Vacation Packages to Jerusalén

General Information About Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the most populated city in Israel, due it has 850.000 habitants distributed on a surface of 125 kilometers squares. Also, it is the biggest city in the country and one of the most antique cities in the world.

While Israel has declared this city as its capital, the State of Palestine maintains that the eastern part of the city is its own capital, so this continues in dispute.

The city is known as the Holy Land and is located in the Judean Mountains, between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks to the religious value of the ancient city of Jerusalem, both for Christianity and for Judaism or Islam, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Geographically, Jerusalem is characterized by being a plateau region in the Judean hills. That is to say, it is a plain but at 757 meters above sea level.

Today, the city has a lot of tourism, mostly because of its old city, with important religious sites, and its stunning walls. 

Jerusalem: The City That Everyone Wants

The city of Jerusalem was founded, according to Jewish tradition, in the year 1400 BC by King David of Israel, who made it the capital of his kingdom. 

During the reign of David, and that of his son, Solomon, the city would enter a period of apogee. This splendor, given by the construction of the city walls and the Temple of Jerusalem, turned the city into a more than prominent religious site, and likewise coveted. 

At the Babylonian invasion, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. For this reason, a second Temple was built, which could only be finished during the reign of "Herod the Great".

In the year 64 BC, the city was invaded by the Romans and was under their power for one hundred years, when the judeo-roman war broke out. The result of that war was a devastated city, which is why today, from the times of Solomon, only the Wailing Wall remains.

After that, Jerusalem had several stages of foreign domination. It was part of the Byzantine Empire, the Arabian Empire, also contested by Christianity in the Crusades and ruled by the Ottomans and even disputed by the British Empire in the First World War.

When the UN declared the State of Israel in 1950, Jerusalem became its capital. However, in the 6-day war, in 1967, the city was disputed between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Syria.

The dispute was won by Israel, however, it expanded the margins established by the UN and occupied what is now known as East Jerusalem, a site that Palestine claims as its own, alleging that this is its capital and that it is indivisible.

Although today Jerusalem is a very safe destination to travel to, its limits are part of a discussion that is still ongoing and the traces of this busy history can be clearly observed in its streets and places of interest.

How Is the Culture in Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Paradox

Despite being one of the most disputed cities in history, in which there were many wars, Jerusalem is, paradoxically, the apex of many religious communities and the meeting point for many pilgrims who come to it in search of spiritual connection. .

That is why it is possible to observe in it the coexistence of different religious communities with their own celebrations and temples in which their beliefs are professed. This plurality of Fes can be seen especially in the different events that take place in the city. Here we mention some of them.

The Ceremony of the Sacred Fire in Jerusalem

The sacred fire ceremony in Jerusalem is a tradition, according to which the sacred fire descends from heaven each year and ignites a flame. This flame is the one that illuminates the Holy Sepulcher, which according to the Christian Orthodox is the Church of the Resurrection.

This event is the most significant of the Orthodox Holy Week and begins the Orthodox Easter, which is different from the Christian Easter and a tradition closely followed by Christian Palestinians, mostly Orthodox.

Main Jewish Events in Jerusalem

The main Jewish commemorations in Jerusalem are Purim, a holiday in March in which the streets of Jerusalem are filled with masks, festive dresses and Jewish families exchange gifts, Pesach, a holiday that takes place in April in which the Jewish Passover is celebrated.

So too, an important date is Memorial Day, which is celebrated the day before Independence Day. During this event, all the soldiers and civilians killed during the most current international conflicts in Israel's history are commemorated.

Independence Day, declared by Zionist leader David Ben-Gurion in 1948, an event celebrated each year in late April or early May, commemorating the day British rule over the people ended in Israel.

Other important events are Shavuot, held in March to honor God's delivery of the Five Books of the Torah to Moses, Victory Day, which is celebrated on May 9 to commemorate the defeat of the Nazi army in the World War II, and Tisha B'Av, the main day of mourning in Israel which occurs in July.

In this last event they commemorate three important historical events: the destruction of the First Temple in 586 a. C., the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70, and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.

Another prominent event is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, in which people fast and reflect. On this day the Jews ask for forgiveness from all those who have offended in that year. This is a very important date for the Jewish community, when shops and restaurants are completely closed and there are no means of transportation.

Finally, a prominent celebration is Hanukkah, which resembles Christmas for Christians. It is celebrated in December and lasts 8 days, one for each candle of the Chanukah chandelier.

