Bethlehem Tour from Jerusalem: Churches & Shepherd's Field

Three churches, a shepherd's chapel and the grotto where Mary took refuge

A half-day guided tour from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and Beit Sahour visits the Church of the Nativity, Milk Grotto and Shepherd's Field Chapel with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. The Church of the Nativity requires a wait in line to enter the birth grotto (plan for 30 to 90 minutes on regular days), so book this tour only if your afternoon is free. A vehicle switch is required at the border, and you'll need your passport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Milk Grotto20m · entry included
2. Church of the Nativity20m · entry included
3. Bethlehempass by

Half day tour to Bethlehem

• Travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem
• Visit the Chapel of The Shepherd's Field
• Tour the Milk Grotto church
• Guided visit to Church of the Nativity
• Pass by Star Street
• Pass by Tomb of Rachel
• Pass by Sanctuary Bethlehem
• Pass by Bethlehem Museum
• Pass by Olive Wood Factory
• Pass by Bab idDeir Art Gallery
• Pass by Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel site

The experience

Bethlehem sits less than an hour from Jerusalem, and this tour moves through three of its major churches in a single morning. The Church of the Nativity, built by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century over the grotto where Jesus was born, is the oldest working church still standing. Your guide leads you through it and down to the birth site itself, though the line to enter the grotto can stretch 30 to 90 minutes on regular days. The Milk Grotto, a cave church nearby, marks where the Holy Family sheltered during the Massacre of the Innocents before fleeing to Egypt: legend holds that a drop of milk from Mary fell on the stone floor and turned it white.

The tour also takes you to Beit Sahour, one of the two highest Christian population centers in the region, where you'll visit the Shepherd's Field Chapel, the site where angels announced Christ's birth to the shepherds. You'll see local craftspeople at work on handmade souvenirs and get a closer look at daily life in the town. Star Street, the Tomb of Rachel and the Bethlehem Museum are also on the route, along with a pass by the Olive Wood Factory and the Bab idDeir Art Gallery in the old city.

An English-speaking guide travels with you in an air-conditioned vehicle, though a vehicle switch happens at the border: a standard requirement for this crossing. Bring your passport. It's sometimes checked. The tour runs about five hours total, but because of the unpredictable wait at the Nativity grotto, don't schedule anything for your afternoon. If the Church books a pilgrim group, access may not be possible that day.

What’s included

• All entrance fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking licensed tour guide.
• guided visits to the Church of the Nativity, Milk Grotto and Shepherd's Field Chapel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:45 and 13:00

Book up to2d before

GroupUp to 55

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Judah Tours

Is this one for you?This is a shared guided tour with a fixed schedule, which is what fits three major churches and Beit Sahour into a single morning, but the unpredictable wait at the Nativity grotto (30 to 90 minutes) means you need a free afternoon and cannot rush to another commitment. Book it only if your schedule can absorb the delay.

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Top questions

What is the Church of the Nativity and why do I need to wait in line to see it?

The Church of the Nativity is the oldest working church in the world, built in the 4th century by the Roman Emperor Constantine directly over the grotto where Jesus was born. You enter the church with your guide, but to descend into the birth grotto itself, you join a line that typically takes 30 to 90 minutes on regular days, so plan accordingly and keep your afternoon free.

Do I need my passport for this tour from Jerusalem?

Yes, bring your passport. It is sometimes required at the border crossing. A vehicle switch also happens at the border, which is a standard part of traveling between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

What is the Milk Grotto and what makes it different from the other churches?

The Milk Grotto is a cave church where the Holy Family sought refuge during the Massacre of the Innocents before they could escape to Egypt. According to tradition, a drop of milk from Mary fell on the cave floor and turned the stone white, which is how the grotto got its name and why it became a place of pilgrimage.

Will I see local crafts and daily life in Bethlehem on this tour?

Yes. In Beit Sahour, you'll visit workshops where local artisans make handcrafted souvenirs and get to see how people live in one of the region's main Christian towns. The tour also passes the Olive Wood Factory and includes stops at the Bethlehem Museum and the Bab idDeir Art Gallery in the old city.

What happens if the Church of the Nativity is closed on the day I book?

The Church sometimes closes if it is booked for a pilgrim group, in which case access would not be possible that day. Your guide will confirm access when you book and can advise on alternative dates if needed.