Jewish Quarter Walking Tour (Self Guided), Jerusalem

Entirely rebuilt in the 1980s after having been largely destroyed during the 1948 War, the Jewish Quarter is quite distinct from the rest of the Old City. Good signposting, spacious passageways, art galleries and a somewhat less buzzing atmosphere make the area a relaxing place to spend some time.

With its rebuilt residential buildings, some almost consider this area the "New Jerusalem"; however, while here, one is surrounded by religious, archaeological, cultural and historical sites, any one of which one could spend hours or even days at.

While, arguably, the quarter’s most impressive synagogue is the thrice-rebuilt Hurva, two of the four Sephardic synagogues date back even further to the early 17th century. These all contain much ornate decoration and are so close together that as you leave one, the same door takes you directly into the next. Rather curiously as well, the adjacent Ramban Synagogue – 2nd-oldest of its kind in the Old City – is believed to have been built on Mount Zion and then moved there in the 14th century.

Also worth noting, today’s Old City streets still broadly follow the pattern laid down by the Romans, as proven by the Cardo – an excavated and partially reconstructed section of the main street of Byzantine-era Jerusalem. By booking a tour in advance, you can even explore a below-street-level tunnel dug by archaeologists under the Western Wall – Judaism’s holiest site, awaiting at the end of the itinerary.

Take this self-guided walk to explore the Jewish Quarter’s main points of interest, both above and below ground!