So this is reportedly the site of the birth of Jesus. The queues as a result are crazy. For the wait, it wasn't great and was all a bit confusing. There is some byzantine era tiles to see whilst you queue and some graffiti on the pillars.
Church of the Nativity
The Church of the Nativity is one of the holiest sites in Christian tradition, which holds that the church was built on top of the cave where Jesus of Nazareth was born. The church was first built under the auspices of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great in 135 AD and has been refurbished and added to numerous times since. Inside the church, you can visit the Milk Grotto, which is said to be the actual cave where Mary gave birth to Jesus.
The church is a popular tourist destination year-round and the site of a particularly festive celebration on Christmas, when masses of people from all over the world gather inside and outside the church for services that are shown on a large screen in Manger Square.
The site is also holy to Muslims, who consider Jesus one of the prophets of Allah, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 2021 traveler reviewsNew
“Visit inside the Church of nativity”
Be prepared to stand in line inside the church to view the area where Jesus was born and where the manger was situated. During low season it is about 1-1/2 to 2 hours wait standing in line. During high season it is over 2 hours. Be sure there is no one cutting in line...
MoreBe prepared to stand in line inside the church to view the area where Jesus was born and where the manger was situated. During low season it is about 1-1/2 to 2 hours wait standing in line. During high season it is over 2 hours. Be sure there is no one cutting in line where you are waiting. Once you inside the area our tour guide told us to take as much time as needed, don’t be bothered by the staff there to quickly walk through the area. It is worth the wait.
LessNew
“Great Place to Visit Even if You're Not Religious”
Luckily we arrived early and beat the worst of the queues, which I believe can be horrendous. A really beautiful and ancient 6th century (?) Greek Orthodox Church, supposedly built on the site of the birth of Christ. You queue to enter the cave beneath the main altar, which is supposed to be the...
MoreLuckily we arrived early and beat the worst of the queues, which I believe can be horrendous. A really beautiful and ancient 6th century (?) Greek Orthodox Church, supposedly built on the site of the birth of Christ. You queue to enter the cave beneath the main altar, which is supposed to be the actual site, marked by the Star of Bethlehem, which the devout kiss and pray at. I'm not religious, but was fascinated to watch all of this. While you're queuing you can take in the beautiful church with its mosaics, under extensive renovation at the moment, so views can be obscured.
Less“Crazy queuing”
