Chasing the Fionist Dream

Are you planning a trip to Jerusalem? Or do you live there and are looking for affordable activities in the city? Luckily, Israel’s capital has plenty of free and almost free things to do and it’s a great city to get to and around by public transportation. While we’ve never done a proper multi-night family vacation in Jerusalem (like we have in Bat Yam, Eilat, and Haifa), we do day trips in Jerusalem often and love the city. It truly is like no other.

Okay, enough with the intro. Are you ready?

Here are our 12 favorite free and almost free things to do in Jerusalem – in no particular order.

1. The Old City. We’re listing this one first since it has SO MUCH TO DO and can easily fill up a day or more on its own. We love it because it gives you the chance to travel back in time and across cultures all within walking distance. Many things in the Old City are free, but some independently run attractions do have admission fees and/or require booking ahead. While there are many, many more things to do in the Old City, here are some of our favorite activities:
   
   
   • Ramparts Walk. Did you know that you can walk ON the walls of the Old City? You can walk at your own pace and see the city from up above. On your way, you’ll learn about the defenders of Jerusalem from throughout the ages and meet life-size statues of soldiers patrolling the walls. This activity costs 25 shekels for adults and 12 for kids, but is often free during Chol Hamoed. We had a great time there this past Pesach.
     
     
   • Western Wall Tunnel Tours. This tour takes you back to the times of the Bet Hamikdash, the Jewish Temple, to see actual artifacts and learn how people lived then. As more and more artifacts are uncovered, new tours are opened. If it’s been a few years since you were last there, it’s definitely worth going again.
     
     
   • Jewish Temple VR tour. Put on a pair of VR goggles and experience the Bet Hamikdash up close and in person. This one can be easily paired with the Tunnel Tours.
     
     
   • The Western Wall/Kotel itself. Say some prayers or stick a note between the stones.
     
     
   • Explore the three other quarters. We haven’t done this much with kids, but the Old City is so much fun to explore and is so much more than just the Jewish Quarter. Moving from one quarter to the next feels like you are traveling between countries and through time. Haggle in the Arab market, check out old churches, and tourist watch.
     
     
   • Keep in mind that parking in the Old City is almost impossible. You’ll be better off taking public transportation.
     
     
     
2. Machane Yehuda Market and Ben Yehuda Street. We’re listing these together since they are both in central Jerusalem and close to one another. Come here to people watch, haggle, and enjoy new tastes and aromas. You can register for a paid organized tour of Machane Yehuda Market or explore on your own. On Ben Yehuda Street, walk down the pedestrian street, enjoy street performers, pick up souvenirs, and try new foods.
   
   
3. Visit the Knesset. Have you ever wondered how the Knesset works? You can learn all about it through one of its free tours. We actually did this on one of our dates before we were married and had a great time. Make sure to register in advance here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the tours open to individuals and families.
   
   
4. Visit the Supreme Court. If you’ve ever wanted to learn about Israel’s justice system, book yourself a free tour of the Supreme Court.
   
   
5. Say hi to the gazelles. The Gazelle Valley nature preserve is home to around 140 gazelles as well as a variety of other wildlife. Located right next to Pat Junction, it is easily accessible by public transportation. At the visitor’s center, you can get a guided introduction to the place and can borrow binoculars, which you can use to get an even closer view of the animals. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views throughout the park. As if this all isn’t isn’t enough to convince you, entry is free.
   
   
6. Never Again is now. Learn all about the largest genocide in history at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum. Admission is free, but you may have to pay a small registration fee to reserve tickets on the site. Entry is from age ten and up.
   
   
7. Take a stroll and enjoy the view from the Haas-Sherover-Goldman Promenades. While Jerusalem’s boardwalk isn’t on the beach like Tel Aviv’s, it gives visitors a spectacular view of the city and beyond. On its three extensive walking paths, you’ll see joggers, tourists, and people walking their dogs on the backdrop of Israel’s capital city. You can learn about the history of this area and it even has some outdoor-friendly musical instruments for you to try out. All of this, of course, is free.
   
   
8. Go on a hike. Jerusalem has something for everyone – even the nature enthusiasts among us. We like Sataf and its natural springs – and you can even get there by public transportation. Check out this article for more free outdoor activities in the Jerusalem area.
   
   
9. First Station. Learn about the train line that connected Jerusalem to Jaffa while enjoying free art exhibits, yoga classes, and concerts. Make sure to check out its particular offerings before you go.
   
   
10. Ride a bike. Jerusalem has an extensive rental bike network that boasts regular and electric bikes. You can pick up a bike from anywhere and return it anywhere. Like car-sharing, you pay by the minute on the app. Check out the Jerufun site to find out all of the details.
    
    
11. Climb, slide, and climb some more. Jerusalem is home to several state-of-the-art playgrounds. Did you know that Israel’s biggest climbing park is in Gan Sacher? You’ll find many other great playgrounds in other neighborhoods as well. Having kids is a great excuse to do some climbing yourself. 😉 And of course – all of these playgrounds are free.
    
    
12. Get soaking wet. During the hotter months, be sure to visit Teddy Park, right outside of the Old City Walls. Every hour or two, a 30-minute water show takes place on a bed of a hundred or so underground fountains. Getting wet is free and open to the public. This is a popular summer activity for Jerusalem families. If you’d actually like to sit and enjoy the fountain show, go at night, when it is accompanied by lights and music.
    
    
13. Visit a museum. Jerusalem’s wonderful museums can get a bit pricey, but many of have free admission on chol hamo’ed and International Museum Day on May 9. Make sure to check before you go. Enjoy! 🙂

Have you been to Jerusalem? What are your favorite things to do in the city? What did we miss in this list?

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