Car Hire Jerusalem
Mini guide to Jerusalem
Holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike, Jerusalem is arguably the world’s most holy city, attracting pilgrims, Crusaders, tourists, zealots and politicians over the centuries.
The Haram-ash Sharif/Temple Mount rises above the city and forms its centerpiece. It’s perhaps the world’s most historically controversial piece of land, and Mohammed ascended to heaven from here. The magnificent Dome of the Rock mosque dominates the Mount and the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Islamic Museum are nearby.
The Western Wall, at the Mount’s base, is also known as the wailing wall, attracting head-nodding ultra-orthodox praying Jews. Christians make their pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter of the city. The church is the supposed site of Jesus’s crucification and resurrection, located at the end of the Via Dolorosa – down which Jesus had to drag his cross.
The Old City walls only date from the 16th century but offer a good view of the city.
Another good view is had from the Mount of Olives, a scared site east of the city from where Jesus supposedly ascended to heaven.
The Palestinian East Jerusalem is on of the city’s most interesting sectors, with its modest pavement cafes and markets. Here life continues seemingly unchanged in a thousand years.
New Jerusalem is more modern and Israeli in character, with shopping malls and government buildings. West of the city is the solemn Yad Vashem memorial to the holocaust victims.
East Jerusalem is the best place to get an authentic shwarma or shop for local specialities, but the area shuts down after dark and the bars, pavement cafes and restaurants are found mostly in New Jerusalem. Day trips to the holy city of Bethlehem, the Galilee area or bizarre Dead Sea are quite possible.
Most visitors arrive by air, largely due to the hostile nature of Israel and Palestine’s neighbours. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv both have international airports with flights to many European centres and several North American cities. With the help of El Al, Israel’s airports enjoy the world’s tightest security.
