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Asia > Middle East > Israel > Jerusalem Hills > Jerusalem > Jerusalem/West

Jerusalem/West

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West Jerusalem (also known as "New Jerusalem") represents the modern commercial heart of the city, having become the focus for development in the capital from the time of Israeli independence in 1948 to the reunification of the city with the Six Day War in 1967. That said, many of the districts of West Jerusalem date back to the late 19th century when the Old City became no longer able to contain the city's increasing population.

Understand

King George Street (Rehov King George) and Jaffa Road (Rehov Yafo) represent the two main thoroughfares in central western Jerusalem. Around their intersection, and up to Zion Square (Kikar Zion), where Jaffa Road intersects with Ben Yehuda St. (Rehov Ben-Yehuda, pedestrianized) is a large triangle between the three streets where most of the main shopping streets - the center of town.

Get in

Get around

See

Heichal Shlomo
the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
the entrance to Mount Herzl Natioanal Cemetery
  • 1 Safra Square. the City Hall sq. in Jaffa st. next to the walls of the old city. 
  • Jerusalem City Model, at the Jerusalem City Hall (Safra Square 1, Jerusalem), ☏ +972 2 629-7731. 11:00-13:30 in the morning. a model of the city of jerusalem including a planned structures. 
  • 2 Heichal Shlomo, ☏ +972 2 588-9000. In King George 58 st. at the city center. a museum of Jewish art. 
  • 3 Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, ☏ +972 2 675-0111. Sun-Thu 09:00-19:00, Fri (and holiday eves) 09:00-16:30, Sat (and holidays) 10:00 - 18:00. At the Malha neighborhood, near the Train station. Regular: 50 NIS, Special discounts (children, students, etc'): 40 NIS. 
  • 4 Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, at the university campus in Givat Ram, ☏ +972 2 648-0049, +972 73 243-8914. Sun-Tue and Thu 9.30am-5.00pm, Fri 9.00am-3.00pm. Regular: 30NIS, special discounts: 20NIS. 
  • 5 Mount Herzl (also called: Mount of Remembrance'), 1 Herzl Boulevard, Mount Herzlת Jerusalem (In the end of Herzl boulevard street. Adjacent to Yad VaShem and the Jerusalem Forest. Take the Jerusalem Light Rail tour (one drive: 6.6 NIS;). There is station near the entrance to Mount Herzl.). this is the national cemetery of Israel and includes Yitzhak Rabin grave and the "Herzl Museum" in the entrance plaza. also including the memorials of the "Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial" and the "Garden of the Missing In Actions". near Herzl's grave there is the Mount Herzl Plaza for the main ceremony of the opening of the Independence Day. Free. 

Neighborhoods

  • Mea Shearim (along and around Mea Shearim Street) - This neighborhood is perhaps the closest the 21st century can get to the shtetl Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. Uninfluenced by the tides of change, the Hasidic, ultra-Orthodox residents of Mea Shearim continue to dress like their great-grandparents, and many even speak Yiddish conversationally. For tourists, the main roads are lined with shops selling Judaica. But it's not all fun and games -- the people of Mea Shearim are very vocal about their conservative opinions and very modest dress and male-female interaction are a prerequisite.
  • Ein Kerem - Though slightly out of the way, the wonderfully picturesque and rustic village of Ein Kerem is worth a visit for extended visitors. Ein Kerem is home to a number of churches open to the public, including John the Baptist's birthplace (the Church of St. John). Also, new restaurants and cafes are always popping up in the stone cottages of the neighborhood.

Landmarks

  • 6 The Knesset, ☏ +972 2 675-3420, +972 2 675-3416. Tours: Su-Th 8.30am-2.30pm, Sessions: Mon & tue: 16:00, Wed: 11:00. the Israeli Parliament Building - The Knesset offers guided tours (in Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Amharic, Yiddish, and Finnish) for the public. For both groups and individuals, one must call and arrange their guided tour in advance. One may observe the Knesset sessions from the public gallery on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Groups must call and arrange this visit; individuals may arrive directly with their identity cards or passports. 

Museums and Galleries

Shrine of the book and its famous sprinklers
  • 7 Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, Ruppin Boulevard (near the Knesset, Bus: 9, 17, 24, 24a, 99,), ☏ +972 2-6708811, . Mon, Wed, Sat and holidays 10.00am-4.00pm, Tue 4.00pm-9:00pm, Thu 10:00am:-9:00pm, Fri and holiday eves 10:00am-2:00pm, closed Sundays. Israel's national museum sprawls over a compound near the Knesset and covers a broad body and extremely unique body of work in its five wings. The Judaica Wing contains an unequalled collection of Jewish ceremonial pieces, tools, and artwork from throughout the Diaspora, as well as an entire replica of both a 17th century Italian synagogue and an Indian synagogue. Moving on, visitors can find the largest collection of artifacts found in Israel at the Archaelogoy Wing. The collection covers millenina of settlement in the Holy Land, from the Neolithic ancestors to the Canaanites to the ancient Jews. Probably the best-known wing of the Israel Museum is the onion-shaped Shrine of the Book, wherein the Dead Sea Scrolls, considered among the greatest discoveries of the 20th century, are permanently housed. The Israel Museum also contains notable collections of pre-Columbian Central American Art, Primitive and Tribal Art, and a collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art, which, though perhaps less connected to the Jewish State, are worth a visit for art lovers. NIS 50, student NIS 37, child 5-17 yrs NIS 25 (free Tu and Sat). 
  • 8 Bible Lands Museum (opposite the Israel Museum entrance), ☏ +972 2-5611066, . Sun-Tue and Thu 9.30am-5.30pm, Wed .30am-9.30pm, Fri and holiday eves 9.30am-2pm. Laid out chronologically, the Bible Lands Museum provides a detailed look at the development of society in the Near East, also called the Cradle of Civlization. The museum's wide range of artifacts from around the region, including among others Egyptian, Minoan, and early Christian works, appeal to a variety of different segments. NIS 28, pensioner NIS 23, child NIS 15, other concessions available. 
  • L.A. Mayer Memorial Museum of Islamic Art, 2 Palmach Street, ☏ +972 2-5661291/2, fax: +972 2-5619802, . Sun-Thu 9.00am-3.00pm, Fri, Sat, holidays, and holiday eves 10.00am-2.00pm. In the heart of Jewish West Jerusalem, the recently-renovated Museum of Islamic Art offers "of the foremost collections of Islamic art" from across the Muslim world and the many centuries of Muslim artwork. NIS 20, students NIS 13, youths NIS 10. 
  • Wolfson Jewish Heritage Museum at Hechal Shlomo, King George Street. Sun-Thur 9.00am-3.00pm. In the heart of downtown Jerusalem, this museum houses a unique collection of Jewish and Israeli art, with an interesting combination of old and new NIS 15, students NIS 10, youths NIS 10. 

