Private Walking Tour in Jerusalem's Old City

5.0 (10 reviews) 6 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

10 reviews

5.0

Private Walking Tour in Jerusalem's Old City — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

The Old City of Jerusalem — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Hi! I'm Orna, a licensed tour guide who is certified through the Ministry of Tourism in Israel.

I have over 10 years of experience working with a wide range of ages as well as cultural and religious backgrounds.

You will get to know the Old City - the four quarters and the Temple Mount, explore the three monotheistic religions and visit the sites sacred to them.

You will meet local people and learn about their connection to the city, learn about the complex and special story of Jerusalem- past and present, and gain a better understanding of Jerusalem and the people who inhabit the city today.

All entry fees are included.

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At a glance

Duration: 6 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English, Hebrew
Operated by: Orna Simchi

What is included

Included

Included: Entry Fees
Included: Licensed Tour Guide

Not included

Not included: Hot drink and a cake
Not included: Please bring Hat, water and comfortable walking shoes.

Itinerary

Jaffa Gate

30 min

We will begin the tour with an introduction to the walls of the Old City and the Jaffa Gate. Who built the walls, and when? Why is the Jaffa Gate called that and what is its significance? What did it look like in the past and what evidence can be found for this? Who is the guest in whose honor the wall of the city of Jerusalem was breached? And who is buried in the mysterious tombs at the Jaffa Gate?
Armenian Quarter

20 min

We will visit the courtyard of James Cathedral. We will learn why the Armenians got their own quarter, who is James, who built a wall around the quarter, and what the Armenian Patriarch did to raise funds for the renovation of the Cathedral.
Jewish Quarter

one hour Admission included

We will visit the four Sephardic synagogues and learn who built them, when and how they are related to the man who left a besieged Jerusalem in a coffin to save Judaism. We will visit the Cardo and learn its story, and we will learn the connection between the Hurva Synagogue and the Jews who came all the way from Europe to Jerusalem to wait for the return of the Jewish Messiah.
Western Wall

20 min

We will visit the largest synagogue in the world, the Western Wall. We will learn how it was built, by whom, and why this is NOT the holiest place for Jews.
Stop 5

one hour

Temple Mount, the most sacred place for Judaism is also sacred for Islam.

Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, the Jews had no control over it until 1967, following the Six Day War.

We will learn why and how the mountain was sanctified in the monotheistic religions, about the illegal excavations and the sifting project of the Temple Mount soil designed to save archaeological finds, Messianic Jews who want to build the Third Temple, and Muslim graves that are found In the holiest place for Jews.
Muslim Quarter

30 min

We will learn who built the Muslim quarter and why, we will make a stop at a local spice store to try some unique Arab sweet delights, and walk through the Arab market.
The Way of the Cross - Via Dolorosa

20 min

We will walk through some of the stations of Via Dolorosa on our way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Stop 8

45 min

We will visit the most sacred place for the Christian religion, the place of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. We will visit the place of the crucifixion, and his tomb and learn about the Christian faith.
Christian Quarter

45 min Admission not included

We will learn about the patriarch who locked himself in his room and received food through the window, we will stop to visit an Armenian ceramics shop, eat a cake and drink coffee at a local cafe, learn about the lowest statue in Jerusalem and meet local merchants*.

*depending on their availability
Stop 10

Passing by

We will learn why the newest gate in the wall was needed and when it was built.
Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center

30 min Admission included

For a moment, we will leave Jerusalem and "visit" Europe. We will learn why the hotel was built here, by whom and how it is related to the Crimean War. We will go up to the roof of the hotel for a panoramic view of the new city and the old city, from where we can see the different quarters, the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.

We will learn who blew up the hotel and why? And about 19 years in which the hotel stood on the border between Jordanian Jerusalem and Israeli Jerusalem.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet at the stone bench at the Jaffa Gate, in the part outside the old city.

End point

The tour will end at the hotel - Notre Dame of Jerusalem

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Holy sites dress code: (The western wall, Church of the holy sepulcher etc.) No tank tops, Pants / skirts to the knees.
Temple Mt. Dress code: Men - pants - under the knees, T-shirt. Women - long skirt / pants (not skinny), long sleeves shirt , no cleavage. Please make sure NOT to bring with you: Holy books and sacred objects, Any kind of weapon (including Lederman) , Laptops, tablets or iPads, Alcohol or musical instruments. In case you don’t have a cover, you’ll be given a skirt by the workers there.
Please note that Temple Mount (Including Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque) is closed for visitors every Friday, Saturday and during various Muslim and Jewish Holidays. Instead, a visit of a view point overlooking the Temple Mount will be included.
Each trip can be tailor-made to your interests and needs.
On Fridays, the four Sephardic synagogues will be replaced with another synagogue.
The tour can be adopted for a wheelchair.