City of David Tour: King David's Palace & Ezekiel's Tunnel

Walk the stones King David walked, then wade through his tunnel to the pool below.

A private guided tour of the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, where you choose between three routes through underground passages and ancient structures: the biblical tour exploring King David's palace and Ezekiel's tunnel (approximately 3 hours); the Pilgrims' Way tracing a 2,000-year-old passage from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount (approximately 2.5 hours); or the complete experience combining both (approximately 4.5–5 hours). Your guide speaks English, French or Hebrew and leads you through Canaanite buildings, King Hezekiah's tunnel filled with water, and the exact street where Jesus walked.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore City of David archaeological site

• Visit Canaanite Cyclopian buildings
• Walk on stones King David walked
• Walk inside King Hezekiah's tunnel in water
• See the real Pool of Siloam
• End on street Jesus also passed

The experience

The City of David sits just outside the Old City walls and holds the archaeological layers of Jerusalem's earliest settlement. Most of the site is underground, which means you're not walking through a museum but through the actual passages and structures that shaped the city's history. The three options let you shape the day around what draws you: if you want the core story, the biblical tour takes you through King David's palace and has you wade through King Hezekiah's tunnel in the water to reach the Pool of Siloam. If you're interested in pilgrimage routes, the Pilgrims' Way follows a recently uncovered underground passage that pilgrims used 2,000 years ago to reach the Temple Mount. The complete experience stacks both routes into one longer day, moving from the palace through both passages and ending on the street where Jesus also walked.

Your private guide leads the way through Canaanite Cyclopian buildings and points out the exact stones King David walked on. The tunnel itself is the physical centerpiece: you're not observing it from a platform but moving through it, water underfoot, the passage narrowing around you. The guide's knowledge shapes what you notice (the engineering, the religious significance, the layers of occupation), so the same stones tell different stories depending on which route you choose and what your guide emphasizes. Public transportation options are available near the site if you need them.

What’s included

• Private guide in your choice of English, French or Hebrew.
• access to the City of David National Park site.
• entry to the underground passages including King Hezekiah's tunnel and the Pool of Siloam (or the Pilgrims' Way passage, depending on which option you choose).

Options for this experience

3 options

Guided tour of the City of David, privateGuide in English, French or Hebrew · 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

The Pilgrims' WayGuide in English, French or Hebrew · 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00Recently uncovered, this monumental underground passage was the route used by ancient pilgrims 2,000 years ago!

The complete experience!Guide in English, French or Hebrew · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00Duration: 5 hours. Pilgrim's Way & Biblical: Join the biblical tour and the Pilgrim's Way into a single complete adventure

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Saturday11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Hebrew

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 7.83

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nissim Slama - Guide et Conférencier - Tour Guide & Lecturer

Is this one for you?Choose the biblical tour if you want the core story of King David and the tunnel in a focused morning or afternoon; pick the Pilgrims' Way if you're drawn to the 2,000-year-old pilgrimage route and the Temple Mount connection; go for the complete experience if you have a full day and want both the palace and both passages without coming back another time.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and Hebrew.

What's the difference between the three tour options at the City of David?

The biblical tour (approximately 3 hours) covers King David's palace and Ezekiel's tunnel to the Pool of Siloam. The Pilgrims' Way (approximately 2.5 hours) follows an underground passage pilgrims used 2,000 years ago from the Pool of Siloé to the Mount of the Temple. The complete experience (approximately 4.5–5 hours) combines both routes for the full archaeological journey.

Will I actually walk through water in King Hezekiah's tunnel?

Yes. In the biblical tour and the complete experience, you wade through King Hezekiah's tunnel in the water as part of the route to the Pool of Siloam. This is the physical centerpiece of those options.

Is the City of David site mostly above ground or underground?

Most of the site is underground. You'll explore Canaanite buildings, ancient passages and tunnels rather than walking through open-air ruins, which is what makes it feel like a real adventure through the layers of Jerusalem's earliest settlement.

What physical fitness do I need for this tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or children under 5 years old. Infants must sit on an adult's lap.