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Old City - Useful Information

Tourist Information for the Old City

Before you arrive in Jerusalem, you can explore all about the city by checking available travel options and reading our numerous travel articles. You'll swiftly be able to make Jerusalem an easy getaway vacation destination.

Likewise, there are a number of valuable resources of information for tourists visiting Jerusalem, as listed below.

Free iTravelJerusalem Visitor's Guide Booklets

You can find iTravelJerusalem free visitor's guide booklets at all major Jerusalem hotels, and at the Municipality Tourism office located in Safra Square, Building #2.

The booklets are written in seven different languages: English, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Italian, German, and French.

The Jerusalem visitor's guide booklets are produced every three months, so the information you will find about Jerusalem events, Jerusalem restaurants, and Jerusalem attractions is always up to date.

Tour Phone *3888

For prompt answers and help on tourist matters 24 hours a day, dial *3888 from any phone. The call connects you to the Israel Police, Ministry of Interior Services and to the Airport Authority.

Tourist Information Center - Jaffa Gate

The center in the Old City offers free maps, brochures, information on tours as well as advice from knowledgeable staff.

Ministry of Tourism Tourist Information Center, located at Jaffa Gate, entrance to the Jerusalem Old City.

Address: 1 Jaffa St
Phone: +972-2-627-1422
Fax: +972-2-627-1362

Opening hours:

Sun- Thurs: 08:30 to 17:00
Friday: 08:30 to 12:00
Closed on Saturday
Ministry of Tourism Website

Christian Information Center

A great resource for Christian travelers, and pilgrims with mass times as well as recommendations for Christian-oriented accommodation, Christian tours and pilgrimage sites.

Phone: +972-2-627-2692
Fax: +972-2-627-2692

Opening hours:

Mon, Wed, Fri: 08:30 to 17:30
Tues, Thurs: 08:30 to 16:00
Saturday: 8:30 to 12:30
Closed on Sunday
Christian Information Center Website

Service Centers

The Municipal Hotline

Phone: +972-2-531-4600
Jerusalem Municipality Website

Emergency Municipal Center

Phone: +972-2-625-6202

Transportation

There are a number of ways to get to the Old City. The Old City consists of very narrow streets and alleyways. Therefore, most transportation stops outside the walls and gates of the Old City and visitors are required to walk between 2-15 minutes to their final destination within the Old City walls.

Bus

Bus lines 38 and 38א - These are the only bus lines that enter the Old City. Its route starts at the Old Train Station and goes through the following streets: Keren HaYesod, King George, HaNevim, Karib, and into the Old City.

Bus line 20 - This line goes as far as Jaffa Gate. From there, visitors can walk into the Old City by foot.

Bus lines 1, 2 and 3 – These lines reach the Western Wall. Their routes start from the Central Bus Station and from Har Nof, a neighborhood in the west of Jerusalem.

Light Rail

The Light Rail – One of the closest light rail stations to the Old City is just outside Jerusalem’s City Hall (Municipality). From there, it is a 10-15 minute walk to Jaffa Gate or five minutes to The New Gate. From Damascus Gate Station you can walk directly into the Old City via Damascus Gate.

http://www.citypass.co.il/

Further Information about bus lines:

Egged
Phone: *2800 or +972-2-530-4704
Website: http://www.egged.co.il/eng/

Taxis

There is no permanent taxi station within the Old City, but taxis can enter the Old City all through the day. Taxis can be found along the roads of the Old City for those who are looking for one. Alternatively, if you walk just outside of the Old City, you should be able to find one easily. They generally congregate outside Jaffa Gate, The Western Wall and Dung gate.

Private cars

Private cars are not allowed into the Old City between 09:00 and 18:00 pm. For those who choose to go to the Old City by car, there are a handful of parking options just outside of the Old City.

Bus Tour Line 99 - Around Jerusalem

Egged, together with Jerusalem City-Tour, offers a tour of Jerusalem's main attractions on a double-decker bus. During the tour, participants can get off and on the bus at 28 stops, including Jaffa Gate and other stations in the vicinity of the Old City. The tour duration is two hours. Explanations are given in eight languages simultaneously, with the aid of earphones.

