Jerusalem

·         Jerusalem is the most religious place in the world and hence, the first thing you need to keep in mind while travelling here is that you should not offend any religion or people following it in any way by your words or actions.

·         Maintain decorum when you visit religious sites and dress up appropriately, especially while visiting mosques. If you are a woman traveler, wear full loose fitting clothes which are not transparent and carry a scarf to cover your head.

·         Do not consume alcoholic drinks around religious shrines.

·         Do not roam out alone at night, as some places might tend to get lonely and unsafe.

·         The crime rates against tourists are very low in Jerusalem, but you should still take care and avoid carrying a lot of cash and wearing expensive jewelry.

The minimum legal age to consume alcohol in Jerusalem is 18 years of age. However, there are some places like areas around Mosques and religious places where you cannot consume alcohol. So, take care of the same.

Haram-Al-Sharif is one of the holiest places on earth, for different religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. There are many stories associated with this place and hence, it is considered as one of the purest places for the given religions. It is a beautiful and positive place to visit. The wide plaza, which is located above the city has the sparkling Dome of the Rock, which is the most iconic landmark in Jerusalem which is both holy and beautiful.

The Wailing Wall is one of the surviving walls of the first temple of Jerusalem. It is the holiest site in Judaism and is a place of great religious importance. A major highlight of this place is the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, where you will get to see many ruins of the rich ancient past which this holy city has. Some part of the Old city here was destroyed during the Arab-Israel war, but the remnants are indeed fascinating.

The Church of Holy Sepulchre is one of the holiest sites in Jerusalem for Christian pilgrims. This site is built on the place where Christ was crucified and hence, thousands of pilgrims head to this site all over the year. The original church here was destroyed in 1009, and the one which you see here was built in the 11th century. The interiors of this church are a beautiful example of stunning religious architecture.

Also known as the Tower of David, this was constructed by King Herod in order to protect his palace. The towers at Citadel are named after the king’s brother Phasael, wife Mariamne and friend Hippicus. The towers were reconstructed in the 14th century as the older ones were destructed. This palace is a calm and picturesque spot for tourists to visit.

The Armenian Quarter is home to St. James Cathedral and St. Mark’s Chapel, which is one of the lesser visited monuments in Jerusalem, compared to other landmarks but it is equally beautiful and charming. This place has seen some of the most gruesome massacres which took place over here and oozes out with classic Armenian culture, which is an important aspect of Jerusalem’s cultural heritage.

This is one of the most bustling, lively and energy filled areas of this city. There are plenty of shopping options like traditional products, scents, carpets and other souvenirs. The 14th century built Khan Al-Sultan is a place where you can climb up and get an amazing view of the area. Wandering around this area will show you some of the beautiful remnants of ancient monuments.

The Mount of Olives is dolled up with many sacred churches and is one of the most interesting places for pilgrims to travel. This holy hill is believed to be the place where God will be raising the dead, on their day of Judgement. For Christians, this place is believed to be the one from where Jesus Christ ascended to heaven after the crucifixion. There are many Churches and religious shrines on this hill and hence, it is an enriching place to visit to experience positive vibes and tranquility.

Mount Zion is a home to a lot of Jew and Muslim shrines and also many Churches. This place is believed to be where Christ ate the Last Supper and where Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life. For Jews, this place is of importance for housing King David’s Tomb. There are many other important religious events associated with this place and hence, this is a very interesting sight-seeing destination as well as a pilgrimage place.

Jerusalem, being the most religious place in the world, is a home to some of the best ancient monuments and religious shrines. Many of the monuments here are ruined due to time, but there are many structures which still have their beauty intact. The monuments here are constructed in different eras and hence, every structure reflects a different style and architecture.

Being the most religious place in the world for three major religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, you are ought to experience positivity and spirit of holiness at this place. You will love the kind of positivity which exists in the air of this city.

You will experience a different kind of peace and tranquility at this holy place. With many religious shrines and holy places around you, the atmosphere will make you sink in relaxation and rejuvenation of tranquil environment.

Jerusalem is a place important for different religions and people think that clashes at such places are common. But as a tourist, you will realize that all the major religious over here co-exist in a lot of harmony and positivity.

As a general rule, the best time to visit the destination is:

• April through May
• October through November

The reason why the above months are recommended is that during this time, the weather stays mild and the crowd is also thin.

But at the same time, you shall take in account things like major Jewish celebrations like Sukkot, Passover, High Holy Days and more. If your travel date clashes with these occasions, then you will face difficulties like price surge in everything.

• By Plane: For an international traveler the entry point to reach this place is Ben Gurion International Airport which is located near Lod and very next to Highway no one which links Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
• By Train: From Tel Aviv, you will find the train to Jerusalem. But if you are really interested to catch some train and reach Jerusalem you must try Jaffa-Jerusalem line which is known its scenery.
• By Bus: Currently, this mode of transportation is the fast and very efficient way to travel to and fro from the metropolis. You will get connectivity easily from Ben Gurion International Airport to reach your destination.

The best thing to do in Jerusalem is to enjoy different sightseeing and enjoy some adventure tours as mentioned above. But at the same time, there are different tours which are very interesting. Let’s take a look at them:

• The tour from Bus no. 99 offers the orientation of the full metropolis and its perspective. They charge ?60 for a two-hour tour and ?80 for a full day tour.
• Underground/Western Wailing Wall tour is something which you should opt for. The time you will spend here is of true worth. A female guide there will help you out with all history and other aspects
• There is no reason for anyone for not to try City of David water tunnel tour. The tour lasts for two hours which will give you very interesting time.

Likewise, there are many other activities in the form of mini-golf, go-karting, Segway tours, extreme sports and more which as a tourist will give you a different sort of experience.

If you are a foodie, then your trip to Jerusalem is bound to be an interesting one. Here you will find a creative conglomeration of so many cuisines. This is because of the countless immigrants who have migrated to this place. Some of such interesting dish is as follows:

• Bountiful Brekkies
• Hummus hole in the wall
• Falafels
• Burekas

Let’s not go into the insight of the items but let’s discuss on where you can find such fine eatables. Places like Mahaneh Yehuda Market, Marzipan Bakery, Manou ba Shouk, Machneyuda and more serves some lip-smacking dishes to satiate your appetite. The list is endless but as a foodie, you will find everything eventually for sure.