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Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv

Badge of ExcellenceTel Aviv, Israel

From $121.00

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

10 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Witness some of Israel’s holiest and oldest sites on this day trip from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Travel the distance from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by air-conditioned coach, and enter Old Jerusalem to see the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), Via Dolorosa and other age-old religious and historical sights. See the Garden of Gethsemane, stop for photos at the Mount of Scopus, and then drive to Bethlehem to explore Manger Square, including the Church of the Nativity, as your guide shares the secrets and stories behind each landmark.

Full day trip from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Enjoy views of the Dome of the Rock - an iconic Jerusalem landmark
See popular Holy Land places such as the Western Wall and the site of the Crucifixion
Explore the Old City of Jerusalem
Guided tour of the scenes of the Nativity in Bethlehem
Transport by air-conditioned coach
Hotel pick-up and drop-off

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

This fast-paced tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem is one of the few to depart from Tel Aviv.

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop off
Professional guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance fees

Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

06:40 AM

Pickup details

Please note that our pickup/drop-off is available from a few central hotels only. Please select the hotel closest to your address from the drop-down menu on the tour page. If you are not sure which of the listed hotels is a good fit, please choose the option “I don’t see my pickup location” and insert enter your accommodation address. After the booking is approved by the local tour operator, a confirmation email from Bein Harim will be sent to you mentioning the final pickup point closest to your address. Please read the email with the attached booking confirmation carefully to make sure you are waiting for the pickup at the correct location. Please make sure to wait for the pickup at the hotel entrance.

What To Expect

Leave your central Tel Aviv hotel by air-conditioned coach and travel to Jerusalem to start your full-day tour. Enjoy the views en route and hear fascinating facts from your guide about Jerusalem’s tumultuous history.

On arrival, visit the Mount of Olives to admire the beautiful views over Old Jerusalem. Identify key landmarks, such as the Dome of the Rock at Temple Mount with pointers from your guide.  Pass the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before his crucifixion, and continue through the Old City walls into the colorful Armenian Quarter.

Trace the winding lanes to the famous Western Wall (Wailing Wall), where thousands of Jewish pilgrims gather to pray, and then enter the Christian Quarter to step out along part of the sacred Via Dolorosa.

See some of the Stations of the Cross as you follow the steps of Jesus, who carried his cross along the route to his crucifixion at Calvary, where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is sited. Stroll along part of the Cardo, Byzantine Jerusalem’s main thoroughfare, and finish your explorations of Jerusalem with a walk through the Jewish Quarter.

Continue with a short drive to Bethlehem, the holy city that was the birthplace of Jesus.

Leave your coach and wander around the hub of religious activity, Manger Square. Visit the Church of the Nativity, built on the site of Jesus’ birthplace, and see the Mosque of Oman and other landmarks, as well as some famous sites from the Nativity.

Afterward, return to Tel Aviv, where your tour concludes with a hotel drop-off.

Mount Scopus National Botanical Garden

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kidron Valley (Pass By)

Old City of Jerusalem

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Jewish Quarter

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Western Wall

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Christian Quarter

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Way of the Cross - Via Dolorosa

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Eglise du Saint-Sepulcre

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bethlehem

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Church of the Nativity

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
A current valid passport is required for visit Bethlehem
A moderate dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. Please refrain from wearing shorts. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
Not wheelchair accessible
The tour includes a reasonable amount of walking; comfortable walking shoes are recommended

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Due to visitors overload a visit down to Nativity cave is not always possible
Please note this tour is not suitable for children under the age of 4
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

717 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 717 reviews

Cancelled voucher

CAROL_G, Dec 2023

Trip cancelled before even going apparently due to conflict. During this time, you shouldn’t take our money until you know for sure we are going. Now I have to wait for a refund.

Good but needs improvement

Mary_M, Nov 2023

Enjoyed the Jerusalem trip. Very informative and I thought it was well organised. Tour guide was amazing. Bethlehem trip was less enjoyable. There were non english speaking group that joined us later on that everything said was repeated in other language. This normally dont bother me but it ate up alot of time that we werent able to go to some sites indicated. We were told that we were going to stop for souvernir shopping (which we expected) and encourage to buy there to help community.. i wish i didnt wait for that place as it was a tourist trap. I wish id bought whatever along the way for a fraction of price. We had a good day but improvement in organising the Bethlehem bit would improve tourist experience

Jerusalem and Bethlehem

Chris_B, Sep 2023

This is a great tour if you like big tour groups, waiting for buses and people, not able to hear guide due to so many people and only having a short time at main attractions. Your guide was knowledgeable

Response from Host, Oct 2023

We appreciate your feedback and understand your perspective. We'll continue to work on enhancing our tour experiences for all guests.