Tickets can be purchased on the bus ,Payment is by cash or credit card
Phone: For more information call +972-50-8422473
Line 99 Website

Parking in Old City

Mamilla Parking (free for the first hour)
The Mamilla parking lot is situated outside Jaffa Gate.
Address:17 Kariv St
Entrance: 07:30 to 24:00 (The latest you can enter the parking lot is midnight. You can park until 02:00)
Cost: 40 ILS oer day. The first hour is free, after which it is 12 ILS per hour (3 ILS per quarter hour)
Phone: +972-2-636-0000

Karta Parking (parking fee)
The Karta parking lot is situated outside Jaffa Gate.
Address:1 Kariv St
Opening hours: 07:00 to 01:00
Cost: 10 ILS per hour; 50 ILS per day; Jerusalem card holders: 20 ILS per day
Phone: +972-2-625-3270

Safra Parking - Jerusalem Municipality (entrance fee)
The Safra parking is within walking distance of Jaffa Gate
Address: Shivtei Yisrael St
Opening hours: 05:00 to 23:00
Cost: 12 ILS per hour (discounted price from 16:05)
Parking on Saturday night after Shabbat ends is free of charge
Phone: +972-2-629-6080; +972-2-625-0894

Parking Close to Western Wall

Mount Zion Parking (entrance fee)
Just outside the Old City Walls behind Zion Gate. To access this parking lot, drive outside the walls until reaching Mt. Zion.

Givati Parking (entrance fee)

Near Dung Gate in front of the City of David. To reach the parking lot drive to Damascus Gate, around Temple Mount, and turn left before the incline to the Wailing Wall. Parking meters can be found along the road going from Zion Gate to the Jewish Quarter and along the road going from Dung Gate to Mt. Zion.

Public Toilets

Antonia St - Via Dolorosa
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women (separate buildings)

Damascus Gate
At the entrance, on the right hand side
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women
(women on the second floor)

Dung Gate, close to the Davidson Center
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women. With disabled access

El Wad St
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Available for men and women

Gethsemane
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 8:00
Available for men and women

HaShalshelet
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women

Jaffa Gate
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women

Khutzot Hayotzer toilet
Entrance from Hativat Yerushalim St or Uliel Dror St
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Closed on Saturdays and holydays
Available for men and women

Mamila
Opening hours: 08:00 to 23:00
Available for men and women. With disabled access

Market
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men only

Muristan Square
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women (separate buildings)

Ramat Ma'alot Market
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 18:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women

The heart of the Jewish Quarter
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 19:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 22:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women. With disabled access

The Western Wall
Open 24 hours a day
Available for men and women. With disabled access

Tiferet Israel St, corner of Misgav Ladach St
Winter opening hours: 07:00 to 17:00
Summer opening hours: 08:00 to 22:00
Open on Saturdays and holidays
Available for men and women. With disabled access.

Accessibility

Cars with a disabled permit can drive into the Old city throughout the day. Pay careful attention to parking signs to determine where you can park.

It is also possible to find routes in the Old City that do not include stairs. Nevertheless, the climb from the Western Wall to the Jewish Quarter requires a steep uphill walk on the road to Mount Zion.

The Yad Itzhak Ben-Zvi International School for Jerusalem Studies provides professional and accessible tours for people with special needs, both in the Old City and in Western Jerusalem. The tours are suitable for people confined to wheel chairs, individuals and with limited sight, and the mentally and/or cognitively handicapped.

A link to MP3 Audio Tours and details about the aforementioned accessible Old City tours that can be found here.

For further details and reservations, contact Yad Itzhak Ben-Zvi:

Phone: +972-505-963-565 Meirav; +972-2-539-8867; yuli@ybz.org.il

Religious Holidays

Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A lot of the sacred sites in Jerusalem can be found within the Old City. During religious holidays, the Old City hosts a range of magnificent parades and religious ceremonies. The streets of the Old City overflow with tourists during these periods.

During the holidays there may be changes to transport schedules inside the Old City walls. In addition, tourist sites and restaurants may adapt their opening hours.

List of Jewish Holidays

List of Christian Holidays

List of Muslim Holidays