Guidebook for Jerusalem
Food Scene
A 5-minute walk from the apartment. Many food options, both kosher and non, fancy and casual.
152 locals recommend
The First Station
4 David Remez St A 5-minute walk from the apartment. Many food options, both kosher and non, fancy and casual.
Moshe, the chef, is a food historian who sources many ingredients locally. Amazing food you won't find anywhere else.
Kosher meat.
The Eucalyptus
14 Felt StMoshe, the chef, is a food historian who sources many ingredients locally. Amazing food you won't find anywhere else.
Kosher meat.
Grand Café גראנד קפה
70 Beit Lehem RdGood for breakfast.
Kosher.
It's a tiny place with outdoor seating. Some of the best coffee and shakshuka in town. Popular with many English-speakers.
Next door to a great bakery and produce shop.
Kosher.
Itzik's Place
33 Beit Lehem RdIt's a tiny place with outdoor seating. Some of the best coffee and shakshuka in town. Popular with many English-speakers.
Next door to a great bakery and produce shop.
Kosher.
The garden cafe is lovely and romantic, but I'm not that impressed by the food. Go for a coffee or lemonade.
There's also a terrific bookshop at the hotel, with mostly English books.
6 locals recommend
The American Colony
1 Louis Vincent StThe garden cafe is lovely and romantic, but I'm not that impressed by the food. Go for a coffee or lemonade.
There's also a terrific bookshop at the hotel, with mostly English books.
Drinks & Nightlife
A speakeasy-style bar downtown, with an extensive cocktail menu.
Not kosher.
60 locals recommend
Gatsby Cocktail Room
18 Hillel St A speakeasy-style bar downtown, with an extensive cocktail menu.
Not kosher.
A historic location, and you may run into the Prime Minister or a visiting celebrity in the bar.
Kosher.
14 locals recommend
King David Hotel
23 King David StA historic location, and you may run into the Prime Minister or a visiting celebrity in the bar.
Kosher.
Mamilla Hotel
11 Shlomo ha-Melekh StThe rooftop bar has an amazing view.
Kosher.
Sightseeing
Old City
It's rich in history and culture.
An archeological park featuring an overlook with a wonderful view of the whole city.
Free.
You can also book a treatment at the spa.
You can take the # 7 bus from the traffic circle in front of The First Station. It's about a 15-minute ride.
9 locals recommend
Ramat Rachel
An archeological park featuring an overlook with a wonderful view of the whole city.
Free.
You can also book a treatment at the spa.
You can take the # 7 bus from the traffic circle in front of The First Station. It's about a 15-minute ride.
Arts & Culture
A wonderful museum, with sections on art, archeology, and Judaica. Also houses a model of Second Temple Jerusalem and the Dead Sea scrolls.
There's also a children's wing.
The "Modern" restaurant (kosher, meat) is excellent and so is the gift shop.
250 locals recommend
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
11 Derech RuppinA wonderful museum, with sections on art, archeology, and Judaica. Also houses a model of Second Temple Jerusalem and the Dead Sea scrolls.
There's also a children's wing.
The "Modern" restaurant (kosher, meat) is excellent and so is the gift shop.
It's right next to the Israel Museum, and you can see both in one day.
Focuses on the history and archeology of places mentioned in the Bible.
22 locals recommend
Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem
21 Shmuel Stephan Weiz StIt's right next to the Israel Museum, and you can see both in one day.
Focuses on the history and archeology of places mentioned in the Bible.
A great place to explore the history of Jerusalem. Wonderful views. Sound and light shows at night.
54 locals recommend
Tower of David
A great place to explore the history of Jerusalem. Wonderful views. Sound and light shows at night.
Shopping
Emek Refa'im Street
Emek Refa'im StreetMany cute shops for clothes, jewelry, Judaica, etc.
A pedestrian street downtown, lined with stores offering mostly jewelry, art, and Judaica.
Yo'el Moshe Salomon Street
Yo'el Moshe Salomon StreetA pedestrian street downtown, lined with stores offering mostly jewelry, art, and Judaica.
Essentials
This is next to The First Station, about 5 minutes from the apartment. You can take the shopping cart from the laundry room.
They sell many American brands, and "exotic" foods like refried beans.
You can buy English newspapers and flowers on Fridays.
Super Deal
75 Beit Lehem RdThis is next to The First Station, about 5 minutes from the apartment. You can take the shopping cart from the laundry room.
They sell many American brands, and "exotic" foods like refried beans.
You can buy English newspapers and flowers on Fridays.
Getting Around
This is the main street downhill from the apartment at the end of the block. You can connect with about a dozen bus lines here.
To go downtown (toward the Old City), leave the apartment, walk downhill to Derech Bet Lechem, and turn left. The bus stop is in the first block, just past the convenience store.
Hebron Road
Hebron RoadThis is the main street downhill from the apartment at the end of the block. You can connect with about a dozen bus lines here.
To go downtown (toward the Old City), leave the apartment, walk downhill to Derech Bet Lechem, and turn left. The bus stop is in the first block, just past the convenience store.
The train station is about 15 minutes from the apartment by car. (You actually want the Malcha train station, which is next to the zoo station.)
You can take the train to Tel Aviv in an hour and 20 minutes.
One fun option for families is to take the train to Beit Shemesh, about 43 minutes away. The train runs through a scenic canyon with wildlife and a stream. You can pick up a snack at the Malcha Mall next door. Then get off at Beit Shemesh, get lunch or a snack at the mall, and come back on the next train.
Pick a seat on the right side going down hill, or the left up hill, for the best views.
Trains run hourly for most of the day. Tickets are only 11 NIS round trip.
Train Station Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
The train station is about 15 minutes from the apartment by car. (You actually want the Malcha train station, which is next to the zoo station.)
You can take the train to Tel Aviv in an hour and 20 minutes.
One fun option for families is to take the train to Beit Shemesh, about 43 minutes away. The train runs through a scenic canyon with wildlife and a stream. You can pick up a snack at the Malcha Mall next door. Then get off at Beit Shemesh, get lunch or a snack at the mall, and come back on the next train.
Pick a seat on the right side going down hill, or the left up hill, for the best views.
Trains run hourly for most of the day. Tickets are only 11 NIS round trip.
You can get a bus from here to pretty much anywhere in Israel.
Allow about 30 minutes to get there from the apartment via cab, as it's on the other side of town. During rush hour it might be even longer.
44 locals recommend
Jerusalem Central Bus Station 3rd Floor/Platforms
You can get a bus from here to pretty much anywhere in Israel.
Allow about 30 minutes to get there from the apartment via cab, as it's on the other side of town. During rush hour it might be even longer.