Jerusalem Israel ToursJerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Jerusalem
The Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour from Jerusalem is a nine-hour group trip that covers both cities in a single day. It costs $106 per person and starts with hotel pickup in Jerusalem, so you do not need to find a meeting point. The morning belongs to Jerusalem: a view over the Old City from Mount Scopus, Gethsemane, then the Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on foot. The afternoon crosses into Bethlehem, a Palestinian city in the West Bank, about 10 km south of Jerusalem, for the Church of the Nativity. Entry fees, a professional guide and air-conditioned transport are all in the price. It suits travellers who want the two holy cities together without booking separately, as our Bethlehem tour from Jerusalem guide explains. One honest constraint: you must carry a valid passport for Bethlehem, and the descent into the Nativity grotto is not always possible on busy days. You can compare it with everything else on Jerusalem Israel tours before you decide.
Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour at a Glance
$106 per person
9 hours
4.3 from 263 reviews
Up to 40 travellers
Hotel pickup in Jerusalem
Entry fees included
Check Live Dates & Prices
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer 9 hours, hotel pickup, Old City plus Church of the Nativity
This day tour costs $106 per person and lasts 9 hours. It starts with hotel pickup in Jerusalem, in an air-conditioned vehicle. The price covers the guide, entrance fees, transport and hotel drop off, while food, drinks and gratuities are extra. You need a valid passport for the Bethlehem section, and children under 4 cannot join. The grotto under the Church of the Nativity is not always open to groups when crowds are heavy.
Key takeaways
- Entry fees are included, which matters because several Jerusalem attractions charge separately on other listings.
- If you only care about Bethlehem, the Bethlehem half-day guided tour does it in 4 hours for $75 per person.
- If you would rather spend the full day inside Jerusalem alone, the Jerusalem Full Day Tour From Jerusalem uses the same pickup format.
What the $106 Price Covers
The listing's own photo of this tour.
The listing prices this tour at $106 per person, for a group of up to 40 travellers. Children aged 4 to 11 count as child travellers, adults from 12 up. Entrance fees are included, so you pay nothing extra to enter the sites on the route.
The operator also states that public transportation options are available near the pickup area if you need them.
- Included: professional guide, entrance fees, in-vehicle air conditioning, hotel pickup and drop off
- Not included: food and drinks, gratuities
There are no parking fees or separate entry tickets to budget for on this route, because the tour is vehicle based and admission is in the price. Your own lunch and a tip for the guide are the only costs on top. Bookings can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund.
Inside that final 24 hours, the listing does not state what refund applies.
The Route, Stop by Stop
The listing gives exact durations for some stops and leaves others open. Times below come straight from it.
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Start
Hotel pickup in Jerusalem
An air-conditioned vehicle collects you at your hotel. The guide introduces the day in English, French, German or Spanish.
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30 min
Mount Scopus viewpoint
A first look over the Old City from Mount Scopus. Your guide sets the scene for the walls, quarters and hills below.
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Short stops
Gethsemane, Church of All Nations and Kidron Valley
The route passes the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, then goes through the Kidron Valley. The listing gives no fixed duration for these stops.
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150 min
Walking the Old City
The longest block of the morning, on foot inside the walls. It opens with the Jewish Quarter and the Byzantine Cardo, about 40 minutes, then 20 minutes at the Western Wall.
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About 2 hours
Christian Quarter, Via Dolorosa and Holy Sepulchre
About 60 minutes in the Christian Quarter, then 30 minutes along some Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa and 30 minutes in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
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120 min
Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity
About two hours in Bethlehem, including 40 minutes at the Church of the Nativity. If possible, there is a 20-minute visit to the Church of St Catherine. The descent to the Nativity cave depends on crowds.
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Return
Back to your hotel
The vehicle returns you to your Jerusalem hotel at the end of the 9 hours. Drop off is included in the price.
Mount Scopus, Gethsemane and the Kidron Valley
The Church of All Nations at Gethsemane, at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The day opens away from the narrow streets, with two short stops east of the Old City before the walking begins.
Mount Scopus viewpoint
The first stop, about 30 minutes, is a view over the Old City of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus. It is the fastest way to get your bearings: walls, domes and the hilltops your guide will point out before you descend.
Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations
The route then passes the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations at its foot. Christians believe this is where Jesus prayed on the night before his arrest. The basilica is open 07:30 to 18:00 from April to September and 07:30 to 17:00 from October to March, with last entry 10 minutes before closing.
The tour also passes through the Kidron Valley below the city walls. Dress rules apply from the start: knees and shoulders covered for both men and women, no shorts, or you risk refused entry.
