Jerusalem Things to Do Tips by sswagner

This was the very first place we went to upon arrival into Jerusalem. It just could not wait. Find the Garden Tomb just north of the Damascus Gate. the surrounding region is very busy, however the garden itself is a different world altogether.

There is somewhat of a debate concerning where exactly Jesus was crucified and buried. The "traditional" site is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. However, many feel that this is the place. A priest once said, "If this is not the place, then it should have been." Unlike the big church, this spot has all of the elements of the tomb in the Bible. There is a skull rock formation nearby. The tomb is in a garden, it must have been the tomb of a wealthier man, it is EMPTY, and it is the type where a stone is rolled away to access the tomb. By the way, that stone must have been very large.

Before going, make sure you access the website concerning the hours. Due to low numbers of tourists in recent years, they have had to cut back on the access hours.

So you are wondering if I truly believe this to be the place of Jesus' crucifixion and burial? I did visit both here and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. They are nothing alike. This is certainly a quiet and tangeable place to contemplate the events of 2000 years ago. Deep down, this place makes much more sense, and I hope this is it.

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Directions: Old City Jerusalem
Website: http://www.gardentomb.com/

This can be easily viewed from a platform at the adjacent Garden Tomb. It does not take too much imagination to see a "skull" in this rock. This lends support to the belief of many that this was the site of the crucifixion of Jesus.

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Directions: Across from Damascus Gate outside the walls.

Located on the Temple Mount, this has much to do with the unrest in this region. The whole Temple Mount is holy to Jews, and this is the third holiest site in Islam. I did not actually visit the mosque since access to the compound was limited during my visit. This place makes the news quite often. Therefore, getting a look at it would help visualize the events that go on in this area. Note that it is very close to the Western Wall. Some people mistake the Dome of the Rock for the mosque, however they are two different structures on the Temple Mount.

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Directions: Old City Jerusalem

For much of the Christian world, this could be considered the holiest site in the world. The architecture is very interesting and a lot of different branches of Christianity lay claim to certain sections of the church. There is nothing visibly left of a tomb or the hill on which the cross stood. Basically, there are a lot of shrines, altars, and chambers to this complex. The tomb is covered by a marble slab.

It was not crowded when we visited, mostly because of the troubles in this region. We got into the tomb right away. It is my understanding that people would often have to wait in a line to get in to certain places. It was nice to avoid that. You may run into people who want to be your tour guide or sell you something. A peaceful visit to this place might not be possible. That and the way that the sites are built over may make the visit less than what you hoped it would be.

You might want to also visit the Garden Tomb just outside the Damascus Gate during your visit. Many also the Garden Tomb as the site of the burial. I highly recommend visiting both sites. They really contrast with one another. Although a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher might not yield any earth shaking religious experiences, it is worth a look.

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Directions: Old City Jerusalem

This church stands on the site of the Garden of Gethsemane. This garden's fame comes from Christ's final moments before His arrest. The church is outside the city walls and faces the part of the wall lining the Temple Mount. Inside, you will find a rock at the front surrounded by wrought iron. This rock is traditionally held as the place where Jesus prayed in the garden and sweated great drops of blood. Adjacent to the church is a remaining section of the garden. Here, you will see some very old olive trees. Perhaps you can buy some olive oil from vendors nearby. When we went in September 2001, we were the only ones in the church and the garden. Imagine having a place like this to yourself to contemplate things.

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Directions: Old City Jerusalem

This is one of the more scenic gates leading in and out of the old city. This area is very busy and an informal market can often be found here. Once you enter the gate into the city, you will be in the narrow streets with many market stalls.

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This chamber is located directly above the tomb of David just outside the city walls in the Mount Zion area. Over the course of time, the room's appearance has changed. The ribbed and vaulted ceiling was built by the Crusaders. Later, the Muslims converted the chamber into a mosque. The stained glass windows and the mithrab pointing to Mecca remain from this period of time.

Christians regard this room as the site of the Last Supper as well as the "upper room" where the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples.

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This has one of the best views of the Old City of Jerusalem. There is a great deal of significance to this place. The Mount of Olives faces the Temple Mount. It can be a long walk from certain areas of the city to get up here, especially on a hot day. You may want to take a taxi depending on where you are coming from.

The Jewish cemetery on the hillside is probably one of the most difficult places to be buried. No doubt, you have to be special in some way to be buried here. Note the stones on top of the graves. This is a Jewish custom. It is believed that the path that goes between the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount is where Jesus made the triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding the donkey that had never before been mounted. This is the Palm Sunday tradition. At the top of the mount, Jesus ascended into Heaven after completing the ministry on Earth. Prophecy of the future also holds this place to be of extreme significance. Here, the Bible states that Christ's physical return, the Second Coming will take place. If you are a Christian, there is a lot to think about standing here. If not, then it is still a great view of the city. After viewing the city from up here, we descended the path and visited the Church of All Nations, which lies at the foot of the Mount of Olives. There are several shrines and churches of importance in this area.

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Directions: Old City Jerusalem

Tradition considers this path in the old city to be the "Way of the Cross". There are several stations of the cross along the way, which symbolize an event of Christ's path to the crucifixion and burial site. The first station is in the east part of the old city where it is believed that Pilate said "Behold the man!" From here, the path goes through the old city, making a couple of turns, and ends up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. No one is precisely sure what path Christ did take, however most people trace this path as the tradition. You will find markets in this area, some Roman architecture such as aqueducts, and some shrines. It is a very interesting walk.

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Directions: Old City Jerusalem

Welcome to the most holy Jewish site in the city. This wall is all that remains of the retaining wall that held the temple complex. There has not been a Jewish temple on site since 70AD. This is now an open air synagogue. If you are a visitor like me, you will need to wear the head covering. There will be some available for you to borrow before approaching the wall. Males go to one place while females go to another. Behind this wall is the Temple Mount which contains the golden Dome of the Rock. The most holy Islamic site in the city is adjacent to the holy Jewish site, and historically this has meant trouble. If you want to see the focus of the troubles with the "peace process", here is where you need to go. A visit to the wall will be a fascinating part of your trip here. Notice the cracks in and between the stones. Probably every nook and cranny will contain a folded prayer note. if you wish, you may bring your own written prayer here and insert it into the stones. It was quiet when I showed up here. Someone did ask for a donation while i was at the wall. They apparently thought I gave too little--oh well, you cannot please everyone. When we approached the Western Wall via the Dung Gate, there was understandably a security check point. Be prepared for this when you visit.

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Directions: In the Old City Jerusalem