East Jerusalem (Jerusalem) Travel Guide - Free

Explore East Jerusalem in Jerusalem with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem photo 2
East Jerusalem photo 3
All photos

East Jerusalem in Jerusalem, Israel, reveals layered history, Old City quarters, Mount of Olives views, Palestinian markets, museums and living culture.

A City of Overlapping Histories

East Jerusalem is a broad, varied urban area whose most familiar landmarks include the Old City, the Mount of Olives, Silwan and the districts stretching north and east from the historic centre. Its streets move between monumental stone walls, busy Palestinian commercial thoroughfares, residential lanes, religious compounds and hills with wide views across Jerusalem. The term is also politically sensitive: Israel administers and claims the area, while the international community generally regards East Jerusalem as occupied territory and does not recognise the 1967 annexation.
Read more about East Jerusalem

Streets, Quarters and Sacred Places

The Old City's Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Armenian quarters form the best-known historic core, but East Jerusalem extends well beyond the walls. Salah al-Din Street and Nablus Road are important commercial arteries, while the Mount of Olives is marked by churches, cemeteries and viewpoints associated with Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. The Rockefeller Archaeological Museum offers a quieter encounter with the region's material history, and neighbourhoods such as Wadi al-Joz and Sheikh Jarrah reveal the area as a lived-in city rather than an open-air monument.

Markets and Everyday Life

Markets around Damascus Gate, the Old City's souqs and the streets leading towards Herod's Gate sell spices, bread, sweets, household goods, souvenirs and religious items alongside ordinary local commerce. Palestinian restaurants and cafés provide dishes such as hummus, falafel, maqluba and knafeh, although the dining scene is generally more traditional and daytime-oriented than Jerusalem's western nightlife districts. Visitors encounter a place of profound religious importance, contested politics and highly resilient everyday life; respectful attention to residents, worshippers and local customs is essential.

Best attractions in East Jerusalem

East Jerusalem's best-known attractions centre on the Old City and the hills immediately beyond it. Inside the walls, visitors can follow the Via Dolorosa, explore the Muslim Quarter's covered souqs, enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and view the Western Wall plaza, while the Temple Mount and Haram al-Sharif require attention to changing access and worship arrangements. Damascus Gate provides a lively entrance to the historic centre, and the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum displays important finds from across the region. On the Mount of Olives, churches, cemeteries and viewpoints trace Jewish, Christian and Muslim histories, while the City of David archaeological site and the Pool of Siloam lie in the adjacent Silwan area. Wadi al-Joz and Sheikh Jarrah offer a more contemporary perspective through residential streets, local commerce and contested urban history.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in East Jerusalem

The Old City's Ottoman walls and gates are East Jerusalem's defining architectural landmarks, with Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate and the Golden Gate each reflecting different periods and religious associations. Within the walls, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall and the Haram al-Sharif compound are places of exceptional significance to Christianity, Judaism and Islam, though their religious and political meanings are distinct and access is regulated. The Mount of Olives is marked by historic churches, Jewish cemeteries and panoramas towards the Old City, while the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum is an important early twentieth-century museum building outside the walls. In Silwan, excavated remains and the Pool of Siloam connect the modern Palestinian neighbourhood with ancient Jerusalem, although archaeological interpretation and land ownership remain contested.

Show more landmarks

Explore East Jerusalem on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in East Jerusalem, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in East Jerusalem

Eating in East Jerusalem combines Palestinian home cooking, old-city street food and cafés serving visitors, worshippers and local workers. Around Damascus Gate and the Old City's markets, stalls and small eateries offer falafel, hummus, shawarma, grilled meats, breads, pickles and fresh juices, while sweetsellers specialise in knafeh, baklava and other Levantine pastries. Restaurants and cafés along Salah al-Din Street and Nablus Road provide a broader setting for dishes such as maqluba, musakhan and mezze, although individual opening patterns can change. The culinary culture reflects Jerusalem's Palestinian Arab heritage and its connections with the wider Levant rather than a single formal restaurant district. In the Old City, meals are often informal and daytime-focused; visitors should check ingredients when dietary requirements matter and show patience in small, busy establishments.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in East Jerusalem

