Best tours and attractions in Jerusalem for the Winter Holidays

With Hanukkah and Christmas overlapping this year, it’s an extra special and light-filled holiday season in Jerusalem. Many of the best tours and attractions in Jerusalem for the holiday season have already started–and many will run beyond the holidays into the rest of the winter.

Exploring Light Displays

The Jerusalem Botanical Garden is currently hosting one of the world’s largest light sculpture exhibitions, featuring nearly one million lights made into shapes from animals to flowers to festive characters, making it one of the best tours and attractions in Jerusalem. Entitled “Winter Dreams,” the exhibit covers most of the garden and also includes music and market stalls selling drinks and food, including dishes from some of the city’s most beloved chefs. The exhibit, which requires tickets, is open every evening except Fridays.

For those looking to see Christmas lights and decorations, head over to the YMCA on King David Street, just a short walk from the Inbal Hotel, to see the grand Christmas tree. Other nice areas to explore include the streets around the Old City’s New Gate and just inside the Jaffa Gate. Both of these neighborhoods feature lights and other decorations, along with shops selling Christmas treats. The decorations will remain in full swing into January, when some Orthodox churches celebrate the holiday.

Other festive light-filled areas include Mahane Yehuda market, Alrov Mamilla Avenue and Ben Yehuda Street in the center of town. All of these places will have nightly candle-lightings during Hanukkah along with live musical performances and plenty of places to buy fresh sufganiyot, the special filled donuts made for Hanukkah. In addition, many of the city’s landmarks are illuminated each night all year-around and are worth checking out, including the Russian Compound, the Old City Walls and the Chords Bridge near the entrance to the city.

Best tours and attractions in Jerusalem for Cultural Experiences

A classic holiday experience in Jerusalem is wandering the streets of historic neighborhoods, like Nachlaot and the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, to see the hundreds of Hanukkah menorahs on display in windows, on porches and wherever else there is space. For those looking for guidance to experience Hanukkah in Jerusalem, there are also plenty of tours offered during the evenings, including those starting in the Mahane Yehuda market, and at the Tower of David Museum. The museum also offers tours of the city’s Christmas sites.

Among the best tours and attractions in Jerusalem related to Christmas are the holiday markets at the YMCA, Notre Dame Center and other locations around the city. Held during December, these events feature food and drinks, visits with Santa, performances and gift shopping. Another site not to miss is the Santa Claus house in the Old City, just inside the New Gate. The house features a full Santa’s workshop, complete with elves making traditional toys.