The Mount of Olives is a sacred site for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike, with Jews and Muslims believing it is where the gates of Heaven will open on Judgment Day. On this 3-hour walking tour leaving from the Jaffa Gate, join an experienced licensed guide to visit major sites such as Mary’s tomb and the Chapel of Ascension, and to take in the stunning views from the Mount of Olives.
Your Jerusalem Mount of Olives Tour starts just outside the Jaffa Gate and it usually finishes by the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, but you can also go back to Jaffa Gate with the guide.
Reaching the top of the Mount of Olives
You’ll start this 3-hour walking tour by getting into a private bus (included in the ticket price) and being driven up to the Mount of Olives. Upon arrival, your expert local guide’s first stop is the Church of Pater Noster, believed to be where Jesus Christ taught the Lord’s Prayer in the grotto under the church. As you walk around the church and its beautiful cloisters, you’ll see the Lord’s Prayer translated into 140 languages, beautifully arranged in ceramic tiles on the walls. While there, you will also visit the Chapel of the Ascension, believed to be where Jesus ascended to Heaven.
Begin your descent down the Mount of Olives
From there, your licensed guide will begin leading you down the Mount of Olives, showing you the many, many burial sites along the way. As both the Jews and the Muslims believe the Mount of Olives is where the gates of Heaven will open on Judgment Day, and is it is where the end of days was described to Jesus’s disciples, the Mount of Olives holds special significance for all three faiths. Whether you are religious or not, you’ll be impressed by the breathtaking views across the Old City as you make your descent, visiting the Dominus Flevit church, where Jesus wept over the future destruction of Jerusalem.
At the bottom of the Mount of Olives
Some of the most impressive sites of the Mount of Olives are at the foot of the hill itself. As well as seeing the famous olive trees, you’ll visit the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest. You’ll also visit the Church of All Nations, where it is believed Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion, before finishing the tour at the tomb of the Virgin Mary.
The Jerusalem Mount of Olives Tour starts just outside the Jaffa Gate
Take in amazing views of the Temple Mount, the Old City, and the city walls
Explore the gardens of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed the night of his arrest
See the Jewish Cemetery
Visit the Church of All Nations, where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion
Stop in at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over the future destruction of Jerusalem
Read the Lord’s Prayer in over 140 languages at the Church of Pater Noster
Step down into the simple but impressive tomb of the Virgin Mary
Visit the Chapel of the Ascension, where it is believed Jesus ascended to Heaven
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
This tour doesn‘t run today
PHOTOS
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
Local licensed English-speaking guide
One-way private bus ride from Jaffa Gate
What’s not included
Entrance fees to the Chapel of Ascension (10 NIS = €3)
Entrance fees to Church of the Pater Noster (10 NIS = €3)
Entrance fees to the burial cave (10 NIS = €3)
Bus ride back to Jaffa Gate (5.50 NIS = €1.65)
Additional Information
Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible
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The Jerusalem Mount of Olives Tour starts just outside the Jaffa GateOpen in Google Maps
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Customer reviews
Mount of Olives tour with Sandemans
I'm usually the kind of person that likes to visit places on my own without a group. However, I'm so glad that I chose to book a half day tour with Sandemans to the Mount of Olives and I wasn't disappointed! Our tour guide was Emmanuel and boy was he equal parts entertaining and informative, regaling us with jokes while at the same time filling us with information about all the holy sites there were on the Mount of Olives. I really wouldn't have been able to cover it on my own because the guides give information that you can't really find in guidebooks. At the end of the tour Emmanuel also offered to walk back with us to the old city. I highly recommend booking tours with Sandemans and next time I'm back in Jerusalem I'd book another of their tours which I haven't been on yet!
I truly enjoyed the tour I did with Mathew. Very interesting tour of mount of olives. His grasp on history is extremely impressive and it was an amazing 4 hour tour.
We were happy enough to do the free tour and Mount of Olives tour with Sandemans and had Ohri as our guide. What a fantastic time we had. Everyone learned so much, he was very knowledgeable and really went out of his way to make it very special. Very happy with those 2 tours can definitely recommend them.
We have enjoyed the most excellent tour of the Mount of Olives with Ryan as our tour guide. It was a rainy, cold day and we were a small but inquisitive bunch! However, Ryan's extensive knowledge, enthusiasm and humour really made the tour very memorable. Our tour lasted 4 hours and we went through all the key sites, of course with great commentary from Ryan and always with an extensive Q&A. We've really learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Select Tours focus on a particular area or district of a city, a certain aspect of its history or culture, or take you outside the city on a day trip. Select Tours are perfect for those who have enjoyed an introduction to the city and wish to delve deeper into the stories the city has to offer. These tours often venture further afield and make use of local public transport.
As with the Free Tour, Select Tours are provided by local freelance guides in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, who bring their personal flair and expert knowledge to these specifically themed tours. Select tours have a fixed ticket price - we recommend purchasing your ticket in advance, either during a Free Tour or online.
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Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
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