In and around Jerusalem

"In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone"

A new book with the best walks, hikes and attractions in and around Jerusalem.  

Watch the short movie below: 

This 318-page beautifully illustrated book contains the best 20 walks in Jerusalem and 23 hikes in areas around Jerusalem, including the Judean Desert. Most of the hikes are easily reachable by public transport, and include Waze and Moovit destinations. Most of the chapters contain descriptions of nearby fun attractions such as museums, workshops and amusement parks together with a QR code. Throughout the book are short engaging essays on the historic and geographic significance of the places being visited. There is also a section on natural pools suitable for swimming and outdoor swimming pools. With this book in your hand you have everything you would love to know about Jerusalem and the areas around Jerusalem! 

Payment methods. The price of the book in Israel is 119 NIS (including VAT). 

For direct payment using Paypal (not credit cards) and free mailing in Israel click here: Buy now! 

Now also available on Amazon with delivery to Israel. Click on this link.

The book is also on sale in the following Jerusalem bookstores: Pomeranz Booksellers in the center of Jerusalem (will also deliver), Moriah Bookstore in the Old City, Dani Books in the center of Jerusalem, Holzer Books in the center of Jerusalem, Katamon Books (45 HaPalmach St, Jerusalem), Rehavia Bookstore (34 Azza, Jerusalem) and Sefer ve Sefel (Ya'avetz St in the center of town).  .

What you've been saying about the book: 

“In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone” by Arnold Slyper is a masterpiece.  It is the best and most useful book I have ever seen on Jerusalem and its environs that is practical and applicable to today’s treasure hunters. Please take this book and learn about our Holy City  and our Holy Land.  Surprise your wife, your girlfriend, your boyfriend and take them to a romantic place they otherwise would not know about had it not been brought so easily to your eyes through this book”  (Mechael Pomeranz, proprietor of the iconic Jerusalem bookstore that bears his family name)

Post by Barne Selevan (well-known tour guide and archeologist) to other tour guides: 

"Hevre, I am so impressed - comprehensive, artistic, functional, like no other single book I have seen.
Remember I am the author of an Old City guide book, so I know what is involved - Amazing job.
I disagree on some religious points, you could always add this or that. I highly recommend it as a resource especially for newer guides. If I was me, I would go to Nefesh beNefesh and say to them
buy this in bulk and give it to every new oleh to enjoy and appreciate Jerusalem with the family.
Wonderful.”

Why is this website different from other hiking websites?

• Many of the hikes in the countryside are circular, thus obviating the need for 2 cars.  
• Many of the hikes can be reached by public transport.
• Short essays provide an overview of the Biblical, historic, geological and botanical aspects of the area visited.
• Hikes are graded on a one to five star system so you can choose the most appropriate hike for you and your family.
• Nearby attractions in the area visited are linked to the web.
• All the bike rides are on asphalt- covered roads and/or reasonably smooth cycling trails and are suitable for a hybrid bike.  

     Join the conversation!

Inandaroundjerusalem.com  has a Facebook group -

In And Around Jerusalem

Stay informed about new entries of tiyulim and essays.

We now have a hiking group - the In and Around Jerusalem Hiking Group. All the hikes are free. They are also advertised on our Facebook page. Write to arnoldslyper@inandaround jerusalem.com to be placed on our mailing list and for full details about each hike.

COPYRIGHT 

All the material on this website is copyright. It can be reproduced for personal use only. All the photos are also copyright and cannot be reproduced without permission. 



Hiking (tiyulim), walking, family cycling and outdoor swimming in Jerusalem and areas around Jerusalem, including the Jerusalem Mountains, Judean Desert, north and south of Jerusalem, and the Shefela (up to a 75-minute's car ride from Jerusalem).  

SUMMARY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ON THIS WEBSITE (WITH LINKS)

SUMMARY OF WALKS IN JERUSALEM

This page contains a summary of the 23 walks within Jerusalem, including the Old City and 6 nature hikes within the Jerusalem Municipal boundaries. All are easy to reach via city public transport. 

