas encompass a large lake as well as an expanse of land where deer, elephants and zebras, among other animals, run free. The visitor centre is educational and housed in a building that resembles Noah’s Ark.

Cultural Activities
Being a religious centre for many faiths, it is not surprising that the Holy City’s attractions largely consist of religious sites, including churches, mosques, synagogues and various shrines and memorials. While many of the cultural and historical attractions can be found in the Old City and are therefore easy to explore on foot, some are situated farther afield, making it necessary to plan your sightseeing.

Ammunition Hill Memorial
Built in memorial to those who lost their lives in the Six Day War in 1967, this site is now open to visitors. The battle saw Israeli troops capture the Jordanian territory which was blocking access to the Hebrew University. The trenches used in the battle are still intact and there is also a museum detailing the battle. Both Israeli and Jordanian families frequent the site to commemorate members of their family that they lost in the war.

Belz Synagogue 
One of the most noteworthy synagogues in Jerusalem, the building incorporates a rabbinical court, yeshiva and a ritual bath. With a capacity to seat 6,000 people, the main hall is overshadowed by the towering ark, which holds 100 torah scrolls. Other features include the stunning chandeliers made from Czechoslovakian crystal. Shabbat services are held here each Friday.

Dome of the Rock
One of the city’s most significant structures, this golden domed building is visible from across the city. It is believed to have been built on the site where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son, as well as being the location where Mohammed ascended to heaven. The Dome was built by Abd el-Malek in 691 AD and was converted into a church during the Crusader period.
Phone: +972 2628 3393.

Garden Tomb
Located near Damascus Gate and outside of the Old City walls, this was once thought to be the site of the tomb of Christ. Nowadays, historians believe the tomb dates back to the 6th or 7th century BC; however, the site is still significantly important among Christians, with many worshippers preferring to come here instead of the Holy Sepulchre to pray. Facilities at the site include a gift store.

Holy Sepulchre
An essential site for Christians, this shrine is held by several churches including the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Jacobite, Coptic and Ethiopian churches. The site once hosted Constantine’s 4th century basilica, which was destroyed by the Persians in 614 AD and later rebuilt by the Crusaders. The shrine incorporates various chapels, Golgotha and the Tomb of Christ (Anastasis). There are frequent services and liturgies held here. Phone: +972 2 627 3314.

St Anne’s Church
Situated in the Old City, this was once the site of the Temple of Asclepius in the time of Hadrian. Today it is the home of the French White Fathers. As with many of the city’s Christian structures, Islamic evidence can be seen from the time when Muslims ruled the city and turned the Christian centre of worship into a Muslim school. The present building was built by the Crusaders and is now used as a Catholic church.

Yad Vashem
Established in 1953 by the Israeli Parliament, Yad Vashem commemorates the death of nearly six million Jews during the Holocaust. The complex incorporates an historical museum tracing the history of the atrocity, while an art museum displays works presenting life in the concentration camps and ghettos. The centre also serves as a research centre and there are frequent seminars held here on themes related to the Holocaust. Other facilities include a café and bookstore selling videos, books and CD ROMs. Phone: +972 2 644 3400 Website: www.yad-vashem.org.il

Shopping can be a fun and fascinating experience for tourists in Jerusalem, with the Old City’s markets providing great opportunities to practise haggling. Easy-to-find souvenirs include t-shirts of all descriptions, handicrafts, judaica, Dead Sea cosmetics, jewellery, ceramics and Israeli glass and artworks. There are three main shopping zones in the city. The Muslim Quarter provides souks and cheap religious icons, the Kenion Shopping Mall offers jewellery and clothing among numerous other items, and the Jewish Quarter is great for souvenirs and trinkets.

Mahane Yehuda Market is one of the more popular markets, evident from the crowds it attracts. All sorts of food produce are available here as well as spices, salads and pastries. The market provides a great insight into Israeli life, but be careful not to get lost among its maze-like alleys! Art lovers should head to King David Street to purchase art from the galleries that thrive in this area.

If you want to shop for clothes, you may be disappointed at the lack of cutting-edge fashion available and the not-so-cheap price tags. The selection of clothing can be quite monotonous from one store to another, particularly in the tourist areas. There are, however, eight shopping malls spread across the city, with Kenion being the most popular.

As a multicultural centre of many different faiths and ethnicities, the city provides a hotpot of different cuisines for visitors to sample. Israeli cuisine, renowned for its falafel, is available almost anywhere in the city, while Middle Eastern, Ethiopian and European foods also feature heavily. Falafels are chickpeas blended with parsley and lemon juice, deep fried and served with pita bread, salad and sauce.

How much you spend on dining out very much depends on your budget, as the city has everything from glitzy upmarket establishments to cheap and cheerful food stalls. A good place to try falafel is around Machaneh Yehuda and the Central Bus Station, where there are many reasonably priced stalls. If you want to taste authentic cuisine from the region, you must hunt out restaurants that are popular with the locals. For dessert, make sure you don’t miss out on trying the ubiquitous ruggalah, delicious pastries.

Due to the heat in the summer months, Jerusalem is not a primary destination for lovers of the outdoors. The most popular outdoor activity in the city is hiking to explore the various historical sites, which are situated within and on the outskirts of the city. There are many popular, well-marked routes varying in difficulty and length.

Hiking 
There are numerous places where visitors can hike around the city, with one of the most popular hikes being Nahal Hama’ara. This nine-kilometre hike begins at Moshav Bar Giora and finishes at Moshav Zanoah, covering a range of historical sites including: Ein Hod, a 40-metre long tunnel; Bet Abtar, a fortification built by the Crusaders; Te'omim Cave; and the Hirbet el-Omadan, a series of Byzantine-era buildings. Alternative hikes include the walk from Ein Kobi to Ein Yoel and the hike from Ein Hindak to Sataf Springs.