Ancient stones and sacred ground: The Old City's foundational sites
Walk through the Dung Gate and you step into the oldest inhabited part of Jerusalem. The City of David sits directly south of the Temple Mount, its archaeological layers telling the story of a settlement that traces back through millennia. You can wade through Hezekiah's Tunnel, a 533-meter passage carved through rock in the 10th century BC to bring water from the Gihon Spring into the besieged city—the water still flows, thigh-deep, your flashlight catching the ancient engineering overhead. If you prefer to stay dry, the narrower Canaanite tunnel offers an equally dramatic squeeze through stone. Above ground, the Large Stone Structure—possibly King David's palace—draws visitors who come to stand where the second king of Israel may have stood, with views across Silwan and its rock-cut tombs spreading below.
- City of David and Jerusalem water system: choose between the wet tunnel through Hezekiah's passage or the tight dry tunnel; allow two hours before closing time to enter
- Tomb of Absalom: an impressive burial monument approximately 20 meters tall, mistakenly attributed to King David's rebellious son; nearby stand the Tomb of Zechariah and the cave-cut Tomb of Bnei Hezir, all dating to the Hasmonean period
Mount Zion's churches and chambers: Where pilgrims and refugees prayed
Just south of the Armenian Quarter, Mount Zion holds a peculiar history. This hill was the only part of ancient Jerusalem that remained under Israeli control during the 19 years between 1948 and 1967—an enclave in a divided city. When the Old City lay beyond reach, Jews came to King David's Tomb to pray. Today the tradition continues in spaces layered with meaning: the Church of the Dormition, topped by a conical dome and built in the early 20th century for Kaiser Wilhelm II's visit, marks the traditional site of the Virgin Mary's death, its crypt holding a statue surrounded by Old Testament women. The Last Supper Room sits in the same compound, its simple medieval chamber another point of Christian pilgrimage. Nearby, the Chamber of the Holocaust maintains a collection of artifacts and anti-Semitic publications, anchoring the catastrophe in Jewish religious memory rather than distant memorial.
- Church of the Dormition: mosaic floor with zodiac signs and saints' names; free entry
- King David's Tomb: a small chamber with a sarcophagus, divided for separate men's and women's viewing; free entry, still used as a synagogue
- Last Supper Room: traditionally held to be the site of Christ's meal with his disciples; free entry
- Chamber of the Holocaust: maintained by the Diaspora Yeshiva; ₪12 admission
- St Peter in Gallicantu: east of Mount Zion, overlooking the Kidron Valley, with ancient caves in the crypt where Christ spent the night before trial; ₪7 adults, ₪5 students, children under 13 free
- Schindler's Tomb: down the hill in a small Christian cemetery; call ahead as the gate is often locked
The Mount of Olives and its descending churches: A pilgrimage from top to bottom
The climb up the Mount of Olives rewards you with a view of the entire Old City spread below. Travel to the top by bus 84 from Ammunition Hill light rail station or by sherut shared taxi from outside the Damascus Gate, then walk downward through the churches—a gentler descent than climbing in Jerusalem's heat. The Chapel of the Ascension, now part of a mosque, marks the site where Christians and Muslims both believe Christ ascended. Below lies the Garden of Gethsemane, where the Church of All Nations stands, and further down the lane you pass the Dominus Flevit church on your way to the Tombs of Zachariah and Malachi. Photographs from the late 1700s show that pilgrims have followed these same paths for centuries, and one tradition holds that Jesus walked the right-hand route on Palm Sunday toward Bethany. The descent ends at the Lions' Gate, your entry back into the Old City.
- Chapel of the Ascension: open daily if unlocked; ring the bell for entry
- Approach via bus 84 from Ammunition Hill, sherut from Damascus Gate, or buses 275 and 255 from outside Herod's Gate
- Walk down rather than up; be aware of pickpockets at the viewing point overlooking the Old City
When to visit and how to move through East Jerusalem
Many sites have restricted hours: the Church of the Dormition closes at noon for two hours on weekdays; King David's Tomb operates under different winter and summer schedules; the City of David closes earlier in winter months. Plan your entry times carefully if you want to see everything in a single day. The Mount of Olives is best explored from top to bottom, and the Lions' Gate offers the shortest route back into the Old City from the mountain. East Jerusalem's neighbourhoods have their own rhythm—some areas are busier than others, and it's wise to travel with intention and awareness of your surroundings.
Start planning your visit by checking opening hours for specific sites and deciding whether you want to wade through Hezekiah's Tunnel or stay dry. The Old City's layers reward time and attention, and these foundational sites—from the City of David's ancient stones to Mount Zion's medieval churches to the Mount of Olives' pilgrim paths—anchor Jerusalem's three thousand years of continuous inhabitation.