City of David & Old City

Travel back in time to the Jerusalem of King David and discover the many layers of the first Old City. See incredible archaeological finds, and walk in the steps of our fathers.

Two routes start at the City of David spring, and your group picks one.

Hezekiah’s Tunnel

An extraordinary 2,700-year-old water tunnel built in the days of King Hezekiah. Two teams dug from opposite ends and met in the middle; a stone inscription marks the moment they heard each other’s picks through the rock. You walk it knee-deep in places, torch in hand. A dry, older Canaanite tunnel runs alongside if you prefer.

The Pilgrimage Road

Relive the aliyah l’regel on the newer route, the street that carried pilgrims up to the Temple Mount. Dug out beneath the modern neighborhood, you walk underground, ascending the same steps to emerge beneath the Western Wall.

Which route you take depends on the group and the season. Both are extraordinary in their own way.

From the tunnel to the Old City

Whichever route you choose leads you to the Western Wall. The Western Wall Tunnels extend the experience, revealing the full length of the wall, the Western Stone, Wilson’s Arch, and a stretch of Herodian street. Timed-entry bookings are essential; this is the anchor of the day.

The Jewish Quarter and the Cardo

Rise into the Jewish Quarter to walk the buried Cardo, Rome’s grand street, unearthed below the modern level. You’ll also see the Hurva Synagogue, the Broad Wall, and rooftop views across all four quarters, with the blue-and-white pulse of contemporary Jerusalem below.

Swapping options

Hurva Synagogue — The dramatic rebirth story and a 360° view of the Old City from the summit.

Machane Yehuda Market — A sensory finale: color, aroma and flavor in Jerusalem’s legendary market.

Temple Mount Sifting Project — Hands-on archaeology. Sift soil for coins, pottery and artifacts.

Second Temple virtual reality — Step into ancient Jerusalem with immersive recreations.

Practical notes

A full day, roughly seven to nine hours.

This is a walking day, on Old City stone throughout: uneven, sloped in places, with steps. Comfortable closed shoes matter more here than on most days.

Hezekiah’s Tunnel is walked in water, knee-high in places, in the dark with a torch. It is narrow. If that is not for you, say so and we take the dry Canaanite tunnel or the Pilgrimage Road instead. The day works either way.

The Western Wall Tunnels need a timed booking, which is why they anchor the day and the rest flexes around them.

Modest dress is required at the Western Wall: shoulders and knees covered.