Private Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour with Licensed Guide

We begin here, on the ridge facing the Old City. From this viewpoint the whole of Jerusalem opens up below you - the Temple Mount, the golden Dome of the Rock, the Old City walls and the Jewish cemetery on the slope. I use this stop to lay out the geography and the history of the city before we walk into it, so that everything we see later has a place on the map.

A short drive down the slope brings us to the garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, with its ancient olive trees, and the Church of All Nations beside it. This is where the Gospels place the night before the crucifixion. We take time here rather than rushing through, and I explain what the site is and what the archaeology and tradition each tell us about it.

The holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray, and the surviving retaining wall of the Second Temple compound. I explain the history of the Temple, what happened here in 70 CE, and what the plaza looks like on an ordinary weekday. You are welcome to approach the wall itself and take as long as you need. Modest dress is required.

We walk through the rebuilt Jewish Quarter and the Cardo, the main street of Byzantine Jerusalem, still visible below today's street level. This is one of the best places in the city to see how Jerusalem is built in layers, one period on top of another, and how much of the ancient city is still underneath your feet.

We follow the traditional route of the Way of the Cross through the narrow streets and markets of the Old City, stop by stop. The route passes through a living neighborhood rather than a museum, and part of what makes it powerful is walking it among the ordinary life of the city.

The church built over the sites traditionally identified as Golgotha and the tomb. Inside, six Christian denominations share the building under a centuries-old arrangement. I explain how that works, what each chapel is, and where to go. Many guests want quiet time here, and the schedule allows for it.

In the afternoon we cross into Bethlehem to the church built over the cave traditionally identified as the birthplace of Jesus. It is one of the oldest churches in continuous use anywhere in the world. We go down into the grotto itself, and I explain the history of the building and the mosaics above. A passport is required to enter Bethlehem.

The square outside the Church of the Nativity, at the center of Bethlehem. We spend a little time here before heading back to Jerusalem. There is usually time for a coffee or for the shops around the square if you want to look for something to take home.