Few cities have the ability to inspire quite as much passion as the Old City of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim in Hebrew, Al-Quds in Arabic). With its pleasant, temperate climate, Jerusalem provides a unique opportunity to experience at close hand the contrasting opposites of ancient and modern, oriental and western, heavenly and earthly.
Pay a visit to the Holy Sepulchre- the site where Christ was laid to rest; the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount- Islam’s third most important religious site after Mecca and Medina; as well as the Wailing Wall at the foot of Temple Mount, which is Judaism’s most important place of prayer. Discover authentic Jewish culture in west Jerusalem or take on the Arab traditions in east Jerusalem. While the west is characterized by leafy suburbs, smart cafes and outgoing nightlife, the east offers a more relaxed pace of life, and street markets instead of shopping malls. It is in the midst of these two contrasting halves that the Old City is to be found. With the exception of the museums on the western edge of town, most of Jerusalem’s main sights are found here.
Explore the labyrinthine streets enclosed within walls of limestone dating back to the 16th century and the reign of the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent. This is where the majority of visitors to the city will spend most of their time. Despite the lack of licensing laws, Jerusalem has never been known for its wild nightlife and if you’re looking to dance the night away your best bet would be to follow the example of many Jerusalemites and take a sherut the 60km (37 miles) to Tel Aviv.
The nightclubs that do exist in Jerusalem tend to be located in the Talpiot area, are expensive, and operate smart dress codes. Nightlife is even quieter than usual at present due to security worries and East Jerusalem is particularly empty after dark. | 
