Sacher Park: The Perfect Place in Jerusalem for Picnics and Relaxation

Visiting Sacher Park, or Gan Sacher as it’s known in Hebrew, is one of the most authentic attractions in Jerusalem. The sprawling park near the city center offers everything from culinary indulgence to outdoor exercise to adventures for children and families.

Sacher Park Overview

Gan Sacher Park is Jeruslaem’s largest public park, measuring 40 acres, or 170 dunams, and stretching out over 1.5 miles from end to end. It runs along one of the city’s main north-south  thoroughfares, Yitchak Ben-Zvi Boulevard, and is near the Knesset, Mahane Yehuda Market, The Israel Museum, Cinema City, and the Rehavia and Nahlaot neighborhoods. This central location means it brings together people from all over the city for a break from urban life. Because the park borders the Valley of the Cross and the Jerusalem Bird Observatory near the Knesset, it is part of a larger area of green and open space in the city.

The park features plenty of open grassy spaces, popular for playing sports, holding picnics or just relaxing. There are outdoor workout spaces, a large modern playground, skateboard park and a ninja play area offering more challenging climbing structures. Visitors can also rent four-wheel bikes, or cruise through the park on bicycles and e-bikes rented from one of the numerous Jerufun stations. Cafe Gan Sippur, a unique restaurant sits near the north end of the park, and also operates a nearby kiosk offering coffee along with other drinks and snacks.

The park is always open, year-round, day and night, with many pedestrians and cyclists using its paths to get from one end of the city to the other. The park also includes restrooms and drinking fountains. It can be reached on foot or by several buses that stop along Ben-Zvi, Herzog Boulevard, or near the Cinema City and Knesset areas. It is best to check an app like Moovit for bus options. There is no dedicated parking lot for Sacher Park, but there is limited street parking nearby, and a number of paid lots, including at Cinema City.

Picnics and Other Culinary Options in Sacher Park

Gan Sacher Park is an excellent place to enjoy a picnic. There are picnic tables scattered throughout, and also plenty of room to throw down a blanket on the grass; picnicking is permitted throughout the park. Trash bins and coal-disposal containers also make clean-up easy after a picnicking or barbecuing, which is allowed in several designated areas.

Picnic foods and other essentials can easily be purchased at any city grocery store, including the Machsanei HaShuk supermarket branch in the Wolfson complex, just across the street from Sacher park, and reachable by a pedestrian tunnel that makes it easier to cross over Ben Zvi Boulevard. Gan Sacher Park is only a 15-minute walk, or an even shorter bus or taxi ride from Mahane Yehuda market, meaning one can stock up on picnic foods in the market and enjoy fresh Jerusalem treats in the park. Local delivery services, including Wolt and 10bis, can also bring food from many restaurants right to the park, making for another convenient lunch option.

In addition, one of Jerusalem’s culinary gems – Cafe Gan Sipur– is located inside the park. With a long menu filled with creative options, including large and fresh salads, unique pastas, grilled fish, sandwiches and much more, the cafe is a great place for lunch or an afternoon snack. There are also a number of decadent desserts as well as a large menu of coffee drinks and other hot and cold beverages. True to its name, which means “story garden,” in English, the restaurant’s plates include quotes from well-known Hebrew books and poetry.

The modern building has glass walls and is decorated with plants, making even its indoor spaces feel connected to the park. There are also outdoor tables, and the restaurant can pack orders for takeaway that customers can then enjoy anywhere in the park. Cafe Gan Sipur runs a kiosk just outside the main building that is perfect for quicker snacks or drinks.

Spending a Day in Gan Sacher Park

The park offers something for everyone. For those looking for relaxation, there are plenty of shady grassy areas and benches for sitting. For a more active experience, there are plenty of walking, running and cycling paths as well as outdoor workout areas. The playground offers many different climbing structures and whimsical slides, catering to children of all ages, from young toddlers to older children. The Ninja park and skateboarding areas offer more adventurous options. In addition, the open green spaces are good for playing soccer, football and other sports. 

Highlights of the park include:

• Large playground
• Ninja Park
• Skate Park
• Picnic areas
• Workout stations
• Bike Rentals
• Walking Paths
• Cafe Gan Sipur

Packing a picnic and spending time in the park is a nice way to spend a morning or afternoon. For those on tighter schedules, it is also worthwhile to wander through the park when visiting nearby sites like the Knesset, National Library or Cinema City.

Getting to Gan Sacher Park

Gan Sacher Park is located near the Knesset, National Library, Israel Museum Cinema City and other landmark sites in Jerusalem. This means it can be reached on foot from these places. In fact, combining a visit to Gan Sacher with a visit to a museum makes for an enjoyable and balanced day.

The park is also reachable on foot, in about a 15-minute walk, from Mahane Yehuda Market. It offers a deep contrast and refuge from the busy market, and is a good activity to pair with visiting the lively market. Visitors can even pick up picnic supplies in the market and then have a relaxing lunch in Gan Sacher. 

Many city buses as well as taxis can drive visitors off right by the park. This is often an easier way to reach the park than by car, as Gan Sacher Park does not offer a dedicated parking lot. However, there is parking in the nearby Cinema City complex.

FAQs:

Where is Gan Sacher Park?

Gan Sacher is in central Jerusalem, along one of the city’s main north-south thoroughfares, Yitchak Ben-Zvi Boulevard, and near the Knesset, Mahane Yehuda Market, The Israel Museum, Cinema City, and the Rehavia and Nahlaot neighborhoods.

When is Gan Sacher Open?

The park is always open, day and night.

Is food available at Gan Sacher Park? 

Yes, the park is home to Cafe Gan Sipur and a kiosk selling snacks and drinks.

Are there bike rentals in Gan Sacher Park? 

Yes, visitors can rent four-wheel bicycles as well as traditional bikes and e-bikes.

Is there parking at Gan Sacher Park? 

No, but there are paid parking lots within walking distance, including in Cinema City. Street parking can sometimes be found in nearby neighborhoods.