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Bethlehem Churches & cathedrals

Our most recommended Bethlehem Churches & cathedrals

From Jerusalem: Tour to Bethlehem, Jericho, and Jordan River

1. From Jerusalem: Tour to Bethlehem, Jericho, and Jordan River

After being picked up from Jerusalem, travel to Bethlehem where you will meet your guide before heading into the old city of Bethlehem. Enjoy a guided visit to the Church of the Nativity.  Continue your tour with a visit to the Milk Grotto Church before riding to the city of the shepherds, Bayt Sahur where you will visit the Chapel of the Shepherds Field before getting to visit an olive wood factory where you will see artisans crafting wooden sculptures.  Then journey through the wonderful Judean Desert to the lowest point on earth. Have chances to stop and take pictures at the sea level point in the desert overlooking the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Jericho.  Stop and have lunch then pass the Mount of Temptation and drive into Jericho where you will see some of the famed sights in the city including Zaccheus's Tree which is mentioned in the bible.

From Jerusalem: Half-Day Bethlehem Guided Tour

2. From Jerusalem: Half-Day Bethlehem Guided Tour

After meeting at the David Citadel Hotel, you will begin your 4 to 5-hour tour, depending on the season. You will explore some of the religious highlights of Bethlehem, including the Church of the Nativity, St. Catherine, and the Shepherds' Fields. You will begin with the chance to visit the 1,500-year-old Church of Nativity where Jesus was born. From there you will enjoy beautiful views of the Old City of Bethlehem complete with the Manger Square. You will then take a ride through the city of Bethlehem and Beit Sahour passing by the main sites. A special visit to the Milk Grotto is also available, as well as a tour to the Shepherd’s Field where the Angels first announced the birth of Jesus Christ.

From Ashdod Port: Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Trip

3. From Ashdod Port: Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Trip

Your guide will be waiting for you when you disembark from your cruise ship in Ashdod and the tour will begin with a pleasant drive to Jerusalem in a comfortable vehicle with A/C. At Mt. Scopus, the tour stops for a panoramic view across the city rooftops. Then drive towards the Old City passing biblical sites like the Garden of Gethsemane that stands on the Mount of Olives alongside the Church of All Nations. Also, spot the ancient Jewish tombs in Kidron Valley, and the Ophel Promenade as we drive parallel to the Old City walls. We enter the Old City on foot through one of the massive gates in the 16th-century walls and pass the Western Wall excavations as we walk towards the Western Wall. This sacred Jewish site is all that remains from the 2,000-year-old holy Jewish Temple that once stood on Temple Mount. In the Jewish Quarter, we see the Byzantine Cardo lined with columns, then we walk along a section of the Via Dolorosa, as Jesus did bearing his cross. The Via Dolorosa culminates at the Holy Sepulcher Church which was built in the 4th century to encompass Christ’s tomb and the site of the crucifixion at Golgotha (Calvary). The tour stops for a lunch break in the Old City and you have time to meander through one of the traditional markets. Leaving the Old City we can see Mount Zion as we drive towards the town where Christ was born. In Bethlehem, we tour the Nativity Church and see the Holy Grotto where the nativity took place. The tour ends with a drive back to Ashdod port where you can rejoin your cruise ship and continue to your next port of call.

From Jerusalem: Bethlehem, Jericho & Qasr al-Yahud

4. From Jerusalem: Bethlehem, Jericho & Qasr al-Yahud

Descend to the Judean desert, and see the Inn of the Good Samaritan on route. Look out over the remarkable moonscape of the breathtaking Judean desert. Continue on to Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Stop at Zacchaeus' Sycamore to see one of the oldest Sycamore trees, which Zacchaeus climbed in order to spot Jesus. Visit the Mound of Ancient Jericho, where 25 ancient cities were uncovered. Enter Jericho, which was founded in 8,000 BC, and is the oldest Jewish settlement, captured by Joshua and Israel in 1,200 BC. Stop for an overview of Mt. Temptation, where Satan endeavored to tempt Jesus, and see of the oasis of Jericho and Elisha's Spring. Depart Jericho to travel to the Judean mountains and the city of Bethlehem. Visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David, whose name literally translates as “City of Bread,” due to the wheat crop that grew in the region, the city where according to Christian tradition, it is the birthplace of Jesus, and undoubtedly one of the most biblical sites on earth. Discover the Church of the Nativity, and the cave where Jesus was born. See Manger Square, where Jesus was placed after his birth. Explore the Greek and the Catholic Church before continuing with an overview of Shepherd's Fields.  Enjoy round-trip transfers from Jerusalem and the services of an English-speaking guide, on this essential tour of biblical sites and fantastic panoramic views.

From Tel Aviv: Jerusalem and Bethlehem Private Tour

5. From Tel Aviv: Jerusalem and Bethlehem Private Tour

Your private tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem starts at the Mount of Olives and descends to the garden of Gethsemane, the Church of all Nations, then onto the Kidron Valley. Visit the Dormition Church on Mount Zion and the Coenaculum. Enter the Old City through the Zion gate walking through the Armenian Quarter to the Byzantine Cardo and then onto the Kotel or Western Wall. Next, follow the stations of the cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher before enjoying the markets in the old city. Upon arrival in Bethlehem, switch to a local guide and walk throughout Manger Square to the Church of the Nativity with its grotto and altar dedicated to the three wise men. Pass the small Armenian Chapel of Kings and head to the Crusader Church. Finally, stop at the Shepherds field to see the tent-shaped chapel and its panels depicting Jesus’ life.

