State of Palestine · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in State of Palestine
These are the places worth your time in Palestine, from the holy sites and souqs of Bethlehem and the cafés of Ramallah to the oasis of Jericho and the old cities of Nablus and Hebron. Classics sit beside village walks and quiet corners most visitors miss, but always check current conditions before you set out.
Places to Visit in Bethlehem
Arts and Culture
- Church of the Nativity (Manger Square)
One of the oldest working churches in the world, built over the grotto where Christians mark the birth of Jesus. - Milk Grotto (Milk Grotto Street)
A quiet chapel of soft white rock a short walk from Manger Square, visited by women hoping for children. - Shepherds' Field (Beit Sahour)
Gardens, caves and a small tent shaped chapel where the Christmas story says the shepherds heard the news. - Separation Wall murals (Hebron Road)
Graffiti and street art, including several Banksy works, cover the concrete wall near the northern entrance to town. - Banksy Flower Thrower mural (Beit Sahour)
The famous masked man hurling a bouquet is painted on a garage wall on the road into Beit Sahour. - Bethlehem Peace Center (Manger Square)
The visitor and cultural centre on the square, with exhibitions, information and clean facilities. - Christmas Lutheran Church (Paul VI Street)
A historic church known for its ministry, its art and its Christmas services. - Herodion (Za'atara)
King Herod's volcano shaped hilltop palace fortress, with tunnels and wide views over the desert. - Aida Refugee Camp (Aida)
Local guides and community centres explain life in a camp founded in 1950, beneath the giant key gate. - Dar Al-Kalima University (Hebron Road)
A creative arts college whose galleries and events show contemporary Palestinian art and design. - Church of St Catherine (Manger Square)
The Franciscan church joined to the Nativity, where the Christmas midnight Mass is broadcast to the world. - Mosque of Omar (Manger Square)
The town's main mosque faces the Church of the Nativity across the square.
Stays
- Jacir Palace Hotel (Hebron Road)
A grand stone mansion from the early twentieth century, now a hotel with a pool and a calm garden.
Shopping and Markets
- Star Street (Old City)
The pilgrim route into Manger Square, lined with old stone houses, workshops and small shops. - Bethlehem Old Market (Old City)
The souq just above Manger Square sells spices, olive oil, vegetables and fresh bread to locals every morning. - Olive wood workshops (Beit Sahour)
Families have carved nativity sets and rosaries from local olive wood for generations, and many welcome visitors. - Cremisan Monastery wine shop (Beit Jala)
Salesian monks have made wine here since the late nineteenth century, sold from the monastery shop.
Restaurants
- Afteem Restaurant (Manger Square)
A family run favourite for falafel, hummus and musabaha just steps from the Church of the Nativity.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mar Saba Monastery (Kidron Valley)
A Greek Orthodox monastery clinging to a desert cliff, one of the oldest inhabited monasteries anywhere; only men may enter. - Solomon's Pools (Artas)
Three huge stone reservoirs among pine trees that once fed water to Jerusalem. - Artas Valley (Artas)
A green valley of orchards and a convent, lovely for an easy walk south of town. - Battir terraced landscape (Battir)
Ancient stone terraces and a Roman era irrigation system, listed by UNESCO and perfect for a village hike.
Things to Do
- Beit Jala old town (Beit Jala)
Steep lanes of stone houses, churches and apricot trees above Bethlehem, with far fewer visitors. - Rachel's Tomb area wall walk (Hebron Road)
Walking the wall from Aida to Hebron Road shows the murals, the watchtowers and the stories painted on the concrete.
Events
- Christmas Eve in Manger Square (Manger Square)
Processions, scout bands and midnight Mass make Bethlehem the most famous place on Earth to spend Christmas. - Orthodox Christmas procession (Manger Square)
In early January the Orthodox patriarch's procession brings a second, more local Christmas to the square.
Cafés
- Manger Square coffee stalls (Manger Square)
Cardamom coffee from the small vendors around the square is the cheapest way to sit and watch the town.
