Where to Stay in Jerusalem: The Best Neighborhoods & Hotel Tips

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Jerusalem on a Map

Beautiful, safe, and central — the best neighborhoods to stay in Jerusalem, in our opinion, are the Old City, the city center, the German Colony, and East Jerusalem. In our quick tips, we’ve already given you a brief overview of which neighborhood suits you best.

To help you get your bearings right away, let’s start with a map of our top neighborhoods for staying in Jerusalem.

Staying in the Old City

The Old City is perfect for you if you’re visiting Jerusalem for the first time.

The Old City is where you’ll find most of Jerusalem’s famous attractions, historic sites, and religious landmarks — the Temple Mount with the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are all right on your doorstep.

The Old City has a truly multicultural vibe — it’s divided into four quarters: the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Armenian quarters, all framed by its ancient walls.

The streets are always alive with activity — locals and tourists side by side. You’re well connected to public transit here, so reaching the city center is quick and easy.

Advantages of staying in the Old City

• Numerous top attractions within walking distance
• Historic atmosphere and cultural diversity
• Plenty of restaurants and cafés

Disadvantages of staying in the Old City

• Not suitable if you have a rental car
• Accommodations are expensive and book up fast
• Hotels are often small and dated

Our Hotel Picks for Jerusalem's Old City

Staying in the City Center

The city center is the best place to stay if you want to do more than sightseeing — think shopping, dining out, and nightlife.

The city center sits in West Jerusalem, outside the Old City walls, and you can reach the Old City very quickly by public transit.

This is where everyday Jerusalem life unfolds. There are shopping malls, plenty of restaurants, cafés, and even the Knesset — Israel’s parliament — is located here. At the markets, like Mahane Yehuda, you can mingle with locals and sample the food. Come evening, a lively nightlife scene takes over the alleyways.

Compared to the Old City, there’s a much wider selection of hotels — from simple hostels and boutique hotels to well-known chains. They tend to be cheaper and better quality too.

Advantages of staying in the city center

• Central location and great public transit connections
• Wide selection of excellent hotels
• Great shopping and nightlife

Disadvantages of staying in the city center

• Lots of people and noise
• Not suitable with a rental car

Our Hotel Picks for Jerusalem's City Center

Staying in the German Colony

We especially recommend the German Colony for families and anyone looking for a quieter stay.

The German Colony is a residential neighborhood in a quiet part of Jerusalem. The pace here is really relaxed, and it’s particularly great for families with kids.

The flip side is that you’ll need to take public transit to reach the Old City or city center for sightseeing — it’s not within walking distance.

There aren’t many well-known sights here, but there are plenty of trendy cafés, restaurants, and boutique shops to explore. For places to stay, you’ll mostly find upscale boutique hotels and beautiful apartments rather than budget options.

Advantages of staying in the German Colony

• Quiet location away from mass tourism
• Especially family-friendly
• Mostly upscale, beautiful accommodations

Disadvantages of staying in the German Colony

• Less central
• No nightlife
• Few well-known attractions nearby

Our Hotel Picks for the German Colony

Staying in East Jerusalem

East Jerusalem is our pick for travelers who’ve already visited Jerusalem before and want to experience a different side of the city.

East Jerusalem sits just above the Old City. It’s a Muslim neighborhood and a fascinating place to experience a genuinely different culture.

That said, you should know that the political status of East Jerusalem is a central issue in the Middle East conflict, and political tensions can arise. That doesn’t mean you can’t stay here — but do check the current security situation before you go.

The areas considered safest within East Jerusalem are Sheikh Jarrah, which has several budget and mid-range hotels, and Abu Tor, known for its spectacular views of the Old City. Musrara has a reputation as the arts neighborhood and is home to a particularly large number of boutique hotels.

Advantages of staying in East Jerusalem

• You get to experience a culturally different side of the city
• Very close to highlights like the Temple Mount
• More affordable than the Old City or city center

Disadvantages of staying in East Jerusalem

• The security situation can change quickly
• Less developed public transit

Our Hotel Picks for East Jerusalem

General Tips for Staying in Jerusalem

Before you book, here are a few practical things worth keeping in mind when choosing where to stay in Jerusalem.

• Tourist tax: When you check in, accommodations in Jerusalem charge a tourist tax. The amount varies depending on the type of accommodation and the length of your stay.
• Safety: Jerusalem is generally a safe travel destination, but political unrest can occur. Before booking your hotel, check the current security situation in your chosen neighborhood.
• Respect for religion: Jerusalem is a deeply multicultural city full of important religious sites. In more orthodox neighborhoods especially, you’ll need to follow certain dress codes, some areas may be restricted, and photography may not be allowed. It’s worth looking up the rules for the neighborhood where your hotel is located before you arrive.