Perfect day

Janet_E, Sep 2023

The guide Adshi was excellent and the lunch was wonderful. Great experience with this tour company as usual. Will use them again!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We are delighted to hear that Avishy provided you with a wonderful and great tour experience.

Memorable tour

Kenneth_W, Sep 2023

Dima was an outstanding tour guide. The whole time was very well organized. A once in a lifetime experience to visit the Holy Land.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We are delighted to hear that Dima provided you with an outstanding and fabulous tour experience.

I can’t give 5 ⭐️ because of the tour guide .

REGINA_Z, Sep 2023

The trip was good but the tour guide wasn’t the best . At the end of our tour was a protest in Jerusalem going on and he didn’t handle it right . He told us to go back to Tel Avi by train and didn’t even help us to get the train station or how to get tickets . Luck us to find a nice girl that helped us . Was very confused .

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We appreciate your feedback and regret to hear about the inconvenience caused by the tour guide. We apologize for the lack of assistance during the protest situation. We take your comments seriously and will use them to improve our services in the future.

Good experience

Karim_S, Sep 2023

Great tour with an excellent tour guide. They did a great job explaining Jerusalem and Bethlehem. I wish there was more of an opportunity to visit the Dome of Rock or see more of the Muslim quarter but overall it was quite good for the amount of time we had

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We're glad to hear you had a great tour and enjoyed our excellent guide. We hope to welcome you again in the future for another memorable experience.

Nice tour with tourist traps

NageswaraRao_v, Sep 2023

Our guide was very good and knowledgeable, but the tour wasted 2 full hours on tourist trap shops that were ridiculously overpriced. The lunch place was not good either and overpriced even for Israel. It didn’t cover anything we couldn’t see on our own. 3 stars for guide and a/c bus

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback about the tour. We appreciate your positive comments about the guide and the comfort of the bus. We understand your perspective, and we hope that you were able to enjoy the other aspects of the tour. Your feedback helps us improve, and we hope to provide a better experience on your next visit.

Wonderful

Biwen_F, Sep 2023

Our tour guide Yoav is really humorous. He added so much fun of this trip. We have enjoyed so much of both Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you for your feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had an enjoyable and humorous experience with Yoav as your guide. Your appreciation is greatly valued.

Quick and efficient tour

Michelle_M, Aug 2023

Really cool to see the sites, very quick and efficient. Not super wordy which is nice. Definitely make sure you dress modestly otherwise you won’t be allowed in the churches. Also be prepared it is super hot and about a 12 hour day

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed our tour. We're pleased you had a positive experience and hope to welcome you back for another memorable journey.

Awesome tour

Scott_H, Jul 2023

Shaked did an awesome job. I admired his respect for the local Palestinian people and his selfless attitude toward tipping. He asked us to tip/help out the locals, which was a very good thing in my mind.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

This a great expression of gratitude for your praise-worthy guide, Zahi Shaked. His efforts are sensed and felt by all who tour with him.

Yoav is the best guide ever!!!!

Ryan_M, Jul 2023

We did the full day Jerusalem and Bethlehem tour and it was phenomenal. The guide, Yoav, was so knowledgeable and made every stop so memorable. This was a great experience and I recommend anyone going to Jerusalem to take this tour.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

This a great and sincere expression of gratitude for your praise-worthy guide, Yoav. His efforts are sensed and felt by all who tour with him.