Memorials

Hall of names in Yad vashem
  • 9 Yad Vashem. Su-Th 9am-5pm, Fr and holidays eves 9am-2pm, closed Sa and holidays. the Museum of the Holocaust - Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority, was established in 1953 by an act of the Israeli Knesset. Since its inception, Yad Vashem has been entrusted with documenting the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust period, preserving the memory and story of each of the six million victims, and imparting the legacy of the Holocaust for generations to come through its archives, library, school, museums and recognition of the Righteous Among the Nations. Located on Har Hazikaron, the Mount of Remembrance, in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem is a vast, sprawling complex of tree-studded walkways leading to museums, exhibits, archives, monuments, sculptures, and memorials. free admission. 

Do

Ecotourism

If you are interested in learning first hand about the delicate fabric of life in Jerusalem, the All Nations Cafe in Refa'im Valley, near the Malha train station, is offering a social, cultural and ecological experience for both locals and internationals.

Buy

Ben Yehuda Street (Rehov Ben-Yehuda, pedestrianized), Jaffa Road, and King George St. (Rehov King George) are the three main shopping streets in central western Jerusalem. The network of small streets and malls around these two thoroughfares represent the main shopping centre of New Jerusalem.

Mahane Yehuda, also known as the shuk, is the main outdoor market of western Jerusalem, located centrally at the junction of Jaffa Road and Agripas Street. Vast and labyrinthine, the market boasts a large number of stalls, generally open 8 to 8 Sunday to Thursday, 8 to 3 Fridays, closed Shabbat. Fresh produce, pastries, salads abound. Definitely the place for a bargain and a unique insight into traditional Israeli culture.

Western Jerusalem have attracted a number of large mall developments in the last decade. One of the biggest is the Malha Mall in the neighborhood of Gilo.

Eat

  • Spaghettim - the quintessential pasta restaurant, located in an old Ottoman period house with high ceilings and arches. Over 50 varieties of pasta sauces, well-cooked and presented, in meat, seafood and vegetarian options. An average sitting will set you back NIS 40-50 (takes cards). Open midday - midnight Sunday - Saturday. Not kosher. 8 Rabbi Akiva Street (between Independence Park and Ben-Yehuda Street). Tel: 623 5547/8.
  • Village Green - vegetarian restaurant with homemade soups, mains, bread and salads. Main course NIS 25. Open Sunday - Thursday 11-10, Friday 11-3. Kosher. 10 Ben-Yehuda Street
  • Stanley’s. South African cuisine, friendly owners. A pricier option - steaks start at about NIS 75, but often has special rates for 3 course meals. Business lunch NIS 35 (until 5.30 pm). Open noon - midnight. Reservations recommended. Not kosher. 3 Horkanos Street. Tel: 6259459

Drink

  • Glen whisk(e)y bar, 18 Shlomtzion st. (mamila area), ☏ +792-54-9010076. 20:00 till last customer. A proper English bar, very close to the old city with 17 taps of beers from Israel and all other the world, the bar has its' own beer on tap! It's a whisk(e)y bar with over 100 types of single malt whiskies. You can meet locals from Jerusalem and students from all over Israel. It plays mostly rock music. Sometimes hosts a live bands and has simple but good food. ~30 nis. 

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range


Splurge

  • Check in Jerusalem apartments, 37 Yafo Street. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Provides short-term rentals of fully furnished high-end holiday apartments, including full services. (updated Nov 2015)
  • The King David Hotel, 23 King David St., ☏ +972 2-620-8888, fax: +972 2-620-8882, . Probably the city's most famous and historic hotel. A landmark that has been residence to monarchs and heads of state in exile. 

Connect

Internet

The most common price for internet cafes in Jerusalem is 15 NIS per hour.

  • Cafe Net, the 3rd floor (Departures) of the new Central Bus station (232 Jaffa Road). Tel: +972 2-537-9192, e-mail: contact@cafenet.co.il
  • Strudel, 11 Monbaz Street, Russian Compound (two blocks north of Zion Square). Tel: 6232101. Open Monday through Friday, 10AM–very late; Saturday, 3PM–late.
  • Netcafe, 9 Heleni Hamalka Street, Russian Compound. Tel: 6246327. Call for opening times, as these vary. Closed Shabbat.

Go next

This district travel guide to West is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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