Jerusalem Jewish Quarter
Old City, Jerusalem, Israel
Home to the Western Wall, Judaism’s most sacred site, as well as synagogues, religious schools, and a Byzantine-era stretch of the ancient Cardo thoroughfare, the Jerusalem Jewish Quarter is one of the Old City’s traditional four quarters. Rabbis, scholars, and ritually clad Orthodox Jewish believers still stroll its ancient streets.
The basics
The Western Wall, where Jews from around the globe come to pray, kiss the wall, and leave paper prayers, is the Jewish Quarter’s signature sight. But travelers can also tour the opulent Hurva Synagogue, explore ancient underground houses, experience the tunnels that run below the Western Wall, and more. Most Jerusalem tours, whether from Jerusalem itself or Tel Aviv, include a visit to at least the Western Wall. It can be particularly rewarding to discover the Jewish Quarter as part of an inter-faith tour, which highlights the traditions Jewish, Christian, and Muslim people share.
Things to know before you go
- Women may feel more comfortable wearing clothing that covers shoulders, cleavage, midriff, upper arms, and legs to the knee when exploring Jerusalem’s Old City.
- Back carriers or slings are more maneuverable than strollers on the Jewish Quarter’s cobbled, hilly, and sometimes crowded streets.
- Work has been done to make Jerusalem’s Old City more accessible. Travelers who rely on wheelchairs should download the Accessible JLM app to plan their travel.
How to get there
How to Get There As with so much sacred turf in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, the exact boundaries of the Jewish Quarter are disputed. But it occupies the southeastern section of Jerusalem’s Old City. From Jerusalem’s Central Station, catch bus 1 to Har Tsiyon / Ma’ale HaShalom (by King David’s statue) and walk five minutes north to the Zion Gate.
When to get there
Avoid visiting Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter on the Sabbath (from early Friday afternoon until after sunset on Saturday), when public transport stops running and many Jewish-owned businesses shut. The Old City is crowded around major Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas.
The Four Quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City
A sacred place to all three Abrahamic religions—for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all derive from the same set of ancient texts—Jerusalem’s Old City is traditionally divided into four quarters. Besides the Jewish Quarter, these are: the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter, which Armenians, who follow the Armenian Orthodox faith, consider part of the Christian Quarter.
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