THE JUDEAN MOUNTAINS (WEST OF JERUSALEM) - SUMMARY OF HIKES AND OVERVIEW

This page has a summary of 17 hikes in the Judean Mountains, all of them west of Jerusalem in the Jerusalem Corridor. All the hikes are graded. 5-star hikes are usually ones that are also popular with Israelis. Most of the hikes are quite close to Jerusalem and can be reached by public transport. There is also an essay on "The Geology and the Topography of the Judean Mountains".  

IN THE SHEFELA (LOWLANDS) - SUMMARY OF HIKES AND OVERVIEW

This page provides a summary of 9 hikes in the Shefela, all west of Jerusalem and between the Judean Mountains and the Coastal Plain. Most are most conveniently reached by car, although details for public transport are also provided. There is also an essay on "Introducing the Shefela".

THE JUDEAN DESERT, THE DEAD SEA, AND THE JORDAN VALLEY 

The Judean Desert is east of Jerusalem and the hikes are reached via route 1 going from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. There is a page on this descent, including a description of the city of Ma'ale Adumim and places of interest that can be visited on the way to the Dead Sea. The hikes in Ein Prat, Ein Mabu'a, Ein Qelt, and Nahal Og are also reached from route 1. There are 4 hikes along the Dead Sea, including 2 in Ein Gedi. Another page describes the Jordan Valley and places of interest to visit. Most of the hikes can be conveniently reached by public transport.

SOUTH OF JERUSALEM - HERODIUM, GUSH ETZION SPRINGS AND NAHAL TEKOA

This page summarises 3 "5-star" hikes south of Jerusalem and also contains a list of other activities in the Gush. Visit by car or by public transport.

NORTH OF JERUSALEM - NEBI SAMUEL, BETH EL AND SHILO

There are 3 sites in this section - Nebi Samuel just north of Jerusalem, Beth Elo and Shilo in Samaria. 

FUN FAMILY CYCLING

Cycling is a wonderful way for getting to know the country. The rides here are for families and not serious mountain bikers. All are suitable for hybrid bikes (i.e. half-way between a thin-wheeled and mountain bike). Two are on paved roads and suitable for a thin-wheeled bike. For 3 of the bike rides there are nearby rental places that rent out mountain bikes.

HORSEBACK RIDING CLOSE TO JERUSALEM

There is one location on this page.

OUTDOOR SWIMMING IN SPRING-FED POOLS AND SWIMMIING POOLS IN AND AROUND JERUSALEM 

This useful page has a list and brief description of natural pools and swimming pools in Jerusalem and around Jerusalem. For fuller details just click on the link. Some, such as those in the Judean Desert, are of exceptional beauty. Others are more utilitarian. Unless you are a hotel guest, hotel swimming pools in Jerusalem are usually pricey and are not included here.

A TIMELINE AND LIST OF HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ESSAYS ON THIS WEBSITE

You will miss out a lot touring Israel without some basic knowledge of the history of the Jewish people and this country. This timeline and list of essays will help fill you in.

OUTDOOR TRIPS SUITABLE FOR A STROLLER OR WHEELCHAIR

Almost all the hikes outside Jerusalem are on jeep trails or footpaths and are not suitable for strollers or a wheelchair. However, there are a few exceptions. Most of the walks in Jerusalem are on paved roads, and those without many steps are suitable and are included here.

TREES, BUSHES AND FLOWERS OF THE DESERT

Pictures and descriptions of the most common trees and bushes found in the desert are presented. The adaptations of these plants to the extreme desert conditions is fascinating. Many of them (perhaps almost all of them if we knew more) contribute to the ecosystem around them.

Our apologies if you find a link on the website that does not work. When we add a new page, it often breaks links to other pages, and we are continually redoing the links. However, you can also reach every page using the dropdown on the left.

