| Jerusalem ((ar)القدس, (Hey) ירושלים) | |
 | |
| The Dome of the Rock in the center of the image | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Israel |
|---|---|
| Watercourse | Kidron |
| Minimum altitude | 570 m (Kidron valley) |
| Maximum altitude | 834 m (mount Herzl) |
| Area | 125,156 km² |
| Population | 936 424 hab. (2019) |
| Density | 7 482,05 inhab./km² |
| Area of the agglomeration | 652 km² |
| Population of the agglomeration | 1 253 900 hab.(2019) |
| Postal code | 91000–91999 |
| Telephone prefix | 972 2 |
| Spindle | UTC 02:00 |
| Location | |
 31 ° 47 ′ 18 ″ N 35 ° 10 ′ 45 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
Jerusalem (in Hebrew: ירושלים, in Arabic: القدس) is the internationally unrecognized capital of the state ofIsrael.
Understand
Jerusalem is the spiritual home of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and to a lesser extent Islam.
It is a fascinating destination for any traveler interested in the past as well as the present. Jerusalem was once what is called today the "old city", which is surrounded by stone walls (the famous stones of Jerusalem). It was the capital of the Kingdom of David, and is at the same time the place of the death and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, where the Dome of the Rock is located with inside the Rock of the Foundation for Muslims and the one where the Jewish Temple once stood, destroyed, rebuilt and then destroyed again, of which only the Western Wall remains today. This is the reason for its name of city "three times holy". Because of this, and also for its ancient and splendid architecture, Jerusalem is a city extremely rich in culture, which will allow you to visit it with all the more interest.
To go
By plane
- 1 Tel Aviv-David Ben Gurion International Airport (IATA : TLV, ICAO: LLBG, namal te'oufah Ben Gurion) – The main airport serving Jerusalem is Ben Gurion International Airport located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The trip to the city is made by taxi, collective taxi, train or rental car and lasts, by road, between 40 and 50 minutes but often more because it depends on the traffic. A large number of airlines operate a connection with Ben Gurion Airport, including British Ariways, Air France, Swiss, Easyjet, Air Canada, American and United. It is also the main airport for El Al, Israel's national airline.
By train
There is now a fast train that connects the airport to Jerusalem.
By car
Jerusalem is mainly served by Highway No. 1 (Tel Aviv - Jerusalem), which has many junctions to other major cities in the country (mainly coastal - Haifa, Ashdod, Netanyah).
By bus
Bus service to Jerusalem, from Ben Gurion International Airport and any Israeli city, is frequent, cheap and efficient. Sherutim (especially on Shabbat when the buses of Israeli companies do not run). These are collective taxis, which are also very inexpensive.
Walk
Circulate
The old town can be visited on foot, as well as the modern city center which is pedestrianized (district around the Ben Yehouda pedestrian street), and the Nahlaot district.
Or the Yemin Moshe district and its mill, which is also pedestrianized.
Jerusalem also has tram lines.
To reach the most distant places in the city, take a taxi.
It is not necessary to rent a car to visit the city of Jerusalem, especially since parking spaces are very scarce and expensive and the traffic is very congested.
There are several common means of transportation in Israel, from the cheapest to the most efficient.
- 1. The best known is the bus, which crosses the country from one end to the other. It remains to choose the company: Éguèd (אגד) the most popular, or Dan (דן) which crosses the main lines, and the streets of large cities.
- 2. The Taxi not bad either, because it is cheap and easy to negotiate (again, you shouldn't get ripped off). Warning: tourists often do not dare to haggle, while taxi drivers do not. It is very important to set a price in advance with the driver, and to be categorical with him at the time of payment in order to avoid any potential scams on his part.
- 3. If you have a large budget you opt for the vehicle rental of the category of your choice, it gives you a little more independence. Tip: For long journeys consider taking Highway 6, known as “Kvish shèsh” (כביש שש).
- 4. Finally as a last resort and if you know how to do it and with a little luck, you will be able to travel wherever you want in the country for free by doing stop with one or more hosts. Known under the name of "trèmp" (stop), the hitchhiking is a means of transport widely used in Israel, mainly by young people like students or soldiers of first years etc ... Warning: It has happened that episodes like these have gone wrong. It doesn't happen every day, but that's no reason to be cautious.
Bonus: for those leaving from Jerusalem (only) to Bên Gouriôn airport (בן גוריון), there is a means of transport specially organized for this purpose, called “Néshèr” (נשר), for the non-negotiable sum of 50 THEY and by reservation required. Check if this service picks up passengers directly at home.
See
The old Town
- Visiting the old town is first and foremost get lost in its alleys, walk at random, and discover what a city looked like in the Middle Ages.
To see in this part of Jerusalem the souks in all the small streets. You should know that each street originally grouped a type of merchandise: clothes, spices, butchery, etc. Nowadays, the souks have mainly become bazaars for tourists where you can find junk "made in China". You have to negotiate the price. The merchants are often quite aggressive and come to harass the tourists.
