Stand in the Crowd at Birkat Kohanim
It begins with the sound of thousands of footsteps on ancient stone, the press of bodies funneling through the Jewish Quarter toward the Western Wall, and the scent of etrog and myrtle carried on the autumn air. On the second intermediate day of Sukkot in 2026 — Thursday, September 28 — Jerusalem is in full festival motion. The day's centerpiece is Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing, when hundreds of Kohanim raise their hands over the assembled worshippers at the Western Wall. The prayer order runs like this: Shacharit at 8:45, the Priestly Blessing of Shacharit at 9:30, Mussaf at 10:15, and the Priestly Blessing of Mussaf at 10:30. A reception by the Chief Rabbis and the Rabbi of the Western Wall follows. Arrive early; the plaza fills long before the first blessing. The same ceremony repeats on Sunday, October 1, the fifth intermediate day, if you miss it.
Walk the Jerusalem March — Then Land in Sacher Park
By 7:00 on the same morning, tens of thousands of participants from Israel and abroad set off on the Jerusalem March, the signature event of the intermediate days. Three routes are marked — 12 km, 9 km, and 5 km — all ending at Sacher Park. Registration is required, so sort that out before you arrive. The reward at the finish is a full happening in the park: performances, a main artist, and family activities that stretch into the afternoon. If you only do one thing on the second intermediate day, do this — walk the city with a crowd that has come from everywhere, then collapse onto the grass with a cold drink and a front-row seat.
Eat Your Way Through Mahane Yehuda and Hunt the Four Species
The market is the city's beating heart during Sukkot. At Mahane Yehuda, pick up the Yami Shuk tasting card — a digital card with ten coupons redeemable at more than 40 stalls, with kosher, vegan, and gluten-free options clearly marked. Graze slowly: this is the day to eat standing up, plate in hand, surrounded by the noise of vendors and the smell of fresh bread and roasting coffee. Separately, keep an eye out for the Four Species Market, where stalls sell produce from across the country alongside sukkah decorations. It's scheduled between Yom Kippur and Sukkot, with free entry — check locally for the exact location and dates once you're in town.
Evenings of Light, Lasers, and Giant Animals
When the sun drops, head to the Armon Hanatziv Promenade for High LIGHT JLM, a laser show running 20:30–21:30 during Sukkot 2026. It's free, and no advance registration is needed — just show up and watch the sky above the city. Earlier in the day, families gravitate to Cinema City for the Animals in Cubes exhibition: more than 50 giant animal displays built from over 2 million toy blocks, roughly 8,000 hours of work, created by Duncan Titmarsh, who has held the Guinness World Record since 2016 for the largest cube display. It's squarely kid-friendly and a good rainy-day or heat-of-the-day option.
Museums, Water Tunnels, and a Kite Festival
Jerusalem's institutions stay open through the festival, and several lay on Sukkot-specific programming. The Israel Museum on Ruppin Road is open throughout Sukkot and hosts a traditional kite festival alongside its archaeology wing, exhibitions, and art garden. At the Bloomfield Science Museum on Museum Boulevard in Givat Ram, expect interactive exhibitions, demonstrations, and Sukkot workshops. The Tower of David Museum runs experiential activities inside the citadel, with the Phasael Tower observation balcony and the "King David" audiovisual show — dates and hours are published closer to the festival. At the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Archaeology Campus in Givat Ram, there are family tours, a researcher booklet for children, and craft workshops including a mosaic replica. For something freer: the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter offers free entry during operating hours, space permitting, in cooperation with Israel's Ministry of Heritage — its Holy Ark is among the tallest in the world, there's an archaeology level in the basement, and a 360° dome balcony view. Down in the City of David National Park, a short walk from the Western Wall, you can wade the Siloam Channel with flashlights or take the dry, lit route. And at the Biblical Zoo on Aharon Shulov Road, activities run throughout October — guided feedings, a petting corner, story time about Gavi the baby elephant, and an insect exhibit, with the daily schedule varying.
For a quick, air-conditioned history fix, the Time Elevator on Yitzchak Kariv Street in Mamilla presents 3,000 years of Jerusalem in one sitting, with entry from age five; check opening hours before you go. Sukkot 2026 opens with its festival day on Friday, September 25 through Saturday night, September 26, with the intermediate days — Chol HaMoed — spanning Sunday, September 27 to Friday, October 2. The second intermediate day falls on Thursday, September 28. Book your accommodation in or near the Old City or the market district now, register for the march, and let the festival carry you through the streets.