Bethlehem Highlights Half Day Tour
Beautiful overview of the City of Bethlehem (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
An overview of the City of Bethlehem (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Take a tour of Church of Saint Catherine (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim).c
The entrance to the holy Church of Saint Catherine (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The holy Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The entrance to the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Outside the grand Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Explore the divine Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Delve into the Nativity Cave in the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The Nativity Cave in the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The silver star that represents the birth of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The silver star that represents the birth of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Visit the Chapel of the Shepherd's Field (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The marvelous ceiling on the Chapel of Shepherds Field (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Jesus Christ and Mary with the Shepherds in the Chapel of the Shepherds (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
- Duration
Half a day - Departure days
Every Day - Languages
English, French, German, Spanish
Overview
We leave Jerusalem and travel south to nearby Bethlehem. This was the home town of King David’s father (Samuel I 16:1) and the place where Christ was born to Mary and Joseph.
Available Languages: English, French, Spanish, German.
Highlights
- Explore the Christian highlights of the City of Bethlehem
- Pay a visit to the Church of Nativity, a site that is traditionally considered to be located over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth
- Visit Manger Square, an important city square in the heart of Bethlehem
- The tour stops at an overview of Shepherd’s Field, one of the most sacred sites to Christians
- Return to the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem (other drop-off points available on request, payment not included)
Itinerary
Pick-up Times:
6:30 am: start pickup from hotels in Netanya
7:00 am: start pickup from hotels in Herzliya
7:15 am: start pickup from hotels in Tel-Aviv
8:30 am: start pickup from hotels in Jerusalem
Tour Ends:
1:00 pm: tour ends in Jerusalem
All times are approximate
- To see all available pickup hotels, please click “book now” and choose the desired date and city
Pricing
The prices for this tour vary by departure city:
- Jerusalem — $70
- Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Netanya — $88
PLEASE NOTE:
If you would like to be dropped off at different locations other than the cities listed above there is an additional payment of $65 per person which can be booked online with your ticket reservation.
What to expect
We leave Jerusalem and travel south to nearby Bethlehem. This was the home town of King David’s father (Samuel I 16:1) and the place where Christ was born to Mary and Joseph.
We cross Manger Square surrounded by the Mosque of Omar, the Palestinian Peace Center and perhaps the oldest functioning church in the world, the Church of the Nativity. The Byzantine church was originally constructed in the fourth century and later expanded during the sixth century. We can still see part of the original mosaic floor through an opening in the present basilica floor.
We enter the Basilica of the Nativity through a low doorway the “Door of Humility,” on the walls there are faint golden mosaics and 30 of the 44 pink limestone columns in the nave of the church are adorned with decorations from the Crusader period. Beneath the church is the Grotto of the Nativity where it is believed that Jesus was born. A silver star in the grotto is engraved with the Latin phrase “Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.” Also in the church are the Chapel of the Manger and the Alter of the Adoration of the Magi (the three wise men).
We exit the basilica passing the Armenian Chapel of the Kings and continue on to the adjacent Church of Saint Catherine. From there we descend to grottos which are connected to those beneath the Church of the Nativity. These ancient caves hold several tombs and chapels including the Chapel of the Innocent dedicated to the babies killed under Herod (Matt. 2:16); the Chapel of Joseph and the Tomb of Jerome. There is also the grotto where Jerome worked for many years translating the Hebrew Bible to Latin.
We go on to visit the Franciscan church which houses the Milk Grotto. Here Mary nursed Jesus and a drop of her milk fell to the ground turning the grotto white.
Our final stop is to see Shepherds Field. Here the Bible tells us that an angel appeared to shepherds tending their sheep by night and told them that a savior had been born in nearby Bethlehem. Today a tent-shaped chapel stands here, the chapel was designed by renowned architect Antonio Berluzzi and is decorated with scenes from the life of Christ.
We leave Shepherds Field and make our way back towards Jerusalem past the Field of Ruth. Here Ruth, the great grandmother of King David, worked in the fields of Boaz.
TOUR LANGUAGES BY DAY
PICKUP CITIES AND PRICES
Additional Notes
- Change of vehicles is required for transfer of pick up to avoid traffic and delay.
- This tour is subject to Palestinian Authority regulations.
- The Palestinian guide joins the group at the border post.
- Change of vehicle may be required for entry to Palestinian Authority territory.
- What to bring and wear: Passport, modest dress, water, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat.
- Age: 4+
- Tour won’t be operated on: 19/09/18
Cancellation Policy
- No refunds will be provided for no-shows or cancellations on the day of travel
- Cancellations are accepted 24 hours or more before tour begins.
- Cancellations will incur a 4% commission fee if booked by credit card or Paypal.
Have any questions about this tour?
FAQ about the Bethlehem Highlights Half Day Tour
Can I bring along my luggage on the tour?
Yes, you can bring your luggage with you on the tour for no additional cost, it will be stored in the trunk of the van or bus during the tour.
Please be advised as we do not take any responsibility for any damage or loss of luggage.
It is recommended that you let us know that you are travelling with luggage.
Can I get picked-up and dropped-off at my hotel?
We will pick you up from your hotel or the closest hotel to you, which you can pick during the booking.
Normally after the tour, we will leave you at the David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, but if you need to be somewhere else, you can select an additional drop-off location during the booking.
Which languages does the tour take place in, and how do I choose my tour?
The tours take place in English, French, Spanish and German. Check the tour itinerary, above, to see which days offer your desired language for the tour.
When booking, you can select the language you want, and it will show you on which days it is available.
What do I do about food?
The options are:
- You can bring money to buy lunch and snacks during the tour.
- You may bring your own food, but we would recommend that you keep the food in a cooler bag, as it can be very hot on the tour.
Is there a tour discount for children or students?
Yes, for both children under the age of 12, and students (with a valid student card) receive a 10% discount. This is automatically applied when booking.
How long will the half day tour take?
The tour is approximately 5 hours long.
What should I do if I don't receive a confirmation email?
We work hard to make sure that you receive a confirmation e-mail after booking, but on the off-chance, you don’t receive it:
- Please check your Spam or Promotional folder.
- If you still don’t find the email confirmation, there may have been a mistake in your email address. Please double-check by contacting our customer support team at the following number or email.
Telephone: +972-3-542-2000
Email: [email protected]