Considered one of the world's holiest cities, Jerusalem is sacred to all three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For Jews the city is Ir Hakodesh, the site of Solomon's Temple and Israel's self-declared eternal capital. Christians come to Jerusalem to, quite literally, follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ as he went to his crucifixion. Jerusalem (Al-Quds in Arabic) is also where Muslims believe the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven in the early days of the new faith of Islam, and it is revered as the third most holy site in Islam.
Upon entering the old, walled city, the sense of history becomes palpable. Small alleyways and bazaars full of traders jostling for your attention surround the three holy sites, which are all within a few hundred metres of each other: the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jerusalem is a must-see destination whatever your beliefs and visitors are inevitably awestruck by the city's historic and religious significance.
Best time to visit Jerusalem has hot summers and nippy winters so the best time to travel is from March to September - particularly during Easter when Christian pilgrims throng the alleyways of the old city.
Things to know Travellers should check government advice before going and be prepared for delays at checkpoints dotted around Arab East Jerusalem. Visitors should also be aware that non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the religious Al-Haram compound where the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque are situated.
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