Places to Visit in Ramallah
Arts and Culture
- Mahmoud Darwish Museum (Al-Tireh)
A garden museum and tomb for Palestine's national poet, with his manuscripts, belongings and a hilltop amphitheatre. - Yasser Arafat Museum and Mausoleum (Al-Muqata'a)
A modern museum telling the story of Arafat's life alongside his tomb in the presidential compound. - The Palestinian Museum (Birzeit)
A striking hillside museum with terraced gardens and thoughtful exhibitions on Palestinian history and culture. - Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre (Al-Masyoun)
An old mansion turned cultural centre with exhibitions, talks and readings. - A.M. Qattan Foundation (Al-Tireh)
A modern cultural centre with a gallery, library and a lively programme of art and education. - Al-Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque (Al-Bireh)
Films, plays and festivals in the city's best known independent theatre. - Ramallah Cultural Palace (Al-Tireh)
The city's main concert hall for music, dance and big cultural events. - Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (Al-Masyoun)
Students and teachers stage concerts of Arabic and classical music through the year. - Ramallah Friends Meeting House (Old City)
A historic Quaker meeting house and school, a reminder of the city's long Christian and Quaker ties.
Things to Do
- Al-Manara Square (City centre)
The busy heart of the city, with its stone lions, street sellers and shops in every direction. - Ramallah Old City (Ramallah al-Tahta)
The small historic quarter of old stone houses and courtyards, quieter than the modern centre. - Birzeit Old Town (Birzeit)
Restored stone lanes and courtyards near the university, with small cafés and a spring festival. - Jifna village (Jifna)
A Christian village of apricot orchards, a Roman era church ruin and a crusader era tower.
Cafés
- Rukab Ice Cream (Rukab Street)
A Ramallah institution since the 1940s, famous for stretchy mastic ice cream. - Zamn Café (Al-Masyoun)
A local coffee chain where students, professionals and families linger over coffee and cake.
Restaurants
- Darna Restaurant (Al-Sharafa)
A long standing restaurant for refined Palestinian and Levantine dishes and a relaxed terrace.
Bars and Nightlife
- Taybeh Brewing Company (Taybeh)
The family brewery that made the first Palestinian beer, in a Christian hill village east of Ramallah.
Shopping and Markets
- Ramallah vegetable market (City centre)
The hisbeh is a lively covered market of farm produce, olives, cheeses and herbs.
Stays
- Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah (Al-Masyoun)
A large international hotel with a pool, the usual base for business travellers. - Millennium Palestine Ramallah (Al-Masyoun)
A modern hotel near the cultural quarter with spacious rooms and a good breakfast.
Nature and Outdoors
- Ein Qiniya valley (Ein Qiniya)
Terraced hillsides and springs just west of the city, a local favourite for a day outdoors.
Places to Visit in Jericho
Arts and Culture
- Tell es-Sultan (Ancient Jericho)
The mound of ancient Jericho, among the oldest towns on Earth, with a stone tower more than ten thousand years old. - Hisham's Palace (Khirbet al-Mafjar)
An early Islamic palace with a huge protected floor mosaic and the famous Tree of Life panel. - Monastery of the Temptation (Mount of Temptation)
A Greek Orthodox monastery built into the cliff where Jesus is said to have fasted for forty days. - Sycamore Tree of Zacchaeus (City centre)
An old sycamore in a small garden linked to the gospel story of the tax collector who climbed a tree. - Nabi Musa (Judean Desert)
A domed shrine and mosque in the desert hills, honoured as the tomb of Moses, with an old spring festival. - Qasr al-Yahud baptism site (Jordan River)
The western bank of the Jordan River where many believe Jesus was baptised, reached by a desert road. - Deir Hajla Monastery (Jordan Valley)
A fortified Greek Orthodox monastery with a lush garden in the desert near the river. - Russian Museum and Park (City centre)
A garden complex with a small museum and archaeological finds tied to Zacchaeus.
Things to Do
- Jericho Cable Car (Tell es-Sultan)
Cable cars float from the ancient mound up to the Mount of Temptation, with views over the oasis.
Nature and Outdoors
- Wadi Qelt and St George's Monastery (Wadi Qelt)
A dramatic gorge walk to a monastery hanging on the canyon wall, best in the cooler months. - Ein al-Sultan spring (Tell es-Sultan)
The spring that has watered the oasis for thousands of years, known to pilgrims as Elisha's Spring. - Ein Fawwar spring (Wadi Qelt)
A spring in the upper gorge where locals cool off and hikers start the walk down. - Jordan Valley date palm farms (Jordan Valley)
The valley grows some of the region's finest dates, and farm shops sell them by the box.
Shopping and Markets
- Jericho fruit and vegetable stalls (Jericho Road)
Roadside stalls sell bananas, citrus, Medjool dates and fresh vegetables straight from the valley farms.
