Home›Culture›Faith and Heritage›Bethlehem and Hebron
Faith and Heritage · Palestinian Territories
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, honored as the birthplace of Jesus, and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, revered as the tomb of Abraham, are among the oldest holy sites in the world. This short guide covers visiting hours, dress and etiquette for both, as part of a wider Holy Land tour.
At a glance
Bethlehem sits in the hills just south of Jerusalem, and most visitors come on a day trip with a licensed guide and driver. The heart of the town is Manger Square, with the Church of the Nativity on one side and the Mosque of Omar on the other. The church and the pilgrimage route through the old town are inscribed by UNESCO.
Christmas in Bethlehem is celebrated three times: on December 24 and 25 by Catholic and Protestant churches, in early January by the Orthodox churches, and later in January by the Armenian church. These are the most moving and the busiest times to visit.
One of the oldest churches in continuous use, first built in the fourth century and rebuilt in the sixth, with restored golden mosaics. Visitors stoop through the low Door of Humility and descend to the Grotto of the Nativity, where a silver star marks the traditional place of the birth. Generally open daily from early morning to early evening; the grotto pauses for services.
The Franciscan church from which the Catholic Midnight Mass is broadcast worldwide each Christmas Eve.
A small chapel of soft white stone, linked by tradition to the Holy Family's flight to Egypt.
Gardens and chapels at the place where tradition says the angels announced the birth to the shepherds.
Bethlehem's main mosque, named for the caliph who is said to have prayed nearby; visitors may look in outside prayer times.
Hebron and the Cave
Hebron, called Al-Khalil in Arabic, is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities. Its Old Town is inscribed by UNESCO. At its center stands the great Herodian enclosure over the Cave of Machpela, honored by Jews and Muslims as the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. Muslims know it as the Ibrahimi Mosque; Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me'arat HaMachpela).
The building is divided into separate areas for Muslim and Jewish worship, each with its own entrance and security check. Visits are best made with an experienced local guide who knows current access arrangements. Areas close for prayers, on the Sabbath and on religious holidays, so plan around them. Dress fully covered; women cover their hair in the mosque area and abayas are provided.
Speak quietly in the holy places, avoid photographing worshippers, and follow guides and custodians. Friday midday and Sunday morning are times of prayer. Bethlehem's olive-wood carvers and embroidery workshops make meaningful keepsakes; buying directly supports local families. The Bethlehem Museum and the restored houses along Star Street, part of the old pilgrimage route, reward an unhurried hour.
The best plan is an early start: arrive at the Church of the Nativity as it opens, before tour groups, then walk Star Street and lunch in the old town. A private car allows Hebron the same day for those who wish, returning to Jerusalem by evening. Late autumn and spring offer mild weather; Advent and Christmas bring choirs, lights and processions.
Conditions and access can change at short notice, so check current guidance before you go and travel with a licensed guide. Most visitors stay in Jerusalem; see our Jerusalem hotels guide and the Jerusalem holy city page. For the wider journey, read our pages on Christian holy sites and Jewish heritage sites.
Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here
Across the Middle East, the finest resorts and the finest homes now sit side by side, and many international buyers own before they ever visit.
Ultra-Luxury Tourism & Ultra-Luxury Real Estate
Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.