Jerusalem - The town

The Old City of Jeruslaem is surrounded by a 4km/2.5mile long circuit of walls 12m/40ft high built in 1537 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Two main streets, David Street (in its eastern section called Chain Street), running east from the Jaffa Gate, and Suq Khan ez-Zeit, running south from the Damascus Gate, intersect in the center of the Old City, dividing it into four quarters - the Christian Quarter to the northwest, the Armenian Quarter to the southwest, the Muslim Quarter to the northeast and the Jewish Quarter to the southeast. The streets are narrow, irregular and frequently vaulted. The newer part of Jerusalem, to the west of the Old City, has a modern aspect, with office blocks, ministries and the Parliament Building, museums and also extensive parks and gardens. Here too is the main shopping district, centered on Ben Yehuda Street (pedestrian zone). Since 1967, when the city was reunited, numerous satellite towns have been established in the surrounding area, usually distinguished by their functional but not particularly attractive architecture. Bus route 99

The 99 bus is specially designed to cater for tourists. There are frequent services on a route which takes in all the city's main sights, with over thirty stops (including one at the Jaffa Gate).

Opening Times

Most museums, Archeological sites, etc., are closed or have restricted opening times on Friday afternoon and Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Admission tickets for these days must be bought in advance.

The Old City of Jerusalem and its walls were desingated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.