- We can visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which houses the Golgotha (the place of the crucifixion) and the (empty) tomb of Jesus. Devout Christians are sure to follow the Via Dolorosa retracing the journey of Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha, in the company of Franciscan monks on Friday afternoon (for others, this is not really essential).
- Non-Muslims can visit the esplanade of the mosques in the morning until noon except Friday through the only authorized door which is next to the Kotel. Muslims can do this every day (If in doubt, they must nevertheless prove that they are Muslims by reciting Al Fatiha). On this esplanade is the mosque of Omar also called Dome of the Rock as well as Al Aqsa mosque. Non-Muslims are strictly prohibited inside Omar Mosque and Al Aqsa Mosque.
- The citadel called tower of david, houses a small museum on the history of Jerusalem (at the Jaffa gate). http://www.towerofdavid.org.il/English/General/french
- The Kotel, or the Western Wall (access to non-Jews is allowed), where you can go to pray among the crowd (head covered), and slide your little Petheq (paper bearing a prayer) between the ancestral stones.
- You can also visit the beautiful synagogue Hourva in the Jewish quarter of the Old Town. Guided tours (in English) are available.
- Panoramic viewpoints in the old town: beautiful viewpoint from the roof of the Hourva synagogue, the top of the Tower of David, the steeple of the German Church of the Redeemer, the roof of the Austrian hospice. There are other lesser-known places, such as the roof of the Yeshiva Aish HaTorah which offers a breathtaking view of the entire Kotel esplanade, or the roof of the German hospice, the roof of the Hotel Petra, etc. ... Also beautiful views from the top of the walls, taking the " ramparts walk ».
West Jerusalem
- Museum of Biblical Lands
- the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book. http://www.imj.org.il/
Located near the Knesset (which can also be visited, and where you can admire a splendid Chagall fresco as well as mosaics by the same artist), it is easily accessible by bus from Jerusalem's central bus station.
- Yad Vashem (Museum of the Holocaust). http://www.yad-vashem.org.il/
One of the essential visits to Jerusalem. It is a very large museum, a mine of information on the Shoah. Its visit takes several hours (some of which can be used for a walk in the park of several hectares which surrounds the museum, and in which are many memorials). The museum is accessible by tram, at the "Mount Herzl" terminus.
- The Rockefeller archaeological museum is located in the Arab part of town. http://www.english.imjnet.org.il/htmls/page_1684.aspx?c0=15160&bsp=14162
- The Mahane Yehuda market is a very interesting place in the city. It is its largest market, and it is pleasant to browse the streets in which it is installed, in a maze of stalls, presenting products all more appetizing than the others. It is open every day except Saturday. On Friday, it closes at the beginning of the afternoon before Shabbat: there is an unrivaled agitation. The housewives come there to get the ingredients they need to prepare the Shabbat meal. By tram, it is accessible in particular by tram (Ben Yehuda stop). Those fond of spices and culinary seeds will be delighted in particular at the "Perek" shop (poppy seed in Hebrew).
The mount of olives
For the brave, it is possible to climb to the top of the Mount of Olives on foot (it climbs very hard), from the Lions Gate, which marks the beginning of the Via Dolorosa. Otherwise, Arab buses that can be taken not far from the Damascus gate lead there. In addition to the superb view that we have over the entire city from the top of the mount, churches, in particular, are located there. One can, among others, quote the Church of All-Nations, at the foot of the mount and in the Garden of Gethsemane (it contains the rock on which Jesus would have cried during his arrest), the Church of the Ascension, the Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene (easily spotted thanks to its golden domes), etc. Mary's tomb is also found near the Mount of Olives. Cemeteries (mostly Jewish, but also Muslim and Christian) are installed on the side of Mt. They are the oldest in the world. For the Jews, this is where the Messiah will pass first, and the occupants of these tombs will thus be the first to be resurrected.
Ein Kerem
Ein Kerem is a village where a number of craftsmen live on the edge of Jerusalem. It is a place which, in addition to being charming, is particularly peaceful and calm. In addition to the churches of Saint John the Baptist and the Visitation, one can see, in the synagogue of the Hadassah hospital, stained glass windows by the painter Chagall on the theme of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mount Zion
It is with Mount Scorpus, Mount Herzl and Mount of Olives one of the hills of Jerusalem. Many holy places are there, starting with the king david's tomb. TheChurch of the Dormition (as well as the Benedictine abbey of the same name) is also located there. In addition, one can visit the holocaust chamber, or the Oskar Schindler's grave.
Learn
- Rothberg Internnational School - part of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. http://overseas.huji.ac.il/admission.asp
To work
Buy
Jerusalem is full of T-shirts of all shapes, colors and designs, often displaying Jewish humor. In addition to souvenir shops, you can buy a number of clothes at Ben Yehuda Street.