From Tel Aviv: West Bank Day Tour

6. From Tel Aviv: West Bank Day Tour

Embark on a comprehensive full-day tour of the West Bank of the Jordan River to discover the rich history behind the region. Depart Tel Aviv at 6:30 AM and then arrive on the West Bank after one hour and meet your guide.  Beginning with the ancient baptism site of Qasr el Yahud on the banks of the Jordan River at around 8:00 AM, you'll be able to visit the marble steps leading into the river, said to be the very place where Jesus was baptized. At 8:45 AM, move on to the city of Jericho itself, the oldest city in the world, where you will visit the ruins of ancient Jericho and view the nearby Mount of Temptation in the adjacent hills. Then continue to Ramallah at 10:15 AM and walk the streets of this modern city and see life in the big city on the West Bank. The tour will head to Manara Square, the thriving commercial district, and visit Yasser Arafat's tomb.  Stop for lunch at around 1:00 PM before continuing onto a tour of Bethlehem at around 2:30 PM. In Bethlehem visit the Nativity Church, and end with a visit to the Separation Wall. Return to your hotel in Tel Aviv at around 6:00 PM.

From Jerusalem: Bethlehem, Jericho & River Jordan Tour

7. From Jerusalem: Bethlehem, Jericho & River Jordan Tour

After pick–up from Jerusalem at 7:45 AM, head to Bethlehem to explore the city before it becomes bustling with other groups. Discover the birthplace of Jesus and the Church of the Nativity, and the streets of the Old City with a knowledgeable guide. Descending through the Judean Desert, arrive into Jericho and ascend the Mount of Temptation via cable car ($16 entrance fees not included). Finally, enjoy a guided tour at the monastery.

Full-Day Tour of Jerusalem with Bethlehem or Dead Sea Option

8. Full-Day Tour of Jerusalem with Bethlehem or Dead Sea Option

This tour of the old city of Jerusalem is completely flexible and can include all the places that you want to see. If you’d like to visit sites of particular interest to Christianity, you'll be accompanied by a guide expert in all the relevant sites. On this full-day excursion you’ll discover the church of the Holy Sepulcher, Via Dolorosa, Garden of Gethsemane, Room of the Last Supper, and much more. If you prefer a Jewish-focused tour your guide will be expert on sites such as the Western Wall, Mount of Olives, Jewish Quarters, the synagogues, and others. You can also visit Bethlehem and the church of the nativity, make a visit to the Holocaust Museum at Yad Vashem, or spend more time in Jerusalem's new city. You might prefer to include a short visit to the Dead Sea for an afternoon float at the lowest place on earth! Whatever you choose to do, you’ll have a full day of travel and sightseeing through the Holy Land, customized to meet your preferences.

From Tel Aviv: Bethlehem Half-Day Historical Guided Tour

9. From Tel Aviv: Bethlehem Half-Day Historical Guided Tour

Travel to the heart of the biblical story of the nativity on this guided half-day excursion from Tel Aviv. Drive to Bethlehem to gain an insight into Shepherds' Field and visit the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. Located on the West Bank, the city is the birthplace of King David and means “City of Bread” as a result of the wheat crop that grew in the region. Pay a visit to the Church of the Nativity and the cave where, according to Christian tradition, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Continue to Manger Square, home to the Mosque of Omar, an important site for the many Muslims who live in the city. Explore Shepherds' Field by seeing the lesser-known Greek Orthodox monastery. Then, visit the Roman Catholic Shepherds' Field chapel where angels first announced the birth of Christ. After getting an overview of the pilgrimage center, conclude the tour in Jerusalem.

From Tel Aviv: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, & Dead Sea Private Tour

10. From Tel Aviv: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, & Dead Sea Private Tour

Meet your private guide at your hotel in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Then, drive across the Palestinian border to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Visit the ancient Nativity Church and explore the Nativity and Manger grottoes. Make your way to the Old City of Jerusalem. Enter the Old City at the Jaffa Gate and enjoy the views of King David's Citadel. Walk through the colorful Christian Quarter of the Old City. Visit the Holy Sepulcher Church to see the Golgotha and Jesus' Tomb. Enjoy some time for lunch at one of the local restaurants in the Old City. Then, continue the tour by a scenic drive across the Judea Desert to the Dead Sea. Visit the famous Dead Sea Resort at Qalia to enjoy a swim in the salty Dead Sea. Afterwards, be returned to your hotel in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv

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What people are saying about Bethlehem

Overall rating

3.9 / 5

based on 505 reviews

Our guide was fantastic, with a great sense of humor and lots of insights and history to share. We'd been concerned about safety but were very assured by the tour group about precautions, and we experienced no concerns on the trip. They also navigated us well and efficiently through busy areas. Improvements: The pick up spot said the address of the building only, and not that it was Abraham Hostels, so there were a few of us on the wrong side of the building as that was where our GPS led us. I'd look for the front of the hostel reception for pickup. There was also some confusion at the beginning, as we had about 3 different people come on the bus and count us or split us or drive us without giving full clarity on where we were going, so a quick overview of the plan (drive, transfer, then meet your guide, etc) would be helpful. The food at the lunch place was less than average. Nice that it was included, but I saw much tastier-looking street food near us that I would have preferred.

Super positive experience .. after booking you will receive the tickets, on the day of the tour you will receive the message with the driver's name and vehicle to look for ... once you arrive at the meeting point the drivers have your name marked on their mobile phone and will direct you on their vehicle .. the journey is comfortable. Once you reach the first stage, Bethlehem, you will meet the guide. You are given a sheet with the itinerary of the tour with the times to visit each site .. each stage has its own guide .. therefore a guide for Bethlehem a guide for the banks of the Jordan and one for Jericho all very good very kind and available ..

The tour was well organised, the guides were great storytellers, engaging and excellent overall! I can’t think of anything I would change

The tour and the visit to the sights were organized competently and entertainingly by the guide.

Your was wonderful…. Johnny, our guide was fabulous!!!