Things to do in Palestine

25 things to do in Palestine

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

  Step inside the ancient basilica marking the birthplace of Jesus, with its 4th-century mosaics and the Grotto of the Nativity.

  Bethlehem, West Bank

• Walk the Ramparts of Jerusalem's Old City

  Stroll along the 16th-century stone walls from Damascus Gate to Jaffa Gate for panoramic views over the Old City's domes and minarets.

  East Jerusalem

• Explore Ramallah's nightlife

  Bar-hop through the buzzing streets of Ramallah, where trendy rooftop lounges and live music venues stay open late.

  Ramallah, West Bank

• Hike through Wadi Qelt

  Descend into a deep desert gorge past the cliff-hugging Saint George Monastery, following ancient aqueducts and dramatic rock formations.

  Jericho Governorate, West Bank

• Float in the Dead Sea at Kalia Beach

  Experience effortless buoyancy in the hypersaline waters at the lowest point on Earth, surrounded by stark desert landscapes.

  Kalia, West Bank

• Taste knafeh in Nablus

  Savour the city’s iconic sweet cheese pastry, baked to golden perfection and soaked in syrup, at a traditional shop in the old city.

  Nablus, West Bank

• See Banksy's graffiti on Bethlehem's separation wall

  View the world-famous stencil art and political murals along the concrete barrier, including the Walled Off Hotel installations.

  Bethlehem, West Bank

• Visit Jacob's Well in Nablus

  Descend into the crypt of a Greek Orthodox church to see the deep well where Jesus is said to have spoken with the Samaritan woman.

  Nablus, West Bank

• Meet the Samaritan community on Mount Gerizim

  Visit the tiny, ancient community at their holy mountain, tour the museum and attend a Samaritan Passover sacrifice.

  Mount Gerizim, West Bank

• Wander the ancient souk of Hebron

  Get lost in the covered, vaulted stone alleys of the Old City market, where glassblowers and leather craftsmen work in centuries-old shops.

  Hebron, West Bank

• Visit the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs)

  Enter the monumental Herodian compound housing the revered tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, shared by Muslims and Jews.

  Hebron, West Bank

• Explore ancient Tell es-Sultan in Jericho

  Walk among the excavated Neolithic tower and walls of the 10,000-year-old city, one of humanity's earliest settlements.

  Jericho, West Bank

• Learn to cook maqluba with a Bethlehem family

  Join a local kitchen to prepare the iconic upside-down rice dish with spiced chicken and vegetables, then share the meal.

  Bethlehem, West Bank

• Ride the cable car to the Monastery of the Temptation

  Soar above Jericho to the cliffside monastery where Jesus is said to have fasted, then enjoy sweeping views of the Jordan Valley.

  Jericho, West Bank

• Trek from Mar Saba Monastery to Bethlehem

  Hike a desert route from the dramatic cliff monastery through the Judean wilderness, ending at the city of Christ's birth.

  West Bank

• Visit the Roman ruins of Sebastiya

  Explore the colonnaded streets, theater and temple remains of ancient Samaria, capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel.

  Sebastiya, West Bank

• Admire the mosaics at Hisham's Palace

  Walk across the exquisite Tree of Life mosaic floor inside an 8th-century Umayyad winter palace near Jericho, a masterpiece of Islamic art.

  Jericho Governorate, West Bank

• Join the olive harvest in the Nablus hills

  Experience an autumn tradition by hand-picking olives with local families, then visit a press for fresh oil and a farm-to-table lunch.

  Nablus Governorate, West Bank

• Sample craft beer at Birzeit Brewery

  Taste local Palestinian brews like Shepherds' Pale Ale at the first craft brewery in the West Bank, set in a university town.

  Birzeit, West Bank

• Stroll Ramallah's Al-Masyoon art district

  Browse contemporary art galleries, designer boutiques and sidewalk cafes in leafy Al-Masyoon, the city's cultural hub.

  Ramallah, West Bank

• Discover the soap factories and spice shops of Nablus old city

  Follow your nose through narrow stone lanes to see traditional olive-oil soap being cut and mountains of aromatic spices and herbs.

  Nablus, West Bank

• Watch sunset from Herodium fortress

  Climb King Herod's cone-shaped palace-fortress for a 360-degree panorama of the Judean Desert and Dead Sea as the sun sinks.

  Near Bethlehem, West Bank

• Take a tatreez embroidery workshop in Bethlehem

  Learn the centuries-old art of Palestinian cross-stitch from women artisans, creating your own piece of vibrant traditional dress.

  Bethlehem, West Bank

• Visit Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls caves

  See the site where the ancient scrolls were discovered in 1947, with a viewing platform over Cave 4 and a small museum.

  Qumran, West Bank

• Savour a traditional Palestinian breakfast in Jenin

  Start the day in the Old City with hummus, fatteh, ful, fresh bread and olive oil at a local eatery overlooking a lively square.

  Jenin, West Bank