The Old City on Foot, Then Bethlehem
The nave and iconostasis of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The middle of the day is the longest walking stretch, roughly two and a half hours inside the walls, broken into themed stops.
Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall
You walk the Jewish Quarter and the Byzantine Cardo for about 40 minutes, then spend about 20 minutes at the Western Wall, also called the Kotel. The plaza is open to all visitors. Modest dress is required, which the tour's dress code already covers.
Christian Quarter and the Holy Sepulchre
About an hour follows in the Christian Quarter, including some of the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa, then about 30 minutes in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Christians believe the church stands over the site of the crucifixion and burial. Entry is free.
It opens early in the morning and closes in the evening, with shorter winter hours, and the daily Franciscan procession takes place each afternoon.
Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity
After the drive south you get about two hours in Bethlehem, the city Christians revere as the birthplace of Christ. The Church of the Nativity on Manger Square gets about 40 minutes, and if possible a 20-minute visit to the Church of St Catherine. The listing is blunt about the famous part: due to visitor overload, going down into the Nativity cave is not always possible.
A valid passport is required, since you cross a checkpoint between the two cities.
Who This Tour Suits and Who Should Skip It
The listing says the tour suits all fitness levels, but it still involves a reasonable amount of walking on stone streets, so comfortable shoes matter. The hard age rule is clear: not suitable for children under 4. The group can reach 40 travellers, so expect a coach-style pace rather than an intimate walk.
Guides work in English, French, German or Spanish.
- Bring your passport. Without it you cannot cross into Bethlehem.
- Cover knees and shoulders, men and women alike. Entry can be refused otherwise.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and carry a hat and water.
- Wheelchair access is not stated in the listing, so wheelchair users should confirm before booking.
The honest note in the listing adds the one real caveat: the Nativity grotto visit depends on crowd levels on the day. If seeing the grotto itself is your main goal, a Bethlehem-only itinerary such as the Travel to Bethlehem Half Day Guided Tour from Jerusalem may time its visit better.
How It Compares
This is the cheapest of the combined Jerusalem and Bethlehem itineraries in our catalog that starts in Jerusalem, and it is shorter than the Tel Aviv versions because there is no long transfer at either end. If you are comparing, the table below puts it next to the closest alternatives. Figures current for Q4 2026.
| Tour | From | Time | Starts at | The difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem and Bethlehem Day Tour from Jerusalem | $106 per person | 9 hours | Hotel pickup in Jerusalem | Both cities, entry fees included |
| Jerusalem: Guided Walking Tour of the Old City | $57 per person | 4 hours | Jaffa Gate | Old City only, on foot, no transport |
| From Jerusalem: Half-Day Bethlehem Guided Tour | $75 per person | 4 hours | David Citadel Hotel, King David St 7 | Bethlehem only, no Jerusalem stops |
| Jerusalem: Full-Day City Tour | $75 per person | 10 hours | Hotel pickup in Jerusalem | A full Jerusalem day, no Bethlehem |
| From Tel Aviv: Jerusalem and Bethlehem Guided Day Trip | $121 per person | 10 hours | Hotel pickup in Tel Aviv | Same two-city route, longer and dearer from Tel Aviv |
Pick this tour if you want both cities in one day from a Jerusalem base. Pick the Old City walk if you prefer four hours on foot and a smaller price. Pick a Bethlehem-only half day if Jerusalem is already covered.
Pick the Tel Aviv version if you are based there, accepting the extra hour and $15.
Questions About the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour
How long is the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour?
The listing gives 9 hours door to door. That covers hotel pickup and drop off in Jerusalem, the morning in the Old City and the afternoon in Bethlehem.
What is included in the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour price?
The $106 per person price covers a professional guide, entrance fees, air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup and drop off. Food and drinks and gratuities are not included. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.
Do I need a passport for the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour?
Yes. A current valid passport is required to visit Bethlehem, because you cross a checkpoint between the two cities. Bring it on the day, not a photocopy.
Where does the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour start?
It starts with hotel pickup in Jerusalem, so no separate meeting point is needed. The vehicle is air conditioned and takes up to 40 travellers.
What should I wear on the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour?
A moderate dress code applies at places of worship: no shorts, and knees and shoulders covered for both men and women. You risk refused entry if you do not comply. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, plus a hat and water.
Can I cancel the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour?
Yes. Cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund. The listing does not state what happens to bookings cancelled inside that window.
Is the Jerusalem and Bethlehem day tour suitable for children?
Children from 4 to 11 can join at the child rate, so the tour works for school-age kids. It is not suitable for children under 4. Bear in mind the day involves a lot of walking and a full 9 hours.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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