Visiting Jerusalem
 

Wondering if anyone has any recent information about touring and seeing the Holy City? How safe is it for Americans? Any good tour operators to recommend? Thanks

Why would it be unsafe? It wasn't unsafe earlier this year :). Don't think anything's changed since then. Don't worry about it too much.

Hello OP,

I was in Jerusalem just a few weeks ago and felt completely safe.

For the Old City, there's plenty of tour guides available. You can also take a walk along the top of the wall. Perhaps your hotel concierge can arrange a tour. Have plenty of dollars and shekels with you because sometimes the tour guides prefer to deal in dollars. Even the ATMs dispense cash in dollars -- which is great.

The Old City is not for anyone physically disabled because the streets are narrow and narrow.

There's only a few streets where cars can travel.

But for safety and tourism: Jerusalem is terrific.

I hope you have a great trip.

David

I was there during the summer (wartime). Don't hesitate to go. Just make sure you are out of the Old City by nighttime.

I travel to Israel quite frequently, including Jerusalem and the Old City. I always feel pretty safe, and generally just avoid taking buses. Tour guides are an excellent idea, and are available from many departure points for many different destinations. Your concierge can help schedule the guides on short notice.

Enjoy!

Please continue to follow this thread in the FT Middle East Forums.
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Jsalem is about as safe of a place as you can get in Israel


It is a very special place that everyone should visit at least once


You will have the time of your life. Enjoy!

Do you want tour operators for a complete tour from abroad or as a day tour from other destinations in Israel?

If you are in Tel Aviv, each of the major hotels can arrange a 1 day or even a multi-day tour of Jerusalem. All the major hotels in Jerusalem will arrange a tour or a local guide for you within a very short notice. It is also quite easy to DIY with a book and some taxi rides.

We got back last night from an INCREDIBLE week in Israel (with a side trip to Petra). I hate even the idea of a big tour group and we normally travel with just a guide book, but I got great advice on FT to have a guide at least part of the time. We hired a woman, Carol Ann Bernheim (originally from New Jersey), for part of the time who not only taught us way more than we would have learned on our own, but took us to places we never would have gone - like an opening in the wall between Jerusalem and the West Bank, where we talked to soldiers for over an hour. It was an extraordinary experience.

We felt safe the entire time - well, maybe we were a little nervous when driving near Hebron in the Palestinian area at night on the day that 19 women and children were accidentally killed in an Israeli attack, but that was a stupid route choice on our part and we were actually in no danger at any time.

We spent most of our time in Jerusalem, but drove a rental car to Eilat (and a taxi to Petra) and a day trip to Tel Aviv.

I went there thinking it would be my only trip to Israel but found myself thinking “next time I am here...” an awful lot. I can hardly wait to go back.

Feel free to PM with any questions.

You should have no problems. No matter where you are people speak english and whether you rent a car or take public transportation you will be ok.

The old city is fine. Day or night does not make a difference. I can recommend some personal friends who are quite knowledgeable and are tour guides proffesionally.

Good luck!!!

I have not been to Isreal in a number of years, and for safety reasons I would not go now.

To evaluate what the Australian government says go to http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-c..._and_West_Bank
They rate the country as "Reconsider your need to travel", which is between "High degree of caution" and "Do not travel".

UK travel advice is at http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?...=1013618385504

You can also check the US Government travel warning on Isreal, but I always found their warning to the "politically correct" and understated concerning Isreal safety.

I don't know about Isreal, but Israel is perfectly safe.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/defe...essential.html

How nice to be in the same list with Liberia and Angola ... :)

Bali (which is on the list) still gets a lot of Auzzi tourism. Don't you think you are taking govt warnings a little too seriously?
Israeli govt has a list of it's own. People regard it as people trying to cover their a** just to say "we told you" when something happens. Sinai is on the top of the Israeli "do not travel" list. Sinai for Israelis is what Bali is for Auzzis - close and cheap.

Bottom line, terror is everywhere these days. You don't need the governments to tell you where you should go and where you should not.

I highly recommend visiting Israel. When walking around Jerusalem in particular, you feel very safe. I have read those warnings too, but keep your nose out of trouble, and you will do fine. Israelis are wonderful people who want to show you everything. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to visit Jerusalem.

I suppose it depends on how you want to live. I am sure the people shopping at the Santa Monica, CA farmer's market a few years ago thought they were pretty safe until the elderly man drove his car into the crowd, killing 10 and injuring 50. I don't believe any government warned about that risk, or the risk of a massive tsunami that would kill several hundred thousand people and displace millions.

I felt totally safe in Jerusalem last week at all times of the day and night. There were numerous trained guards around that checked bags when entering restaurants and shops (similar to what I have experienced in Paris). I don’t think my safety was any more at risk than if I had stayed locked in my home and risked fire, tornados or raging snowstorms. I am not stupid, but I only have one life to live, and I want to really live it. I am VERY glad I went to Israel and look forward to returning soon.