Jerusalem is one of the world’s oldest cities and a fascinating travel destination. It’s holy to Jews, Muslims, and Christians, and has been at the crossroads of cultures and religions for millennia. While it continues as a spiritual and historic center, it is also a dynamic city, where traditional lifestyles blend with cosmopolitan ideas.

In this video, I will show you 10 beautiful places in Jerusalem that I visited, as part of a longer journey through the Holy Land, an area that is known today as Israel and Palestine.

From the historic center of Jerusalem with its narrow alleyways and religious landmarks, to the bustling modern city around Jaffa street. From intriguing neighborhoods like Nahlaot and Mea Shearim, to the mountain village of Ein Karem. And from the moving Yad Vashem memorial to the vibrant Mahane Yehuda market.

Jerusalem is a complicated city, in many ways, and is also at the center of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. However, this video should be seen as a traveler’s perspective of the city, focusing on positive stories and things to do. For those interested in the modern political history of the region, I recommend to read, watch, and listen to as many different sources as you can.

This is my first long trip after the pandemic started, and I’m grateful for the chance to travel again. It’s also my second visit to the region, and therefore I use both new and older footage for this video.

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Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media

Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video:

We begin this journey through Jerusalem in the Old City, where many of the most important sights are located. Its winding alleys lead you through quiet residential neighborhoods and bustling markets. The Old City is divided into four quarters, the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Armenian, and all have their own character.

It’s in and near these neighborhoods that you’ll find some of the holiest sites of the three main monotheistic religions, including the Western Wall, the Temple Mount (known as Al-Haram Ash-Sharif) to Muslims), with its incredible Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Via Dolorosa. If you want to take it all in from a distance, the Temple Mount offers one of the best viewpoints in Jerusalem.

Move away from here, and you’ll find that the Old City is actually a small part of today’s Jerusalem. Its modern center has a very different character, with the charming Mamilla shopping street, bustling Jaffa street, and the vibrant Mahane Yehuda market, which is not only a food paradise, but also gives an insight into the daily lives of Jerusalemites.

Close to the market is the friendly Nahlaot neighborhood, while Mea Shearim is one of the city’s most conservative areas, mostly inhabited by Haredi Jews, many of whom lead traditional lifestyles.

Perhaps the most moving and powerful museum in the world, Yad Vashem is a memorial to the six million Jews that died in the Second World War. Visitors can learn about the Holocaust here, through a number of different museums, exhibitions, gardens, and memorials.

We finish this journey in the picturesque mountain village of Ein Karem, which is filled with churches, monasteries, and historic homes. It’s an important place of worship, but also a popular weekend getaway for people living in the city.

Timestamps / video chapters:

0:00 Introduction
1:22 Old City
3:57 Western Wall
6:14 Temple Mount (Al-Haram Ash-Sharif)
7:49 Church of the Holy Sepulchre & Via Dolorosa
9:57 Mount of Olives
11:59 Mahane Yehuda market
14:16 Nahala'ot
15:34 Mea She'arim
17:29 Yad Vashem
19:01 Ein Karem
20:42 End