Jerusalem: The Center of the Universe - Walk the 'Holy City' with GaryTheGuide

Embark on a personalized tour of Jerusalem with GaryTheGuide. Experience the rich culture, history, and spirituality of the Holy City from multiple perspectives.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Temple Mount - What Muslims call Al-Aksa and Jews call the Temple Mount could be described as the connection between Heaven and Earth. It is the site of the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aksa Mosque, and it is where the Temples of Solomon and Herod stood. This spot represents where Christians, Jews, and Muslims envision the peace that awaits us all in the future.

  • Church of the Holy Sepulchre - This is the most accepted site for the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. It is filled with chapels and artifacts that narrate the stories of Jesus, his followers, and believers who shaped christianity throughout the ages. Recent restorations open up the ability to see stunning and colorful artwork, scenes that have been hidden beneath the dust for centuries.

  • Western Wall - There are three different sections of the Western Wall, the center of Jewish holiness for close to 8 centuries. The Hidden Wall helps you understand what this wall meant for Jews from the moment prayer began there in the 13th century. Ezrat Yisrael (the gender mixed area of the Western Wall) allows you to grasp how this wall is connected to the Temple, God’s house on Earth. The traditional Western Wall (gender separated) allows you to see how modern Israel and it’s people interface with this holy spot, an image that brings out the challenges and conflicts within the Jewish faith.

  • Mount Zion - This is an optional site on the tour: Mount Zion is a neighborhood of enigmas. It’s very name is confusing. We will visit both the Room of the Last Supper and the Tomb of King David, discussing whether these are the true sites. The discussion itself of the validity of these holy places, as well as the Dormition Church which sits next door, brings out colorful stories of Jews, Christians, and Muslims attempting to define themselves in an ever changing world.

  • City of David National Park - This is an optional site on the tour: The original Jerusalem, built by a small fresh water spring, sat just south of today’s Old City walls. In this small village, the Canaanites created a unique system of tunnels and walls to protect their water supply. These structures appear in the stories of the Biblical King David and his descendants. We will traverse these caves, exploring the stories of Kings, palaces, battles, burial, and miracles. ($6-9 entrance fee, not included in the tour price) (option of traversing a wet tunnel that will require water shoes and a flashlight)

  • Mount of Olives - This is an optional site on the tour: The peak of this hill is where the Messiah enters Jerusalem, where Jesus ascended to heaven, and where holiness has been commemorated for millenia. Between fascinating churches and chapels, ancient graves, and politically charged neiighborhoods, we will experience some of the most moving views in Jerusalem.

What's Included
  • Guided tours at all sites and paths in the Old City of Jerusalem
  • Personalized food and shopping recommendations
  • Assistance with planning other aspects of your stay in Israel
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Entry fees (where applicable)
Additional Information

This tour allows you to see Jerusalem from the perspective of multiple cultures and religions. We can traverse the city at your pace, seeing the sites that interest you most. I would be happy to personalize this tour for you based on your needs. The Old City of Jerusalem is filled with culture, sounds and tastes, people, and meaning. Wandering this city with an open mind can lead you to discover things you never knew, about the city and about yourself.