East Jerusalem is not a major bar or nightclub district, and evening life is more closely associated with cafés, family restaurants, sweet shops, market activity and religious or cultural events than with late-night entertainment. The Old City's lanes become quieter after many businesses close, while streets such as Salah al-Din and Nablus Road retain a more practical, local rhythm. Alcohol is not central to public life in much of the area, and visitors should not assume that venues found in western Jerusalem operate here. Evening walks around the walls, the Mount of Olives or residential streets require awareness of uneven surfaces, limited lighting and changing access conditions. Cultural programmes, music events and performances may take place in institutions or hotels, but schedules and availability should be checked locally rather than presumed.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in East Jerusalem

East Jerusalem is not a major bar or nightclub district, and evening life is more closely associated with cafés, family restaurants, sweet shops, market activity and religious or cultural events than with late-night entertainment. The Old City's lanes become quieter after many businesses close, while streets such as Salah al-Din and Nablus Road retain a more practical, local rhythm. Alcohol is not central to public life in much of the area, and visitors should not assume that venues found in western Jerusalem operate here. Evening walks around the walls, the Mount of Olives or residential streets require awareness of uneven surfaces, limited lighting and changing access conditions. Cultural programmes, music events and performances may take place in institutions or hotels, but schedules and availability should be checked locally rather than presumed.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in East Jerusalem

Shopping in East Jerusalem is concentrated in the Old City's souqs, the streets around Damascus Gate and the commercial corridors of Salah al-Din Street and Nablus Road. Khan al-Zeit and adjoining market lanes sell spices, coffee, soap, dried foods, textiles, religious objects, leather goods and souvenirs, while ordinary shops provide clothing, household items and food for local residents. The souqs are not simply a visitor marketplace: they remain working commercial streets serving the city's Palestinian communities. Products and styles reflect Palestinian, Arab and broader Levantine traditions, from embroidered textiles and olive-wood crafts to sweets and spice blends. Browse respectfully, ask before photographing traders or displays, and bargain courteously where it is clearly part of the exchange; quieter side streets often offer a more everyday retail experience than the main tourist routes.

