City of David & Underground Jerusalem Day Tour
- Duration
1 day - Departure days
Mon, Thu - Languages
English
Overview
From the elevated position on the Mount of Olives we have a panoramic view of the holy City of Jerusalem. We look out beyond the Jewish cemetery on the mount’s slopes towards the Temple Mount where the two Jewish Temples once stood.
Highlights
- Behold the city from the top of Mount of Olives
- Visit Mount Zion and see David’s Tomb and the Room of the Last Supper
- Enter the Jewish Quarter in the Old City and see Sephardic synagogues, the Roman Cardo and Herodian mansions
- Pay a visit to The Wailing Wall and continue to the Dung Gate to explore the archaeological excavation
- Tour ends 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
Drop-off Times:
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: tour ends in Jerusalem
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: tour ends in Tel-Aviv
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: tour ends in Herzliya
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: tour ends in Netanya
All times are approximate
- To see all available pickup hotels, please click “book now” and choose the desired date and city
What to expect
From the elevated position on the Mount of Olives we have a panoramic view of the holy City of Jerusalem. We look out beyond the Jewish cemetery on the mount’s slopes towards the Temple Mount where the two Jewish Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed in 70AD.
Our drive along the Kidron Valley takes us past the ancient cemetery and at the foot of the mountain we see the burial tombs of Absalom, King David’s 3rd son, Zechariah, a First Temple priest, and the tomb of the sons of Hezir. We also have a view of the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane.
We reach Mount Zion where we visit the Tomb of King David. Within the tomb is David’s cenotaph covered with a velvet cloth with embroidered symbols of a lyre and crown. Men and women sit in separate areas in this holy Jewish site where they can recite prayers facing the cenotaph.
We continue our tour into the Old City through the Zion Gate and into the Jewish Quarter where we see a complex of four Sephardic synagogues which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue, Istanbuli Synagogue, Emtsai Synagogue and the Eliahu Ha’Navi Synagogue were found desecrated, burnt and in disrepair when the Israelis reclaimed Jerusalem following the Six Day War. The historic buildings have since been fully renovated and restored.
Our next stop is at the Byzantine Cardo, once the main thoroughfare of the city, today we can see the findings of ongoing archaeological excavations and in part of the restored Cardo, ancient Crusader stores are used for modern shops.
Through the Jewish Quarter we pass the excavated foundations of an ancient wall which stood 2,700 years ago during the reign of King Hezekiah (Is 22:10). We go beneath the present day streets to discover the 2,000 year old Herodian mansions. The original mosaics and the ritual bath can be seen clearly. The complex of mansions gives great insight into the lifestyle at that time.
We arrive at the Kotel, the 2,000 year old Western Wall, part of what was once the retaining walls of the Temple Mount during the time of the Second Temple which was destroyed in 70AD. Here you’ll have a chance to place a prayer note between the cracks of this ancient wall.
We exit the Old City through the Dung Gate where we can explore the excavation site of the City of David which dates back 3,000 years. We can marvel at the ingenuity of the Canaanites and Hezekiah who constructed tunnels to bring a water supply to the people within the city walls. These tunnels are described in Chronicles II 32:2-4 and in Kings II 20:20 – “…the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made the pool and conduit, and brought water into the city…”
We rest at the Spring of Gihon and contemplate that it was here that Zadok the priest anointed Solomon king of Israel. (Kings I 1:38-39).
Additional Notes
- Entrance fees not included.
- Changes of vehicle required for transfers of pick up / drop off destinations to save time, avoid traffic and delay!
- What to bring and wear: Modest dress is required for holy places, comfortable walking shoes and water.
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If you would like to be dropped off at different locations other than the cities listed above there is an additional payment per person which can be booked online with your ticket reservation.
- Age: 4+
TOUR LANGUAGES BY DAY
PICKUP CITIES AND PRICES
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 questions about this tour?
FAQ About the City of David & Underground Jerusalem Day Tour
Are the entrance fees included in the tour?
No, the entrance fee is not included in the tour, you will need to bring around 20 shekels per person.
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 be dropped-off at a different city from where I was picked-up from?
Yes, when booking you can select a different drop-off location when booking, though there maybe an additional fee depending on where you need to be dropped off.
Can I get picked-up and dropped-off at my hotel?
Yes. when booking, you can select the hotel you are staying in to be picked-up and dropped-off.
If you are not staying at a hotel, you can choose a hotel closest from you in the list provided when booking.
What languages is the tour in, and how do I choose?
The language for the tour is in English.
When booking, you are able to select the language you want, and it will show you which days it is available.
What 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 day tour take?
The tour is approximately 10 hours long.
What should I do if I didn't receive a confirmation email?
We work hard to make sure that you do receive a confirmation e-mail after booking, but in off-chance, you don’t:
- Please check your Spam or Promotional folder.
- If you still haven’t found the email confirmation, you may have typed in a wrong E-Mail address. In such a case, please contact our customer support team below.
Tel: +972-3-542-2000