Restaurants
- Sultan Tourist Center (Tell es-Sultan)
A large restaurant and shop at the foot of the cable car, handy for lunch with a view of the mound. - Jericho market grills (City centre)
Simple grill houses around the main square serve kebab and fresh salads under the palm trees.
Stays
- Jericho Resort Village (Jericho)
A family resort with chalets, pools and gardens, popular with local families at weekends. - Jericho Intercontinental Hotel (Jericho)
A large resort hotel with pools and palm gardens, quiet in summer and busy in winter.
Places to Visit in Nablus
Things to Do
- Old City of Nablus (Old City)
Ottoman lanes, mosques, soap factories, sweets shops and hammams packed into one of the oldest living casbahs in the Levant. - Hammam al-Shifa (Old City)
A working Ottoman bathhouse with steam rooms, scrubs and tea under a domed ceiling. - Sebastia village and Nabi Yahya Mosque (Sebastia)
A village built into a crusader cathedral where tradition places the tomb of John the Baptist. - Nablus clock tower (Old City)
The Ottoman clock tower in the square by An-Nasr Mosque is a handy meeting point to start a walk. - Burqin Church of St George (Burqin)
One of the oldest churches in the world, built around a cave near Jenin.
Cafés
- Al-Aqsa Sweets (Old City)
A small shop many call the home of the best kunafa in Palestine, baked fresh in big round trays. - Habibah Sweets (Old City)
Another classic kunafa bakery where locals eat standing up with sweet tea.
Arts and Culture
- Samaritan village and Mount Gerizim (Kiryat Luza)
One of the world's smallest religious communities lives on its holy mountain above the city. - Samaritan Museum (Mount Gerizim)
A small museum explaining Samaritan faith, scripture and the Passover sacrifice held on the mountain. - Jacob's Well (Balata)
A Greek Orthodox church built over the well where the Gospel of John places Jesus and the Samaritan woman. - Tell Balata archaeological park (Balata)
The ruins of biblical Shechem, with city walls and a temple from the Bronze Age. - Sebastia archaeological site (Sebastia)
Roman columns, a theatre and the ruins of the ancient capital of Samaria, set among olive groves. - An-Nasr Mosque (Old City)
The domed mosque on the old city square, built on the site of a crusader church.
Shopping and Markets
- Khan al-Tujjar (Old City)
The old merchants' market, a covered street of clothes, spices and household goods. - Nablus spice and coffee souq (Old City)
Shops roast and grind coffee with cardamom and sell za'atar, sumac and dried fruit.
Stays
- Al-Yasmeen Hotel (Old City)
A comfortable hotel right at the edge of the old city, the classic base for visitors.
Nature and Outdoors
- Wadi al-Badhan (Wadi al-Badhan)
A green valley of springs, streams and picnic spots where Nablus families spend summer weekends.
Restaurants
- Old City falafel and hummus stalls (Old City)
Fresh falafel and hummus for breakfast is a Nablus ritual, and every lane has a favourite.
Places to Visit in Hebron
Arts and Culture
- Ibrahimi Mosque (Old City)
The great stone shrine over the Cave of the Patriarchs, holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians. - Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (Old City)
The group restoring the old town's houses and souqs explains its work to visitors. - Tel Rumeida (Tel Rumeida)
The hill of ancient Hebron, with Bronze Age walls and wide views over the city. - Oak of Mamre (Ein Sarah)
A Russian Orthodox monastery garden around the ancient oak linked to Abraham's hospitality. - Al-Shuhada Street area (Old City)
Learning about the closed former main street is central to understanding Hebron today; go with a local guide.
Shopping and Markets
- Hebron Old City souq (Old City)
Vaulted Mamluk and Ottoman market streets with nets overhead, a moving and important walk with a local guide. - Hebron Glass and Ceramics Factory (Ras al-Jora)
Watch glass blown in furnaces as it has been for centuries, and pick blue painted ceramics from the shop. - Hirbawi Textile Factory (Ras al-Jora)
The last factory weaving the keffiyeh in Palestine, with looms running and a small shop. - Bab al-Zawiya market (Bab al-Zawiya)
The busy modern market at the edge of the old city, packed with fruit, bakeries and clothes. - Hebron grape molasses and raisin shops (Halhul)
Family shops sell dibs, malban grape sweets and raisins made from the hills' famous vines.