Show more shops

East Jerusalem essentials

Getting There
East Jerusalem is reached from western Jerusalem by the Jerusalem light rail, with stops including Damascus Gate, Shivtei Israel and Ammunition Hill serving different approaches to the area; buses also run along major corridors such as Salah al-Din Street and Nablus Road. The Old City is commonly entered through Damascus, Herod's, Jaffa or Zion gates, depending on the direction of arrival. Visitors coming from Bethlehem, Ramallah or elsewhere in the West Bank should check current crossing, identification and transport requirements before travelling, as arrangements can change. Taxis can approach the outer gates, but vehicles cannot navigate most of the Old City's narrow lanes.
Getting Around
Walking is the most practical way to explore the Old City, its souqs and the Mount of Olives, although the terrain includes steep slopes, stairs, uneven paving and crowded passages. Salah al-Din Street, Nablus Road and the roads around Damascus Gate are useful orientation lines, while buses and the light rail connect outer districts and the western side of Jerusalem. The Old City is not uniformly accessible for wheelchairs or pushchairs, and the Mount of Olives requires particular care on steep roads and broken pavements. Allow time for security checks and detours around places of worship, especially on busy religious days.
Safety
Normal precautions matter in crowded markets, around the Old City's gates and on public transport: keep bags closed, avoid displaying large amounts of cash and remain aware of traffic at busy junctions. Political demonstrations, security incidents and sudden access restrictions can occur, so visitors should monitor current official advice and follow instructions from local authorities. Night-time conditions vary considerably between commercial streets, residential areas and religious sites; use established transport and avoid joining gatherings or photographing sensitive security activity. Respectful clothing and unobtrusive behaviour are particularly important near shrines, cemeteries and places of worship.
Emergency Situations
In Israel, call 100 for police, 101 for medical emergencies and 102 for fire and rescue; operators may be able to assist in languages other than Hebrew. Give the exact gate, street, landmark or neighbourhood name when describing your location, since Old City addresses can be difficult to identify and several streets have Arabic and Hebrew names. For urgent medical care, follow the instructions of emergency services or hotel staff, and carry identification and relevant health information. Visitors crossing between Jerusalem and the West Bank should also check the current procedures and available assistance for the specific crossing they intend to use.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly when entering religious compounds, cover shoulders and knees where requested, remove hats or footwear when local rules require it, and observe signs concerning photography. Ask before photographing worshippers, residents, children, market traders or private homes. In the souqs, bargain courteously where bargaining is customary, but do not block narrow passages or handle goods without permission. Keep voices low near cemeteries and shrines, never climb on historic structures, and avoid loud behaviour in residential lanes after dark. During Ramadan and other holy periods, show particular consideration around fasting, prayer and altered opening arrangements.
Local Tips
Use Damascus Gate as a gateway to the Old City, but explore beyond the principal route towards Herod's Gate, the Muslim Quarter and the streets around the Christian Quarter for a fuller sense of local commerce. Salah al-Din Street is useful for everyday shopping and food, while the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum provides context away from the busiest religious sites. The Mount of Olives is best approached with sturdy footwear and a clear plan, since points of interest are spread across steep roads. Carry water, small notes for purchases and an offline map, as mobile reception and street signage can be inconsistent in the densest lanes.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
Helloمرحبا[marhaba]
Goodbyeوداعا[wada'an]
Yesنعم[naam]
Noلا[la]
Please/You're welcomeمن فضلك / على الرحب والسعة[min fadlik / 'ala al-rahb wa al-sa'ah]
Thank youشكرا[shukran]
Excuse me/Sorryآسف[asif]
How are you?كيف حالك؟[kayf halak?]
Fine. And you?بخير. وأنت؟[bukhayr. wa ant?]
Do you speak English?هل تتحدث الإنجليزية؟[hal tatahadath al-inglizia?]
I don't understandلا أفهم[la afham]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseأرغب في رؤية القائمة، من فضلك[urghab fi ru'yah al-qaimah, min fadlik]
I don't eat meatأنا لا آكل اللحم[ana la akl al-lahm]
Cheers!في صحتك![fi sahtak!]
I would like to pay, pleaseأرغب في الدفع، من فضلك[urghab fi al-dafa', min fadlik]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!مساعدة![musaidah!]
Go away!ارحل![irhal!]
Call the Police!اتصل بالشرطة![itasil bialshurta!]
Call a doctor!اتصل بالطبيب![itasil bialtabib!]
I'm lostلقد ضللت الطريق[laqad dalalt altariq]
I'm illأنا مريض[ana mareed]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...أرغب في شراء...[urghab fi shira...]
I'm just lookingأنا فقط أتطلع[ana faqat attala]
How much is it?كم سعره؟[kam siroh?]
That's too expensiveهذا غالي جدا[hatha ghali jiddan]
Can you lower the price?هل يمكنك تخفيض السعر؟[hal yumkinuk takhfid al-sir?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?كم الساعة؟[kam al-sa'ah?]
It's one o'clockالساعة الواحدة[al-sa'ah al-wahidah]
Half past (10)العاشر والنصف[al-ashir wa al-nisf]
Morningصباح[sabah]
Afternoonمساء[masa]
Eveningمساء[masa]
Yesterdayأمس[ams]
Todayاليوم[al-yawm]
Tomorrowغدا[ghadan]
1واحد[wahid]
2اثنان[ithnan]
3ثلاثة[thalatha]
4أربعة[arba'a]
5خمسة[khamsa]
6ستة[sitta]
7سبعة[sab'a]
8ثمانية[thamania]
9تسعة[tis'a]
10عشرة[ashara]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?أين ...؟[ayn ...?]
What's the address?ما هو العنوان؟[ma hu al-eanan?]
Can you show me (on the map)?هل يمكنك أن تريني (على الخريطة)؟[hal yumkinuk an tarini (ealaa al-kharitah)?]
When's the next (bus)?متى يأتي الحافلة القادمة؟[mata ya'ti al-hafilat al-qadima?]
A ticket (to ....)تذكرة (إلى ...)[tadhkirat (ila ...)]