TRAVELLING BY CAR IN AND AROUND JERUSALEM

Prior to the Six Day War, Jerusalem was a divided city and access to Jerusalem from the rest of the country was via a land corridor from the coastal plain. During the Six Day War the city was reunited and the West Bank of Jordan, i.e. areas north, east and south of Jerusalem, were taken over. The status of these territories was subsequently defined by the 1993 Oslo Accords with the Palestinians. Area A is territory under security and administrative control of the Palestinian Authority. Area B, which is relatively small, is territory under Israeli security control and Palestinian administration. Most of the Arab population of the West Bank lives in areas A and B. Area C constitutes the majority of the territory and is under exclusive Israeli security and administrative control. Most of the main roads through Judea and Samaria pass through area C, so that whenever you travel outside of Jerusalem in a northernly, southernly or easternly direction (i.e. any direction other than west) you are likely travelling beyond the Green Line and in area C.

Is it safe to travel on these roads?

There is no easy answer to this question. It depends on where you are going, when you are going in terms of the political climate, and your tolerance for even minor risk. Route 1 from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea is in area C and passes by neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Most people would consider this road quite safe. Similarly for Route 90 through the Jordan Valley, Route 60 to Gush Etzion, and Route 443 to Modi'in. Some Israelis are hesitant about travelling in regular cars without protective glass south of the Gush towards Hebron or in Samaria because the roads pass through Arab villages. Most Israelis who live in these areas would probably say they are exaggerating the risk.

All "starting points" for hikes outside of Jerusalem are provided on the assumption that you are using the app "Waze". This free app was developed in Israel, keeps abreast of new road construction, and is highly recommended. A default setting is that you will never be directed through areas A and B. In any case, these roads are well signposted with a large red warning notice not to enter. Waze speaks many languages and can direct you in English or in Hebrew. Whenever I provide driving directions and use a place name in English, this is a name that can be recognized by Waze. Otherwise, I provide the name in Hebrew. Be aware that Waze does not avoid towns in East Jerusalem that are within the municipal boundaries and security barrier.

Waze has lots of great features. It tells you the length of your journey, its distance, and your anticipated time of arrival. It provides alternative routes and their time and distance. It warns you whenever you are speeding. If there is a traffice obstruction ahead, Waze will redirect you if it finds a quicker route. However, my recommendation is that you keep a detailed map of Israel in your car so that you know where Waze is redirecting you to. It may be worth waiting out the traffic jam (and Waze will tell you how long is the obstruction) rather than head into non-familiar territory to save a few minutes. A great feature is "Find the best time to leave". You click on an arrival time which is acceptable to you and the program will tell you how long the journey should take and when to leave. This is an extremely valuable feature for Israel where traffic jams around the main cities in rush hour are almost the rule. The "Add a stop" section tells you about parking areas, gas stations and restaurants. Click on the three dots and you can find shopping, pharmacies, gorcery stores, hospitals, hotels and outdoor parks.

How did we ever manage without it?

USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN AND AROUND JERUSALEM

Jerusalemites may complain that buses do not arrive exactly the minute they are expecting them, but the reality is that the public transport system for in and around Jerusalem is pretty good.

If you are staying in Israel for more than a day or two and anticipate using public transport you should definitely buy a Rav-Kav, a smart electronic card, at a cost of currently 5 NIS. These can be prefilled at machines at all light rail stations and many other places for as many rides as you like. You can also enter daily, weekly or monthly contracts into the card, which depending on how many journeys you anticipate can save you money. You can always find out know how many journeys are still on on your card by placing it in the machine and this information is shown on the bottom left of the screen.

With a Rav-Kav you are permitted 1½ hours of free transfers on other buses and even a repeat journey on the light rail. You don't have to tell anyone - the card contains all the information. Without a Rav-Kav, you will have to pay each time you transfer. 

