Tastes of Old Town
Jerusalem, Israel
From USD 108.00
Office phone number: +972 2583 3614
Tastes of Old Town
Jerusalem, Israel
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
This Jerusalem tour serves up a little bit of everything, and all of it is far off the tourist trail! See the Old City with new eyes as you explore the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian quarters that define Jerusalem today — with plenty of food stops along the way.
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Highlights
- Explore four different quarters of Jerusalem and see how each has its own cultural flavour
- Get a local perspective on life in the city, beyond the touristy bits of Old Town
- Sample sweet and savoury local delights such as falafel, hummus, ka’ek, knafeh, and Armenian lahmajoun
- Learn about the different ethnic groups who inhabit the city today
- Walk through alleys not usually trodden by tourists
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
In front of Herod’s Gate, on Sultan Suleiman Street, before entering the gate into the Old City.
Your guide will be wearing an Urban Adventures T-shirt or cap.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 8.00 AM
- Ending point:
New Gate
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, breakfast, tea, and some snacks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
The Old City of Jerusalem is chock-full of surprises! With four different quarters “assigned” to the Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Armenians, the city is a mix of cultures and traditions from all around the world.
No tourist comes to Jerusalem without going to the Old City at least once. For many who have extra time, they go over and over again, but many don’t venture through the alleyways that lead to the various communities that make the Old City what it is today. That’s what we’re going to do on this tour!
Your Jerusalem tour will go through all four quarters, exploring local life. We’ll learn about their cultures and traditions, and try a mix of sweet and savoury delights inspired by the different cultures.
In the Muslim Quarter, we’ll visit the Small Western Wall, where you can pray privately without the crowds of the larger and more famous Western Wall. We’ll also visit a Sa’aleek coffee shop for a nice breakfast of hummus, ka’ek and tea. (Sa’aleek were basically tramps who wandered from city to city, and were mostly poets and authors.) From there, we’ll head to the market and try a traditional Arabic dessert, washed down, of course, with strong Arabic coffee.
Next up, our Jerusalem tour will lead us to the Christian Quarter, going through the Coptic community and down to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where you’ll get a glimpse of the various protocols governing the Church by the different Christian sects.
In the Jewish Quarter, we’ll walk through archways, passing through residential areas housing Christian Assyrians and Armenians. If we’re lucky on a Monday or Thursday, we might even witness a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and visit the Four Sephardic Synagogues.
And just when you thought you won’t be able to eat any more, we’ll head to the Armenian Quarter and sit in a restaurant for a well-deserved rest, and dig into authentic Armenian pizza, called lahmajoun.
Lastly, with a trip through the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, our tour will end at the New Gate.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, breakfast, tea, and some snacks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Modest dress is required. For men, that means short sleeves and shorts below the knee. For women, short sleeves and dresses/skirts/shorts below the knee. Please also wear good walking shoes.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: There is a lot of walking on this tour, so be well prepared with proper shoes, water, sunscreen, hats, etc. When it’s raining, some areas in the Old City can be slippery, so caution while walking is required.
Closure of sites: If certain areas are closed for any reason (holiday, strike, etc.), your guide will find a substitute site to visit instead.
Child Policy: Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +972 2583 3614
Email address: info@jerusalemurbanadventures.com
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