Jerusalem, Israel in 3 Days

Jerusalem is the Holy City for three major monotheistic religions in the world: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each religion has its iconic landmark: the Western Wall for Judaism, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christianity, and the Dome of the Rock for Islam. However, Jerusalem is much more complex than that. It is one of the most contested cities in the world, with a rich and complicated history dating back thousands of years. As a Christian, visiting Jerusalem was a unique yet also confusing experience due to the city's past. One thing is for sure, though: I left Israel with a baggage of knowledge and understanding bigger than any other city I have visited before.

No time to read? Pin it for later!

Pinterest Pin for 3 Days in Jerusalem, Israel

Day 1 - Explore the Quarters and go on a guided tour

Start by going on a free walking tour. If you try to understand the complex history of Jerusalem by yourself, believe me, you will be super confused at first. I opted for a three-hour walking tour focused on Christianity, which also provided a general overview of each quarter and its characteristics. I would highly recommend you book your tour via Guru Walks, my tour guide was Eli you will find a link to his tour here. He was very prepared on everything and kept us entertained at all times, even offered us some nice traditional bread with some homemade herbs while overlooking the Dome of the Rock and explaining the legends and history of the Mount of Olives to us!

Do your tour in the morning and spend the rest of the day wandering around the quarters, immersing yourself in the wonderful atmosphere the Old City has to offer and fully experiencing what makes Jerusalem, well... Jerusalem!

If you are a Christian like me, grab a map of the Old City at the tourist visitor center, which you can find on your left-hand side once you enter the Old City through Jaffa Gate, and start by following all the stations of the Via Dolorosa, or the Way of Suffering, a route believed to trace the path taken by Jesus Christ on his way to crucifixion. The first station is at the site of the former Palace of Pontius Pilate where it is said that Jesus was condemned to death, while the last three stations of the Via Dolorosa are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where he supposedly died, was buried and resurrected.. Keep in mind that the church might be very crowded, so I suggest stopping either very early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid queuing for hours!

Towards the end of the day, head over to the Western Wall, a sacred site for Judaism. Soak in the incredible atmosphere at night and, if you wish, leave a written note for a loved one in the cracks and crevices of the wall.

Day 2 - Temple Mount and Mount of Olives

Wake up nice and early to be one of the first to join the queue for the Temple Mount, a holy site for Islam. The Temple Mount is only open to tourists during certain hours of the day and is completely closed on Fridays and Saturdays due to prayers. Unfortunately, non-Muslims are not allowed inside Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock, so you will only be able to see them from the outside. However, it is definitely worth the visit nonetheless.

As of April-May 2023, the Temple Mount is open in the morning from 7:30 to 10:30 and for just one hour in the afternoon from 13:00 to 14:00. You will have to pass security checks to enter, and the queues can get very long. I would advise avoiding the afternoon opening times as you will only have one hour compared to the three hours in the morning, and you don't want to rush while you're there. Remember to dress appropriately as it is a Muslim site. No leggings allowed, even though you will not enter the mosque, the external area is considered holy for muslims so if you don’t want to wear a very non-picture friendly grey skirt with a huge yellow line on the side (those are the ones you will be given if ‘not dressed appropriately at the entrance), bring your own! However, no head cover is required.

During the afternoon, go and explore the Mount of Olives and visit important Christian sites like the Chapel of the Ascension and the Church of All Nations. The Mount of Olives also offers amazing views of the city, so make sure you go all the way to the top and stay until sunset. Believe me when I say that this will be one of the most magical sunsets you will ever experience in your life! The Holy City of Jerusalem in front of your eyes during the golden hour, the church bells ringing and the call to prayer from the minarets... a magical atmosphere that will make you realize how diverse, complex, yet also fascinating Jerusalem is. Surely, it will be a sunset you will remember for a very long time.

View of the Golden Dome from the Mount on Olives, Jerusalem, Israel

Day 3 - Ramparts walk and last stroll around the quarters

Buy a ticket for the Ramparts walk, which offers a great way to experience the Old City from above and see all four quarters. Since this will be your last day, take the opportunity to wander through the charming streets once more and appreciate the unique vibe of each quarter.

Focus a little more on the Jewish Quarter, do some shopping around the Cardo, and climb up the Dome of the Hurva Synagogue for further insights into Judaism and to enjoy more great views of the Dome of the Rock.