Also very popular are Judaica items (from typical Jewish culture), such as a beautiful mezuzah or a silver Shabbat candlestick.
Mahane Yehuda, as said previously, is also a privileged place to bring back typical foodstuffs from Israel (spices, pastries, dried fruits, etc.). It is accessed from the tram station of the same name.
In the Armenian quarter, several ceramic workshops that are truly typical of Jerusalem and that cannot be found anywhere else. If you bring back an Armenian ceramic plate as a souvenir, be aware that you will have some trouble at the airport, you will probably be asked to open your suitcase to check what it is, as it makes a dark mass when going through the shelves X.
Eat
In West Jerusalem a large number of eateries and fast food restaurants (including almost everything you would expect to see in your home) are located near Ben Yehuda Street and Jaffa Road.
It is important to note that restaurants serving kosher food under rabbinical control close on Shabbat, that is, from Friday afternoon to Saturday after dark.
Still, we eat very well in Israel, for little money (food is indeed very inexpensive) and absolutely everything. Israeli cuisine is the result of various influences, whether local or inherited from the diaspora, and is definitely worth a visit.
The Old Town is more interesting for the authentic local experience and also less commercial - feel it, explore the back roads to avoid tourist traps.
The Lebanese Restaurant sits just outside Jerusalem in the Palestinian-Israeli village of Abu Gosh at 88 Hashalom st. (phone: 02-5335561). This restaurant, as the name suggests, specializes in serving traditional Lebanese-style Arabic cuisine. The Lebanese Restaurant is frequented by locals, Israelis and tourists alike and serves, among other reasonably priced treats, the hummous (chickpea pate) known to be the best in the country. Many prominent Israelis have eaten there and when the weather is nice you can eat under the mulberry tree around which the restaurant is built. Do not hesitate to eat in this jewel of a restaurant.
Cheap
Middle class
- Al Mihabash Restaurant, 21 Nablus Str. (Arab quarter, north of the Damascus Gate), Tel: 00972 52 649 6934 (Fax: 00972 2 628 9185). Palestinian restaurant. Sometimes music is played there.
- Fucaccia Barhttp://fucaccia-bar.rest-e.co.il/, near Hilel Street.
An excellent restaurant.
Luxury
To drink
In addition to cafes, bars etc., you can taste, in the souk, the famous mint tea, not to be missed.
Housing
The Old Town offers a variety of small hotels, religious hospices and hostels, some very spartan, the authenticity of which may appeal to the traveler.
West Jerusalem also offers B & Bs, guest houses, small and large hotels - up to 5-star luxury hotels.
Cheap
Middle class
- Prima kings ("Hotel des Rois") is relatively expensive, but still affordable. It is comfortable and well located (central position in the city). Request a room with a flowered balcony. disadvantage: no parking.
Luxury
- King david is a historic luxury hotel where many celebrities and heads of state have passed.
Communicate
Phone
Jerusalem's area code is 02 (Israel's code is 972).
The West Jerusalem Central Post Office is located near the end of Jaffa Road.
In the Old City, a post office is located near Jaffa Gate, diagonally opposite the Tower of David Museum.
Israel continues to use column-type, red-colored letterboxes in some parts of Jerusalem - a legacy from the days of the British Mandate on the city.
Internet cafe
Internet cafes are used much less now that everyone has a cell phone, and Wi-Fi is generally free in hotels.
- Strudel : Jerusalem's original Internet cafe. It is called that because the arobase is called "strudel" in Hebrew. This cafe was founded by an English-speaking couple who wanted to offer a haven of peace to English speakers and therefore Strudel is a social center. Surfing costs 6 THEY for 15 min. A fax and a scanner are also available. Opening hours: noon-midnight, Mon-Fri; 3 - midnight Sat 11 rue Mombaz, Jerusalem. tel: 972 2623 2101, fax: 972 2622 1445.
Manage the day-to-day
It is necessary to have correct dress (no shorts, long pants or long skirts obligatory) for the access to the holy places whether they are Christians, Jews or Muslims. It is necessary to know how to respect the Shabat. Indeed, it is frowned upon to travel by car, for example in the city, a fortiori in ultra-Orthodox strongholds like Meah She'arim, where prohibiting the use of one's cell phone or any other electronic device will be required. We will not be tolerated in this neighborhood without being dressed decently, that is to say that women should wear long and loose clothing, and closed shoes (unless they wear socks with sandals).
security
Government travel advice
.svg/20px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png)
Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
France (Consulate General of France in Jerusalem) 5, rue Paul Émile Botta, 
972 2 629 85 00
.svg/20px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small}
Around
People who do not hold Israeli citizenship may eventually travel to the West Bank, and in particular to Bethlehem, a few kilometers south of Jerusalem. It is a pretty city, in which is obviously located the Basilica of the Nativity. You can also visit the Milk cave, and eat very good falafel and hummus!