Terrible experience, regret spending the money

Quan_Y, Jul 2023

I signed up for this tour on Shabbat due to a friend's recommendation, but was really disappointed. Unlike my friend (her tour was led by another talkative guide), I was not very happy with the staff I met on the day. Here are a few things that I was not happy with: Firstly, the tour guide (I think he is Daniel?) was so disappointing, the worst guide I have ever seen on a day tour. I have always trusted Viator/tripadvisor, but the guide I met this time didn't seem to want to work. Not only was there barely any introduction to the history/sights on the bus, but there were only simple directions and sporadic introductions in the old city of Jerusalem. Even when I asked him questions, he felt very reluctant to answer them. The enthusiastic bus driver was a much better tour guide than he was. 2. I didn't check in at any of the designated hotels, so the company picked me up from the visitor centre and took me to the designated meeting point, which was fine. But the driver I met who picked me up at the designated location made me a little uncomfortable. Firstly, he asked me what my name was, which was acceptable, but then he took a selfie with me, which I found a bit strange, and then he asked for my phone number? When I said I didn't want to give it to him, he said I could keep his??? What made me uncomfortable was his lack of boundaries, I don't like physical contact from people I've just met but he didn't know better than to put his hands on my shoulders and put his big arms on my thighs? When I said I didn't have a local phone card for Israel, he even gave me one to contact him??? Very confusing and uncomfortable. 3. The arrangements about the sights were ok but about the breakfast meal, I don't think the guide made it clear to us that there was a cup in the price? I wasn't interested in Elvis, just wanted coffee, but the forced price included a cheap looking mug? I think the guide needed to make it clear to us that we could have done without the mug and the price would have been cheaper. 45 shelkes for a coffee + bread was a bit too much. The lack of price transparency turned me off a bit. 4. the timing was a problem, we met at 6:30am, we only had half an hour in the old city of Jerusalem, but we were back in Tel Aviv by 4:30pm? It felt like we were back without much to do. This may have been flexible but I would have preferred a more reasonable arrangement. 5. I didn't like the arrangement of the shopping spots, but there was no forced buying and selling, so it wasn't a big problem. I would have liked the buffet to be more appetising, but that's a matter of personal taste and I don't really have a problem with it, but it would have been nice to have more choice. The only star goes to the guide in Bethlehem and the driver throughout, thanks for making this tour at least not so unbearable. So disappointing and very much not worth the money spent.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for providing your feedback about your experience on our tour. We sincerely apologize for any dissatisfaction or discomfort you encountered. We take your concerns seriously and will address them accordingly. We regret that the tour guide did not meet your expectations in terms of providing an informative and engaging experience. We understand the importance of comprehensive explanations and answering questions, and we apologize if this was lacking during your tour. Regarding the driver's behavior, we apologize for any discomfort you experienced. We take matters of personal boundaries and professional conduct seriously, and we will address this issue internally to ensure that such situations do not occur in the future. We are pleased to hear that the guide in Bethlehem and the driver provided a more positive experience for you. We appreciate your acknowledgment of their efforts. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us maintain the highest standards of service and professionalism.

Find a different tour!

Antonio_S, Jun 2023

This tour was given by Bein Harim Israel Tours. Their logistics are a real nightmare if you are traveling from Tel Aviv. You will end spending 6 hours on different buses. We did not have a good experience.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for providing your feedback about your tour experience. We apologize that the logistics of the tour did not meet your expectations and caused inconvenience during your travel. If there is anything specific you would like to address or discuss further, please feel free to reach out to us directly. We value your feedback and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more positive experience in the future.

Lots learned in one day

Luisa_C, Jun 2023

It was long but incredibly informative and enjoyable! Our tour guide Itamar was amazing, funny, and taught us so much! One of the best tour guides and tours we have had with Viator!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

This a great gratitude for your praise-worthy guide, Itamar. His efforts are sensed and felt by all who tour with him.

Awesome tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem

Janean_W, Jun 2023

This was a memorable day touring in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the Christian Bible experience come to life. We appreciated the extra effort to allow the group to see important areas and highlighting historically significant areas.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

We're thrilled to hear that you had an awesome tour! It's fantastic to know that your guide's extensive knowledge made the Christian Bible experience come to life for you.

Not fully described

Paul_S, Jun 2023

Daniel and Miriam were excellent guides, but the itinerary included time wasting stops at a cheesy roadside diner and religious trinket shop boasting “original” items that are in markets all over the city. Be prepared for massive crowds at the religious sites, but this is to be expected and not the fault of the tour operator. Net, I would have appreciated more history and less tourism.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent tour experience. We appreciate your kind words about our guides, Daniel and Miriam. They are dedicated professionals who strive to provide informative and engaging tours. Regarding the crowds at religious sites, we appreciate your understanding that this is a common occurrence and not within the control of the tour operator. Certain sites can attract large numbers of visitors, particularly during peak seasons. We appreciate your desire for more history and less emphasis on tourism. Our goal is to strike a balance between providing historical context and showcasing important religious and cultural sites.

Nice experience

carolina_t, Jun 2023

Beautiful places. Nice experience! Going on a group was perfect for visiting the most important places. Our guide was very nice and explained everything carefully.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

So happy to read you came away with a great tour experience to cherish.

Very Interesting

regina_r, Jun 2023

Vidi was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The trip was a little rushed but I understand it’s due to the crowds and having time to see everything. We did make a stop at a souvenir store before getting to the Nativity church that I thinking we could of done without and could have used that time in Jerusalem. Other than that, it is definitely a “must do” tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thank you for your review and your kind words about Udi. While we are glad to hear that Udi was knowledgeable and entertaining, we apologize if the tour felt rushed at times. Managing time during crowded tours can be challenging, but we always strive to provide the best experience possible for our guests. We are happy to hear that overall, you consider this tour a "must-do" experience.

Highly recommended

cangeli1987, May 2023

Tour guide: Norbert Driver: Isaac - great duo. There aren’t enough words to justify this tour other than we were both extremely happy with the itinerary, the service provided and that we would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Really appreciate you sharing your immense satisfaction with Norbert and Itzik. They deserve your praise for their professional efforts.

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