Jerusalem Israel ToursJerusalem: Mount of Olives Guided Tour
The Jerusalem: Mount of Olives Guided Tour is a 3.5-hour walk across one of the holiest ridges overlooking the city, priced from $60 per person. It starts at Jaffa Gate, where a vehicle carries the group up to the top of the hill, and the rest of the route is on foot, downhill, past the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world, a string of ancient churches and the Mosque of Ascension, finishing at Mary's Tomb near Gethsemane. It suits travellers who want the religious history explained rather than just photographed, and who are comfortable on steep stone lanes. One honest constraint: the church entrance fees, about $7.12 (22 NIS), are paid on the day and are not in the ticket price. For context on the hill itself, read our Mount of Olives guide, and browse all Jerusalem tours compared before you book.
Mount of Olives guided tour at a Glance
$60 per person
3.5 hours
4.2 from 13 reviews
Shared group
Jaffa Gate
Church entrance fees not included (about 22 NIS)
Check Live Dates & Prices
Quick answer 3.5 hours, Jaffa Gate start, downhill walk, church fees extra
The Mount of Olives guided tour costs from $60 per person and lasts 3.5 hours. It starts at Jaffa Gate in the Old City, where you meet the guide and ride up to the top of the hill. The guided tour and the transport up are included, but church entrance fees of about $7.12 (22 NIS), food and drinks are not. The route is downhill walking on steep lanes, so it is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Key takeaways
- If you would rather stay inside the walls, the Old City guided walking tour covers the Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa and the Holy Sepulchre in four hours.
- For a Christian-focused version of the same ridge, the In the footsteps of Jesus walking tour descends the Mount of Olives past Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit.
- Read our Mount of Olives guide for opening hours of the churches on the route.
What the $60 Price Covers
The listing's own photo of this tour.
The listing prices this tour from $60 per person. The ticket buys the live English-speaking guide for the full 3.5 hours and the transportation from Jaffa Gate up to the Mount of Olives. The descent is on foot.
Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, so nothing is charged on the day you book.
Included and not included
- Guided tour with an English-speaking guide
- Transportation from Jaffa Gate to the Mount of Olives
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
- Not included: entrance fees to the churches, about $7.12 (22 NIS), paid on the day
- Not included: food and drinks
- Tips are not mentioned in the listing either way
The honest note is the same on the listing and in our summary: the church entrance fees, about $7.12 (22 NIS), are paid on the day. Bring that in cash or card and the route has no other costs. The listing does not state any parking or hotel pickup arrangements, because the meeting point is Jaffa Gate itself.
The Route, Stop by Stop
The listing gives no clock times, only the order of the stops and the shape of the day. Here is the route as described, a ride up and then a steady walk down.
-
Start
Jaffa Gate
Meet the guide at Jaffa Gate in the Old City. This is where the shared group forms and the transport picks you up.
-
Transport
Ride to the top of the Mount of Olives
A vehicle carries the group from Jaffa Gate up to the hill overlooking Jerusalem. The listing does not state how long the drive takes.
-
Summit
The view and the old cemetery
Take in the view over the city and walk into the oldest Jewish cemetery in the world, with tens of thousands of graves dating back to the Canaanite era. The guide explains the site's place in Jewish and Christian belief, including the pilgrimage tradition that laments the destruction of the First Temple.
-
Churches
The churches and the Mosque of Ascension
Walk downhill between important ancient churches and visit the famous Mosque of Ascension. Church entrance fees of about $7.12 (22 NIS) are paid on the day.
-
Finish
Mary's Tomb
The tour ends at Mary's Tomb, where the guided part concludes. From here take the short walk back to the Lion's Gate of the Old City, or ride the bus to the Western Wall.
-
3.5 hours
Total time
The listing gives the full duration as 3.5 hours from the Jaffa Gate meeting point to the end at Mary's Tomb.
Jaffa Gate to the Summit and the Ancient Cemetery
Jaffa Gate, the main western entrance to the Old City and the usual meeting point for walking tours. Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
You meet at Jaffa Gate, one of the main gates of the Old City and an easy walk from the light rail and the city centre. From there the group rides up to the top of the Mount of Olives, which rises to the east of the Old City and looks straight down over it.
The view and the cemetery
From the top of the hill the listing promises scenic views of Jerusalem and an explanation of why the ridge is sacred in both the Jewish and Christian traditions. You then explore the oldest Jewish burial ground in the world, with tens of thousands of graves. The listing traces the site back to the Canaanite era and explains two beliefs tied to it: that the hill was a place of pilgrimage to lament the destruction of the First Temple, and that the Gates of Heaven will open here on Judgement Day.
Dress and footwear matter from the start, since the lane down is steep stone and the stops are holy sites.
Down Past the Churches and the Mosque of Ascension to Gethsemane
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 lower half of the tour is a walk downhill through a line of sacred buildings. You visit several important churches and the famous Mosque of Ascension, while the guide pieces together the history of the area. The walk finishes at Mary's Tomb.
