West Bank Essentials

The West Bank contains some of the world's most significant religious and archaeological landmarks, spanning Neolithic ruins to modern cultural centers. This collection features Tell as-Sultan, the site of ancient Jericho, and the Herodian fortress of Herodion. It includes 5th-century Greek Orthodox monasteries carved into desert cliffs, the 8th-century Umayyad architecture of Hisham’s Palace, and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Visitors can also explore modern history at the Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Darwish museums or visit the traditional baptismal site at Qasr al-Yahud on the Jordan River.

West Bank Essentials — Map

A

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town

A UNESCO World Heritage site characterized by narrow winding streets and Mamluk-era stone architecture. It serves as a significant commercial and religious hub, centered around the historic Cave of the Patriarchs complex.

Bcrawford92 / Public domain

B

River Jordan

The Jordan River or River Jordan, also known as Nahr Al-Sharieat, is a 251-kilometre-long river in the Middle East that flows roughly north…

Asaf T. / Public domain

C

Herodion Ruins

Herodion, Herodium, or Jabal al-Fureidis is an ancient fortress located 12 kilometres south of Jerusalem and 5 kilometres southeast of…

A. Sobkowski / Public domain

D

Qasr Hisham

Hisham's Palace, also known as Khirbat al-Mafjar, is an important early Islamic archaeological site in the city of Jericho, in the West…

Tango7174 / GFDL

E

Deir al-Quruntal, Monastery of the Temptation

The Monastery of the Temptation is a Greek Orthodox monastery located in Jericho, Palestine.

Marquez / Public domain

F

Yasser Arafat

Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini, popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar, was a…

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

G

Qasr al Yahud

Qasr al-Yahud is the western section of the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist on the Jordan River.

H

Cave of the Patriarchs

A religious complex built over caves believed to be the burial site of biblical figures including Abraham and Sarah. The structure features massive Herodian masonry and houses both a mosque and a synagogue.

Jean & Nathalie / CC BY 2.0

I

Mar Saba Monastery

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…

Mujaddara / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

St. George Monastery

A 5th-century Greek Orthodox monastery built directly into the cliffside of Wadi Qelt. The complex includes ancient mosaics, a chapel, and a collection of historical icons and relics.

Reinhard Dietrich / Public domain

K

Tell as-Sultan

Tell es-Sultan, also known as Tel Jericho or Ancient Jericho, is a UNESCO-nominated archaeological site in the West Bank, located adjacent…

Tiamat / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Palestinian Heritage Center

Located in Bethlehem, this center preserves traditional Palestinian culture through its collection of hand-embroidered textiles, historical costumes, and household artifacts from various regions.

Soman / CC BY-SA 3.0

M

Mahmoud Darwish Museum (Al-Birweh Park)

This cultural complex in Ramallah is dedicated to the Palestinian national poet. The site includes a museum showcasing his personal belongings and original manuscripts, his tomb, and a landscaped public park.