Bethlehem

Short description of Bethlehem

Bethlehem (Bayt Lahm) is a hill town ten kilometres south of Jerusalem and, for Christians, the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in continuous use, stands over the grotto where the birth is said to have taken place, and with the pilgrimage route through the old town it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Manger Square, the Milk Grotto and the Shepherds' Field in neighbouring Beit Sahour draw pilgrims all year, most of all at Christmas. Murals cover the separation barrier. Visitors cross from Jerusalem through an Israeli checkpoint, and the security situation should be checked before travelling.

AI edited

Recommended length of stay

Travel seasons at a glance

Best time to visit: April – May or October – November

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

All highlights and sights

1. Church of the Nativity (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
2. Manger Square
3. The separation barrier and its murals
4. Milk Grotto
5. Christmas in Bethlehem (December)
6. Shepherds' Field in Beit Sahour
7. Star Street and the old market
8. Olive wood carving workshops
9. Herodium, Herod's fortress hill(Day trip)
10. Mar Saba Monastery in the Judean Desert(Day trip)
11. Battir and its terraces (UNESCO World Heritage Site)(Day trip)
12. Solomon's Pools

Ways to get there and away

Airports nearby:

• TLV Ben Gurion International Airport (Tel Aviv) · 45 km northwest(recommended)
• AMM Queen Alia International Airport (Amman) · 75 km east
• ADJ Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport (Amman) · 80 km east

Nearest seaports:

• Ashdod Port · 54 km west
• Jaffa Port · 58 km northwest

Nearest railway station:

Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon (Jerusalem🇮🇱) · 7.1 km north

Ports: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Map view

Distances

More travel destinations in Palestine

• Gaza
• Jericho
• Hebron
• Ramallah
• Nablus
• Jenin