History of East Jerusalem

The Ancient City and Its Hills

East Jerusalem contains the historic core of Jerusalem and hills that have been settled, cultivated and used for burial for thousands of years. The Old City's present walls largely date from the Ottoman period, although they enclose sites associated with much earlier phases of the city. The Mount of Olives developed as a place of Jewish burial and became central to Christian traditions concerning the life and death of Jesus, while the area around the southern and eastern sides of the Old City preserves archaeological evidence of earlier urban development. Because excavation and religious interpretation remain politically sensitive, the historical landscape is best understood as layered rather than belonging to a single community or period.

Ottoman Streets and Religious Foundations

Under Ottoman rule from 1517 to 1917, Jerusalem's historic centre acquired much of the urban form familiar today, including the Old City's rebuilt walls, gates, markets and neighbourhood divisions. Endowments known as waqfs supported mosques, schools, fountains, hospices and commercial buildings, helping shape streets such as the market routes leading from Damascus Gate towards the Temple Mount and Christian holy places. Outside the walls, villages and cultivated slopes formed a looser landscape of orchards, terraces and burial grounds. The period left a durable architectural and institutional imprint, even as later roads and administrative boundaries changed how East Jerusalem connected to the wider city.

Mandate and Jordanian Jerusalem

British administration after the First World War brought new planning controls, roads and archaeological institutions to Jerusalem, including the museum now known as the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, opened in 1938. The 1948 war divided Jerusalem, and East Jerusalem, including the Old City, came under Jordanian administration until 1967. During those years the area functioned as the political, commercial and religious centre of Jordanian-held Jerusalem, while access between the two parts of the city was restricted. The division altered ordinary movement, separated families and institutions, and made the former municipal boundary a defining feature of modern Jerusalem's history.

1967 and the Contemporary City

Israel captured East Jerusalem during the June 1967 war and subsequently extended Israeli law and administration to the area, including the Old City and surrounding neighbourhoods. Israel describes the city as unified, while the international community generally considers East Jerusalem occupied territory and does not recognise the annexation. Municipal expansion, settlement construction, new roads and uneven development have reshaped the urban landscape, alongside the growth of Palestinian commercial and residential life. Contemporary East Jerusalem therefore combines globally significant religious heritage with contested property, planning and access issues, making political geography an inseparable part of understanding its streets and communities.

East Jerusalem in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Neighbourhoods near East Jerusalem

The closest neighbourhoods to East Jerusalem, if you have time for more than one stop.

Explore more

Jerusalem
More of the region

Explore more of Jerusalem

Jerusalem blends ancient walls, sacred landmarks, vibrant markets and layered history with museums, neighbourhoods and memorable cultural experiences.

Explore Jerusalem
The Evendo app on two phones

Your all-in-one travel companion app

Explore expert travel guides, compare and book tours, experiences, hotels, and more, all from the palm of your hand. Download now for seamless trip planning wherever your wanderlust takes you.

  • Travel guides to regions, countries, cities, landmarks and attractions worldwide
  • Photos, local tips, maps, opening hours and contact details for every place
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets and experiences
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Evendo is a 100% free travel guide app: plan a trip, find what is worth seeing and book it, all in one place.

  • Restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops picked for every destination
  • A "Near me" view of the attractions and amenities around you
  • History and travel essentials for each country and city

From world regions down to a single landmark, every guide brings together the places to see, where to eat and drink, and where to stay, with descriptions, photos and maps to help you plan.

No in-app purchases and no hidden costs. Download Evendo and take your guides with you wherever you travel.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.