  • Holy sites require modest dress! You may dress comfortable while walking along the streets and markets. When entering the Holy sites, women must cover their legs down to their ankles, their arms past their elbows, and their front up to their neckline. Men must have their knees covered and wear a shirt with sleeves. (contact GaryTheGuide for details)
Location
Jaffa Gate hostel
Jaffa gate
I will be waiting just outside Jaffa Gate.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(34 Ratings)
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Tom
Jul 22, 2024
Holy place - The most holy place in this world 🌍 & can feel the love between each other’s. Hope for peace 🕊️between us. God save Israel your children.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kariericksen
Aug 29, 2023
Amazing! - Gary was amazing! So knowledgeable and fun! We loved the tour and that we were able to work around our abilities.
Review provided by Viator
Clarke
May 4, 2023
Incredible day in the old city - Gary is nothing short of amazing. My daughter and I spent a full day with him touring the Old City and could have kept going for hours. Gary knows the books and crannies of the city, provides tons of helpful and entertaining commentary and he tailored the trip to what we wanted to see. On top of all that, Gary is just a naturally good guy who has boundless passion for Jerusalem and it’s history and it shows. The tour was more than worth it (and it’s a huge advantage to see the old city in a small group). Thanks for an amazing day Gary!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angelique
Apr 4, 2023
Amazing tour! - Gary was an amazing tourguide through the old town of Jerusalem. He told and taught us so much about the culture and history of this beautiful city. He tells this in a very respectful way to all cultures. Thank you Gary for a wonderful tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rosealee
Feb 20, 2023
Really enjoyed the Attention to Detail for the Two of Us. - We had group tour four years ago and felt that we missed many of the important sites in Jerusalem. So this trip we rented an apartment in the Christian Quarter for 8 nights venturing out of the old city to see the Holocaust and the Israel National museums. For this reason we contacted Gary several months prior to our February trip back to Israel and contracted him for two full days just for my wife and me. This proved to be a great decision as we freely discussed the places of our interests and we had Gary’s full attention. I must admit we did a lot of walking and stairs, but the time and multitude of historical information was well worth the cost and physical challenges. All-in-all we highly recommend utilizing Gary, especially for individual couples or small groups because of his personal attention. Larry & Kelly Georgetown, Texas
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zachs81
Jan 10, 2023
Gary is the best! - I have traveled a good amount, and Gary is truly one of the best guides I've ever had. We did the Jerusalem Old City Walking Tour with Gary. He is incredibly passionate about the topic and explains things thoroughly and clearly. Gary was also quite flexible in terms of visiting spots that were most important to us, and went above and beyond as we continued to tour past even sunset. He is an absolute expert in the topic given his many years of experience, but shares information as if it's the most important tour he's ever given. I cannot recommend him enough
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scenic64022080486
Jan 1, 2023
An amazing trip with Gary the Guide! - We just returned from a 5 days tour with Gary. We spent 2 days in old Jerusalem, a day visiting Masada, Ein Gedi, and the Dead Sea, a day in the Galilee, and a day visiting an active archeological dig (where we actually dug and found artifacts) and a Moshav. We were traveling with our teenage grandchildren. Gary was absolutely phenomenal! His knowledge is amazingly extensive and he is immediately relatable both to adults and teens. We learned so much from him and he kept the teens interested. They both had fun (going through caves and tunnels helps) and enjoyed his many stories, about historic events and people and how all the religions interact in Israel. I recommend him without reservation, whether you’re interested in a Jewish, Christian, historical, archeological, or political view of the land of Israel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
250honeyl
Dec 12, 2022
Unbelievable. Gary is so knowledgeable, patient, curious. I just love him! - We did a private tour, two days in Jerusalem and a day in Acre. Thank you Gary for making this trip one we will never forget. You’re warmth, knowledge, curiosity and complete compassion for the human race leaves us in awe. You were a treasure trove of knowledge and just fun to be with. We’ve learned a lot, our eyes have been opened and we won’t forget you anytime soon. ❤️😘😘 Honey and Patty
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roger
Nov 26, 2022
Best. Guide. Ever. - Gary is an absolutely phenomenal guide. My husband and I spent two days walking through Jerusalem with him, and also a one-day road trip to Galilee. Gary ticks all the boxes for a perfect guide. Exceptionally knowledgeable? Check. Logistic excellence? Check. But what really sets Gary apart from the rest are his sense of humor, kindness, passion for Isreal and it’s history, and an amazing ability to bring the Holy Land to life in a way that really touched our hearts and tickled our minds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tajesh
Sep 21, 2022
Informative tour of Jerusalem - We spent a day in Jerusalem and Gary was very interesting to listen to with his excellent knowledge of Jerusalem and the history behind it all. We were able to take in some of the main parts of the 4 quarters of the city. The best part was that he was flexible with the itinerary and that meant we were always able to stop at the stores or take pictures. Unlike some other tours we have been on we did not feel rushed and so it was money well spent. If you want to understand a little bit of what you are seeing when you are in Jerusalem, listen to some fascinating stories and also help you with all things Israel then GaryTheGuide is the best choice for you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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September 2024
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