Jerusalem & Bethlehem Day Tour: Old City & Church of the Nativity

Walk the Via Dolorosa, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and see Jesus' birthplace star in Bethlehem.

A full-day guided tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem covering the Mount of Olives, Old City, Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. The guide walks you through the Garden of Gethsemane, the ancient Cardo, and the Grotto of the Nativity, then leaves time for shopping in Bethlehem before the return trip.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jerusalem and Bethlehem highlights

• Hotel pickup in air-conditioned vehicle
• Visit Mount of Olives panoramic view
• Explore Garden of Gethsemane
• Enter Old City via Zion Gate
• Walk Jerusalem Cardo street
• Visit Western Wall in Jewish Quarter
• Walk Via Dolorosa in Christian Quarter
• Visit Church of the Holy Sepulchre
• Drive to Bethlehem
• Visit Church of the Nativity
• See Grotto of the Nativity
• Explore Manger Square
• Visit Shepherds’ Fields
• Free time for shopping in Bethlehem
• Return to Jerusalem or final drop-off

The experience

How do you fit both Jerusalem and Bethlehem into a single day without arranging your own transport? The tour starts with hotel pickup and takes you first to the Mount of Olives, where the panoramic view of Jerusalem spreads below you. This is the vantage point most pilgrims photograph. From there you move to the Garden of Gethsemane, the site traditionally linked to Jesus's prayer before his arrest, then enter the Old City through Zion Gate. The route follows the ancient Cardo, once the main street of Byzantine Jerusalem, and brings you to the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter, Judaism's holiest site.

The second half of the morning takes you through the Christian Quarter on the Via Dolorosa (the path Jesus walked to his crucifixion), which ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to mark both the crucifixion and burial. After leaving the Old City, the vehicle carries you to Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity, one of the world's oldest churches. Inside, you descend to the Grotto of the Nativity, where a silver star marks the traditional birthplace. The tour then moves to Shepherds' Fields, the pastoral landscape where angels are said to have announced Jesus's birth to local shepherds. The site holds chapels and archaeological remains that ground the biblical story in place.

Before the return to Jerusalem, you get free time to walk Manger Square and shop in Bethlehem. The city is known for handcrafted olive-wood carvings and religious art made by local Christian artisans: the kind of souvenirs that carry a story back home. The full day runs 9 to 10 hours from pickup to drop-off, and the air-conditioned vehicle means you're not navigating heat or logistics between sites.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• parking fees.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or French.

Options for this experience

2 options

Jerusalem & BethlehemUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or French · 08:00 and 08:30Vehicle for 1 to 6 people, includes pickup

Minibus tour of Jerusalem and BethlehemUp to 14 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or French · 08:00 and 08:30Minibus for 7 to 12 people, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by EYT Travel: Your trusted partner for leisure, business, and religious trips to Israel.

Is this one for you?Choose the private option if you're traveling as a family or small group and want the flexibility to move at your own pace through each site. The minibus option suits larger groups or solo travelers who prefer to share the cost with other pilgrims on the same itinerary.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Mount of Olives, and why does the tour start there?

The Mount of Olives is a ridge east of Jerusalem's Old City and the site of key events in Jesus's life. The tour begins there because it offers one of the most iconic panoramic views of Jerusalem, giving you the geography of the city before you enter it on foot.

Do I walk the entire Via Dolorosa, or does the tour cover only part of it?

The tour walks the Via Dolorosa as part of the route through the Christian Quarter. It leads to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to mark the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.

What exactly is the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem?

The Grotto of the Nativity is a cave beneath the Church of the Nativity where a silver star marks the traditional birthplace of Jesus. You descend into it as part of the Bethlehem portion of the tour.

Is lunch included in the day, or do I need to arrange it myself?

Lunch is not included. The tour leaves you free time in Bethlehem to explore Manger Square and shop, and you can eat during that window at a local restaurant of your choice.

How much free time do I get in Bethlehem for shopping and exploring?

The tour includes free time in Bethlehem after visiting Shepherds' Fields, giving you the chance to walk Manger Square and browse the handcrafted olive-wood carvings and religious art made by local Christian artisans before the return trip.