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Nikol Cohen
CZENSK
Regions

Jerusalem

The Mount of Olives, the four quarters of the Old City, Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall.

Let me take you to the cradle of the monotheistic religions — a thousand-year treasury of history and archaeology that is at the same time a living city of many cultures, brimming with flavours and scents.

For at least the last three thousand years, Jerusalem has been the number one destination for visitors, pilgrims and conquerors. It is both endlessly complex and endlessly fascinating: it is central to Judaism, Christianity and Islam alike. We visit the holy places of all three — and then let ourselves be tempted by the smell of street food.

We usually begin on the Mount of Olives, where the whole city makes sense at a glance. The panorama of the Old City with the Temple Mount in the foreground is the best possible introduction. From there we descend past the Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit chapels to the Garden of Gethsemane and enter the Old City through the Lions' Gate.

Inside the walls we walk all four quarters — Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian. We follow Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, descend to the Western Wall, and look at how the Temple Mount works today.

Suggested length
1–2 days
Difficulty
A lot of walking, cobbles and steps
When to go
All year; in summer start early

What we will see

  • The Western Wall — The holiest site accessible to Jews — a retaining wall of the Second Temple.
  • Church of the Holy Sepulchre — Where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again. Six churches share custody of it.
  • Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount — The golden dome above the rock from which, in Islam, Muhammad ascended to heaven.
  • Mount of Olives — The best panorama of the Old City. Most tours start here.
  • Garden of Gethsemane — Ancient olive trees below the Mount of Olives — where Jesus prayed before his arrest.
  • Via Dolorosa — The Way of the Cross through the Old City, fourteen stations from sentence to tomb.
  • Mount Zion — The Cenacle, King David's Tomb and the Dormition Abbey on a single hill.
  • Israel Museum — The Shrine of the Book with the Dead Sea Scrolls and a model of Second Temple Jerusalem.
  • Yad Vashem — The memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. A hard but essential stop.
  • Mahane Yehuda Market — Spices, sweets and street food. On Friday afternoon you see the run-up to Shabbat.

Photos from the tour

A group of visitors at a viewpoint above the Old CityNikol Cohen explaining the Old City to a group on the Mount of OlivesA plate of traditional Jerusalem food with meat and riceStewed meat with potatoes on a decorated ceramic plateSacks of spices, pulses and nuts at a Jerusalem marketA counter of sweets and baklava in the Old City marketOpen sacks of colourful spices at the Mahane Yehuda marketA modern sculpture of Hebrew letters outside the Israel MuseumThe Western Wall lit up in the eveningA stone courtyard and bell tower in the Christian QuarterThe facade of the Church of the Holy SepulchreArchaeological excavations beside the Old City walls
Contact

Tell me what draws you here

An approximate date and the number of people is enough to start. I reply within 24 hours with a suggested route and a price — with no obligation.

Phone+972 54 984 4824WhatsAppMessage on WhatsAppEmailnikol@nikolcohen.com

Or message me on WhatsApp — an Israeli number is awkward to dial from abroad.