Nature and Outdoors
- Wadi al-Quff forest reserve (Beit Kahil)
A pine and oak forest west of the city, the region's main spot for picnics and walks.
Events
- Hebron grape season (Halhul)
Late summer brings mountains of grapes, raisins and grape molasses to markets around Hebron and Halhul.
Restaurants
- Hebron qidreh restaurants (Old City)
Hebron's famous qidreh, rice and lamb slow cooked in a clay pot in a bakery oven, is served at lunchtime around the old town.
Cafés
- Old City coffee shops (Old City)
Small coffee sellers by the mosque serve strong cardamom coffee and warm conversation.
Places to Visit in Jerusalem
Arts and Culture
- Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Old City)
The Haram al-Sharif, with the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, is the heart of Palestinian faith and identity. - Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christian Quarter)
The church over the sites of the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus, shared by several ancient churches. - Dar al-Tifl al-Arabi Museum (Sheikh Jarrah)
A museum of Palestinian heritage and embroidery inside a historic girls' school.
Things to Do
- Damascus Gate (Old City)
The grand Ottoman gate where East Jerusalem life spills out in market stalls and bread sellers.
Shopping and Markets
- Educational Bookshop (Salah al-Din Street)
A beloved bookshop and café for books on Palestine, maps and conversation.
Cafés
- Ja'far Sweets (Old City)
A classic Old City bakery for warm kunafa and Arabic sweets. - Austrian Hospice café (Via Dolorosa)
A garden café and rooftop with one of the best views over the Old City's domes.
Stays
- American Colony Hotel (Sheikh Jarrah)
A historic Ottoman era hotel with a courtyard garden and a long literary past.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mount of Olives (At-Tur)
The classic viewpoint over the Old City, with churches and ancient tombs on its slopes.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- The Walled Off Hotel (Caritas Street, Bethlehem)
An art hotel facing the wall, with a museum and gallery about the occupation, created by Banksy. - Hosh Al-Syrian Guesthouse (Old City, Bethlehem)
A restored Ottoman house in the old town with stone vaults and simple, stylish rooms. - Hosh Al-Syrian Restaurant (Old City, Bethlehem)
Seasonal Palestinian cooking served under vaulted stone ceilings in the old town. - Tent Restaurant (Beit Sahour, Bethlehem)
A huge Bedouin style tent popular with groups for mansaf, grills and evening gatherings. - Wadi Khreitoun caves (Teqoa, Bethlehem)
A deep desert canyon with prehistoric caves and monastery ruins, best with a local walking guide. - Abu Iskandar (Al-Bireh, Ramallah)
A famous shawarma and grill spot that locals queue for, especially late in the evening. - Snowbar (Ein Munjed, Ramallah)
A garden bar and summer pool in a pine grove, one of Ramallah's best known evening spots. - Taybeh Oktoberfest (Taybeh, Ramallah)
A village beer and music festival that has drawn crowds in good years; check whether it is running. - Area D Hostel (City centre, Ramallah)
A friendly backpacker hostel known for helping travellers plan trips around the West Bank. - Wadi al-Natuf walks (Shuqba, Ramallah)
Limestone valleys and prehistoric caves that give the Natufian culture its name. - Sunbula fair trade shop (Al-Bireh, Ramallah)
Embroidery, olive oil soap and crafts made by cooperatives across Palestine. - Café La Vie (Old City, Ramallah)
A garden café and bar in an old stone house, popular with artists and visitors. - Palestine International Festival for Dance and Music (Ramallah, Ramallah)
Folk and contemporary dance troupes from Palestine and abroad perform in summer when it runs. - Spanish Garden (City centre, Jericho)
A shady public garden where Jericho families gather on winter evenings. - Tuqan Soap Factory (Old City, Nablus)
One of the historic workshops where olive oil soap is still cut and stacked in towers to dry. - Mount Ebal viewpoint (Mount Ebal, Nablus)
The northern mountain gives the widest view over Nablus spread between its two peaks. - The Freedom Theatre (Jenin Camp, Nablus)
A community theatre in Jenin refugee camp that has trained young actors for years; check conditions first. - Sebastia guesthouse stays (Sebastia, Nablus)
Simple village guesthouses let you sleep beside the ruins and walk out at dawn. - Halhul hill viewpoint (Halhul, Hebron)
One of the highest points in the West Bank, with views across the southern hills. - Zalatimo Sweets (Old City, Jerusalem)
A historic shop famous for mutabbaq pastry, stuffed and baked to order.