Ramadan and Culmination Day

As for the Muslim community in Jerusalem the most important event is the month of Ramadan and the culminating 3-day celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, a commemoration around the first revelation of Muhammad, prophet of this religion. During Ramadan, fasting is practiced and in the culmination celebration the members of the culmination can eat again, since the sacred month is over.

Typical Food and Drink in Jerusalem

Eating in Jerusalem is a great experience, because there you will find the best of Israeli gastronomy, a cuisine that combines Jewish traditions with the best of its neighboring countries.

A typical dish that you will find in Jerusalem is Sakshuka, which means "all together" or "all mixed" and is a dish that is prepared with eggs poached in tomato sauce accompanied with vegetables, such as onion and pepper, and spices, among which cumin and paprika stand out.

You will also find there the typical Hummus, par excellence the most recognized dish of Israeli gastronomy, made from chickpeas, vegetables and spices, with which an incredibly delicious spread is formed that you cannot miss during your visit to the holy city. 

Another recipe that we encourage you to try is Shawarma, the typical Jerusalem kebab, made with strips of chicken or beef, served in pita bread. It is usually accompanied with lettuce, onion and tomato and is one of the most economical and hearty dishes you will find in the city, especially in the Arab quarter of the Old City.

Likewise, another great dish of this gastronomy is the _Falafe_l, some "vegetarian meatballs" made of crushed chickpeas with spices. Falafel in this city is usually served with yogurt or tahini and has an unbeatable texture, crunchy on the outside but juicy on the inside. It really is an explosion of flavor.

As for the drink, you will see that in all the streets of the city there are many stalls selling natural juices, made with freshly squeezed fruits. A refreshing and sweet option.

As for dessert, we recommend you try Halva, a typical sweet from Israel and other Eastern countries, which consists of a kind of dry nougat made with sesame seeds and spices.

Top 10 Sites of Interest in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is an extremely interesting city, with a rich history and a vast religious tradition. In it you will find many places of interest. Below we mention the most prominent ones.

1. Dome of the Rock, which is considered a masterpiece of Islamic architecture from the 7th century. Octagonal in shape, it is decorated with mosaics and marbles.

2. The Damascus Gate and the Arab souk of the Old City. There you will find wooden and fabric craft shops, cafes with hookahs next to the entrance, spice, fruit and vegetable stalls, and goldsmiths' workshops, undoubtedly a place full of colors and aromas.

3. The Muslim Quarter, located around the street of the Oued (river in Arabic), where there are popular restaurants that offer pastries in copper plates, falafel and freshly made carrot juice, one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the Old City.

4. Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, which is maintained by the Greek, Latin and Armenian Churches, co-responsible for the temple.

5. The Ottoman wall, built by Suleiman the Magnificent between 1520 and 1566. Seven of the ten original gates and thirty-four towers are currently preserved.

6. The Temple of Solomon, currently there is the Wailing Wall Square, which is located under the Esplanade of the Mosques, with the glittering Dome of the Rock in the Old City.

7. The Wailing Wall, where you can appreciate Wilson's Arch, which was part of the bridge that connected the Temple Mount with the city. Today there is a synagogue there.

8. The Mount of Olives, a hill with olive groves where it is possible to walk through enclaves of the life of Jesus. Today several churches are located there, from the modest Pater Noster to the golden domes of the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, founded by Tsar Alexander III.

9. The Jewish Quarter, there you will find the market and a mosaic façade in the old Roman cardo, still known as Cardo.

10. Jewish Cemetery, located on the Mount of Olives, where it is estimated that there are 150,000 tombs since the 15th century, including some of very prominent figures in history.

What to See and Do in Jerusalem

Jerusalem stands out for its incredible history and its architectural jewels that make this destination one of the most outstanding for the most curious travelers. Also, its beautiful landscapes and its rich culture make of Jerusalem a fascinating city.

In turn, due to its proximity to Galilee and Cesarea, many travelers combine their trip to Jerusalem with these destinations, which is why you will find these sites in several of our offers.

Are you looking to marvel at the most incredible architectural jewels? Do you want to see impressive religious sites? Do you want to taste exquisite cuisine?

If your answer is "yes", in Greca we have several proposals for tourist packages to Jerusalem, which you can modify and adapt according to your needs and times.

There are travel packages for all tastes. Choose your own adventure according to your needs!