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The Citadel Jerusalem

The Citadel, one of Jerusalem’s most famous sites and what used to be Herod’s palace back in the 1st century, the Citadel, situated next to Jaffa Gate, comprises a marvelous restoration area with the Tower of David in its center, The Citadel is a home for the renowned Tower of David Museum, an impressive complex of several halls, which present the history of the city throughout the ages.

In the citadel compound are archeological findings attesting to Jerusalem’s long and eventful history: remains of a quarry from the First Temple period; a segment of the wall surrounding Hasmonean Jerusalem; remains of monumental steps ; remains of a fortress that stood in this location during the rule of the Ummayid dynasty (7th and 8th centuries CE) and more. In fact, the citadel compound includes archeological findings from most of the periods in the city’s history.

Virtual tours of the The Citadel Jerusalem >>

Information:

Museum Opening Hours
September – June:
Sunday to Thursday 10:00-16:00
Friday: closed (open for group visits – advance coordination required)
Saturday, holiday eves, holidays 10:00-14:00
July – August:
Sunday to Thursday, Saturday: 10:00-17:00
Friday: 10:00-14:00

Guided tours of the permanent exhibition – for individuals
Hebrew: Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30
(in July and August also on Fridays at 10:30)
English: Sundays to Thursdays at 11:00
(in July and August also on Fridays at 11:00)
French: Tuesdays at 11:00
Tours are included in admission fee.
Tours are not available on holidays and holiday eves.

To get to the Citadel take bus No 6, 20, or 27 from the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem to Jaffa Gate.

Israel's favorite Jerusalem - More options:

Jewish Quarter - Old City Jerusalem

Dating back to the days of the Turkish reign over Israel, the old city has been parted into four sections, each representing its habitants; The Jewish quarter, the Armenian quarter, the Christian quarter and the Muslim quarter. Although the Jewish Quarter is considered to be the oldest quarter in the city, dating back to the days of the bible, in terms of the architecture found in the quarter, it is considered to be the newest quarter of the four. Besides being the second smallest section in the city, most of the houses that can be found in the quarter, date back to only the 1960’s and 1970’s. During the war of independence, the quarter, that knew prosperous times during the Turkish regime, was attacked fiercely by the Jordanian forces. With only several young Palmach defenders and without any food or water, the quarter quickly found itself cut off from the rest of Jerusalem and Israel, in foreign hands. The Jordanian troops wiped out most of the Jewish houses leaving only one synagogue standing and causing the Jews of the quarter to seek refuge outside the walls of the old city. After the six day war in 1967, the archeologists seized the opportunity the recapturing of the city brought and went out on a big excavation following Jerusalem’s ancient history. The digs resulted in the exposure of the Cardo (the old market street in the Roman-Byzanite period), the Burnt House, Robinson’s Bow and many more. Today’s Jewish Quarter residents are practicing Jews, many of them coming from English speaking countries. Along with plenty of religious schools that cater for Jewish youth from abroad, the Jewish Quarter, like the German Colony has a strong Anglophone appeal. Major attractions in the quarter include the Western Wall, the Cardo, the Hurva Synagoge, the Bunt House and the Four Sephardi Synagogues.

The Temple Institute's Holy Temple Museum

The Temple Institute's Holy Temple Museum is a museum about the Temple-ready sacred vessels created by the Institute, the garments of the High Priest, oil-paintings depicting aspects of the Divine service of the Holy Temple, and a model of the Holy Temple Complex. The museum also includes a spacious gift shop. Location: 40 Misgav Ladach St., Jewish Quarter (Directly above the Yehudah HaLevi stairs which lead from the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall Plaza.)

Wohl Archaeological Museum Jerusalem

The Wohl Archaeological Museum is located in the Herodian Quarter, which was considered the upscale, wealthy neighborhood in the city during the time of the Second Temple. The site was discovered during archaeological digs conducted in the Jewish Quarter between 1969-1983 and is considered the largest covered archaeological site in Israel. Six houses belonging to the Jerusalem elite were discovered there, most likely belonging to the ruling family during the Herodian Era (some 2,000 years ago). The findings - wells, mikvehs (ritual baths), mosaic-tiled floors and fresco - bear testament to the owners' wealth. Numerous rock tools and utensils were also found at the site. Address: 1 HaKaraim St., Jerusalem Jewish Quarter of the Old City Phone: 972-2-626-5906

Jerusalem - one of a kind