Top Attractions in Bethlehem

Bethlehem Unmissables

Bethlehem centers on Manger Square, home to the 4th-century Church of the Nativity and the Omar Mosque. The Old City’s limestone alleys house the traditional Al Souq market and the Milk Grotto. On the city's edge, the Walled Off Hotel and Banksy’s Armoured Dove mural provide contemporary political context. Cultural sites like the Palestinian Heritage Center showcase traditional embroidery, while the remote Mar Saba monastery offers insight into Greek Orthodox monastic life in the Judean Desert.

Bethlehem Unmissables — Map

Neil Ward / CC BY 2.0

A

Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity, or Basilica of the Nativity, is a basilica located in Bethlehem in the West Bank, Palestine.

Sygic Traveler / All rights reserved

B

Bethlehem Old City

Come and experience the wonders of the ancient city of Bethlehem, an essential religious site described in the New Testament as the…

Antoine Taveneaux / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Chapel of the Milk Grotto

This chapel takes its name after a story about Mary dropping milk here while nursing Jesus.

Kaasmail / Public domain

D

Mar Saba Church

The Holy Lavra of Saint Sabbas, known in Arabic and Syriac as Mar Saba and historically as the Great Laura of Saint Sabas, is a Greek…

Martin Kucera / CC-BY-SA

E

Walled Off Hotel - Banksy

A boutique hotel designed by Banksy, situated directly opposite the West Bank separation wall. It contains a museum detailing the wall's history and an art gallery featuring Palestinian works.

F

Omar Mosque

The Mosque of Omar is the only mosque in the Old City of Bethlehem, Palestine.

Onceinawhile / cc-by-sa-4.0

G

Rachel's Tomb

Ancient burial site and holy place of worship traditionally identified as the tomb of a biblical matriarch. The site features an Ottoman-era structure and serves as a significant pilgrimage destination for multiple faiths.

H

Old Market (Al Souq)

A traditional marketplace in the Old City featuring narrow alleys lined with vendors selling fresh produce, spices, local olive wood handicrafts, and traditional textiles.

Sygic Traveler / All rights reserved

I

Armoured Dove by Banksy

A street art mural by Banksy depicting a white dove in a bulletproof vest with a target on its chest, located on a wall near the Palestinian Heritage Center.

Tiamat / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Palestinian Heritage Center

A cultural institution focused on the preservation of Palestinian folklore, featuring a collection of traditional embroidered dresses, antique household items, and a fair-trade gift shop.