Hours and fees for the sites on the ridge
Official hours for the places on this slope, from the Christian Information Centre, are worth knowing if you want to return on your own. The Basilica of the Agony, also called the Church of All Nations at Gethsemane, opens 07:30-18:00 April to September and 07:30-17:00 October to March, with last entry ten minutes before closing. The Tomb of Mary, which is Greek Orthodox, opens 08:00-18:00.
Dominus Flevit opens Mon-Thu and Sat 08:30-17:00, and Fri and Sun 08:30-11:50 and 14:00-17:00. Pater Noster costs $3.88 (12 NIS), students $3.24 (10 NIS), with temporary hours Tue and Thu 09:00-12:00 and closure on Sunday. The Chapel of the Ascension costs $1.62 (5 NIS), 08:00-17:00.
How the tour ends
From Mary's Tomb you take the short walk back to the Lion's Gate of the Old City, or ride the bus to the Western Wall, also called the Kotel or Wailing Wall. Either way you finish outside the tour, so plan your afternoon from the Kidron Valley side of the Old City rather than back at Jaffa Gate.
Who This Tour Suits and Who Should Skip It
The tour is open to all ages, so families can join, and the price is per person at every age. The guide speaks English only, which decides the matter for travellers who need another language. It runs as a shared group, so you will be walking with other travellers rather than at your own pace.
- Fitness: downhill walking on steep lanes, so you need steady legs and good shoes
- Wheelchair access: not suitable for wheelchair users, the descent is the reason
- Age limits: all ages welcome, no minimum stated
- Language: English only
- Group size: shared group, size not stated
- Documents: bring a passport, a copy is accepted
- Dress: shoulders and knees covered, no shorts, short skirts or sleeveless shirts
The honest note
The church entrance fees, about $7.12 (22 NIS), are paid on the day, so budget a little on top of the $60 ticket. If you cannot manage steep downhill stone lanes, this is the wrong listing. If you want a wheelchair-friendly alternative, the orthodox neighbourhood walking tour is listed as wheelchair accessible.
How It Compares
This is the only catalog tour devoted entirely to the Mount of Olives, but several others touch the ridge or cover the city more broadly. The table below puts it against the closest alternatives on price, length and route. Figures current for Q4 2026.
| Tour | From | Time | Starts at | The difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem: Mount of Olives Guided Tour | $60 per person | 3.5 hours | Jaffa Gate | The whole route is the Mount of Olives, downhill, church fees extra |
| Jerusalem: Guided Walking Tour of the Old City | $57 per person | 4 hours | Jaffa Gate | Stays inside the walls, no entry fees on the route |
| Jerusalem Walking Tour: In the Footsteps of Jesus | $89 per person | 9 hours | Hotel pickup in Jerusalem | Covers the same ridge plus the Via Dolorosa, but Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit entry not included |
| Jerusalem: City of David, Underground Jerusalem Day Tour | $89 per person | 9 hours | David Citadel Hotel, King David St 7 | Full day of excavations with a Mount of Olives viewpoint, entry fees included |
| Jerusalem: Full-Day City Tour | $75 per person | 10 hours | Hotel pickup in Jerusalem | Coach day covering Gethsemane, Mount Zion and the Old City, entry fees included |
Which one should you book
Pick this tour if you want half a day focused on the Mount of Olives and its cemetery without a coach itinerary around it. Pick the Old City guided walking tour if the walls matter more to you than the ridge. Pick the In the footsteps of Jesus walking tour if you want the full Christian route in one long day.
Pick the full-day city tour if you want Gethsemane plus the main sights with hotel pickup and entry fees already covered.
Questions About the Mount of Olives guided tour
How long is the Mount of Olives guided tour?
The listing gives the duration as 3.5 hours. It starts at Jaffa Gate, includes the ride up the hill, and finishes on foot at Mary's Tomb near Gethsemane. Most of the route after the summit is downhill walking on steep lanes.
What is included in the Mount of Olives guided tour price?
From $60 per person you get the live English-speaking guide and the transportation from Jaffa Gate to the Mount of Olives. Entrance fees to the churches, about $7.12 (22 NIS), are not included and are paid on the day. Food and drinks are also not included.
Where does the Mount of Olives guided tour start?
The meeting point is Jaffa Gate, one of the main gates of the Old City of Jerusalem. You meet the guide there and ride up to the Mount of Olives with the group. The tour finishes at Mary's Tomb, from where you can walk to Lion's Gate or take a bus to the Western Wall.
What should I wear on the Mount of Olives guided tour?
Shoulders and knees must be covered for the holy sites. The listing forbids shorts, short skirts and sleeveless shirts, and suggests long pants and a scarf. Bring comfortable shoes for the steep stone lanes, plus a sun hat and water.
Can I cancel the Mount of Olives guided tour?
Yes. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start and receive a full refund. The listing also offers reserve now and pay later, so you can hold a spot without paying anything on the day you book.
Is the Mount of Olives guided tour suitable for children?
Yes, the listing states all ages can join, and there is no minimum age. Keep in mind the route is downhill on steep lanes, so younger children need to manage that on foot. Strollers are not mentioned, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure