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 2332 traveler reviews
This is a place that you absolutely must visit when in Bethlehem although you need to be prepared for many tourists jostling to get a good picture and long queues. There is lots to feast the eyes on in the interior including numerous mosaics and ancient artefacts. It's quite amazing to think how old...
MoreThis is a place that you absolutely must visit when in Bethlehem although you need to be prepared for many tourists jostling to get a good picture and long queues. There is lots to feast the eyes on in the interior including numerous mosaics and ancient artefacts. It's quite amazing to think how old this church is, said to have been built in the 4th Century, rebuilt in the 6th. Very spiritual indeed!
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Unbelievable amount of mosaics on the wall, and the place where Jesus was born. Beautiful architecture inside and out. However, you cannot visit this place peacefully, as hordes and hordes of visitors jostle around for pictures and entrance to different areas of the church. It may be worth it to stay overnight so you can...
MoreUnbelievable amount of mosaics on the wall, and the place where Jesus was born. Beautiful architecture inside and out. However, you cannot visit this place peacefully, as hordes and hordes of visitors jostle around for pictures and entrance to different areas of the church. It may be worth it to stay overnight so you can visit early in the morning or late in the evening.
LessThis was my second visit to the Church of the Nativity. On my initial visit, I toured with a large group, and encountered long lines and waiting for a brief glimpse and touch of the protected stone where Jesus was born, along with His manger stone in the Grotto of the Nativity. This...
MoreThis was my second visit to the Church of the Nativity. On my initial visit, I toured with a large group, and encountered long lines and waiting for a brief glimpse and touch of the protected stone where Jesus was born, along with His manger stone in the Grotto of the Nativity. This second journey was an entirely different experience, as my adult son and I booked a private tour to this Holy site during mid December, when crowds are considerably smaller. Arriving just prior to a processional mass, we were permitted to remain on the stairs in the grotto below the Basilica, and observe the moving, spiritual experience which included a grouping of priests and nuns, bearing burning incense, while singing praises of worship on this hallowed ground. We joined the procession as it moved on, and were led further into the bowels of the grotto into another chapel, where additional worship occurred. What an amazing experience! This UNESCO World Heritage Site received a small relic piece of the original Manger in 2019, which is now on view in the Church of the Nativity. The interior of the Basilica has numerous ancient mosaics and brass lanterns and is an essential piece of the Christian pilgrimage.
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