An anonymous Rav-Kav containing one journey can be purchased on a bus, from a Rav-Kav issue station, from kiosks throughout the city, and from Cofix stores and Maayan branches. A personalized RavCav is free, but can only be obtained from a Rav-Kav issue station. Bring along your ID card, passport, or driver's license, together with all relevant documents proving eligibility for special discount profiles. Seniors, for example, are eligible for a 50% discount. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by their parents and provide their parents’ ID card with the attached rider. 

You cannot buy a ticket on a bus, except if you are pensioner. Only a Rav-Kav with one journey. However, this is not the case for buses outside of Jerusalem.  The light rail has no means of accepting cash. However, there are easy-to-use machines located at all light rail stations that take cash or a credit card. You pay for a single journey and receive a paper ticket in exchange.

Additional information for riding on a bus - an automated system on the bus and train usually announces each stop, and this information is also available at the front of the bus and in the carriage. Drivers do not automatically stop at each bus stop unless someone has pressed the button for them to do so. These buttons are conveniently placed close to most seats.

The free app Moovit is invaluable for using public transport in and around Jerusalem, and all place names provided on this website for public transport are English or Hebrew names that Moovit recognizes. Moovit can provide directions on how to get to anywhere on the public transport system, when the next bus close to your current location will arrive, and the schedule for future buses. And an incredible benefit - you no longer have to ask the bus driver or a sympathetic passenger how to get to your destination. Just follow your journey on Moovit as you are travelling. You can even take a nap while you are travelling. An alarm will warn you when you are two stops away from where you want to get off! 

If you are a visitor to Jerusalem from outside the country consider purchasing a "Jerusalem City Pass" while you are in your home country. It offers a free bus ride from the airport to Jerusalem, free public transportation for a week, free entry to main sites, and discounted attractions.

You can buy a personal Rav-Kav at one of the following Rav-Kav service centers: City Center: King George 3 or the Citipass Service Center at Binyan Klal, Yafo 97, the Central Bus Station, 3rd floor across from platform 22, Talpiot: Kenyon Hadar, Floor -1 next to Optica Halperin, Pisgat Ze'ev: Kenyon Pisgat Ze'ev, entry level on the left side, Ramot: Kenyon Ramot, entry level next to Cafe Neeman and across from Bank Leumi, Shchunot HaTzafon: Rav Shefa, 2nd floor, City Center: King George 3 or the Citipass Service Center at Binyan Klal, Yafo 97, Central Bus Station, 3rd floor across from platform 22, Ma'ale Adumim: Derech Kedem 5, Talpiot: Kenyon Hadar, Floor -1 next to Optica Halperin, Pisgat Ze'ev: Kenyon Pisgat Ze'ev, entry level on the left side, Ramot: Kenyon Ramot, entry level next to Cafe Neeman and across from Bank Leumi, Shchunot HaTzafon: Rav Shefa, 2nd floor. 

OTHER ON-LINE RESOURCES 

Itravel Jerusalem is the website of the Jerusalem municipality. It provides a very helpful list and description of the many upcoming events arranged by the Jerusalem Municipality. Also a listing of tours inside and outside the city, nightlife, restaurants, hotels, hostels, vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts. 

Fun in Jerusalem is a useful website, especially for families with kids. The site includes fun activities, camps, chugs and a city guide. It even has a babysitting service.

Tiuli is a hiking website for the entire country. There is both a Hebrew and English version.

Israel B (Israel is your bayit) is a website containing resources useful for English-speaking religious people in Israel. It includes shiurim, Shabbat happenings, and single events. 

The website of The OU israel Center at 22 Rechov Keren Hayesod in Jerusalem describes a very comprehensive program of daily shiurim, lectures and social events In English. They also have a travel program with frequent tiyulim. Tel: 02 560 9100. office@ouisrael.org.

Janglo is an invaluable site for English-speakers in Israel and includes relevant news for English speakers, information about events, and adds for jobs, housing etc.

Restaurants in Israel is a website that lists resturants in the main cities in Israel. It includes information as to the level of kashrut, and provides a link to each restaurant listed.