Palestine
Phone Code
+970
Capital
East Jerusalem
Population
5 Million
Native Name
فلسطين
Region
Asia
Western Asia
Timezones
Eastern European Time
UTC+02:00
+1 more
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The Palestinian territories — the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip — sit at the geographical heart of the Holy Land's layered religious and archaeological heritage. The West Bank stretches between the Mediterranean coastal plain and the Jordan River, with terrain ranging from the Judean Hills around Bethlehem and Hebron to the deep Jordan Valley around Jericho — at about -258 metres the lowest inhabited place on Earth. Four UNESCO World Heritage sites concentrate the country's cultural footprint: the Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route in Bethlehem, marking the traditional birthplace of Jesus; Tel es-Sultan in Jericho, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities with archaeological layers reaching back about 11,000 years; the old city of Hebron with the Cave of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque, sacred in Jewish, Christian and Muslim tradition; and the Land of Olives and Vines around Battir, a living agricultural landscape of stone terraces and Roman-era irrigation. Beyond the inscribed sites, Nablus carries Roman and Ottoman archaeology together with the Levant's celebrated soap-making and knafeh traditions; East Jerusalem holds the Christian, Muslim, Armenian and Jewish Quarters of the Old City; and Sebastia, Mar Saba Monastery, Wadi Qelt and the Mount of Olives anchor a wider circuit that pilgrims, archaeologists and heritage travellers have visited for centuries. About five million people live across the territories, Ramallah serves as the administrative centre of the Palestinian Authority, and Arabic is the official language. Entry is governed by Israeli border control: travellers usually arrive via Israel and visit West Bank sites such as Bethlehem and Jericho on day trips from Jerusalem, or cross the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge from Jordan. Travellers should check their own government's current advisories before booking, as conditions can change.
Entry to the Palestinian Territories
There is no separate Palestinian tourist visa. Entry to the West Bank is governed by Israeli border control: most visitors arrive via Israel — typically with the standard 90-day tourist entry granted to eligible nationalities at Ben Gurion Airport — and visit Palestinian cities such as Bethlehem, Jericho, Ramallah and Hebron on day trips from Jerusalem or as part of organised heritage tours. The Allenby/King Hussein Bridge from Jordan is an alternative crossing that places travellers directly in the West Bank without first entering Israel proper; the same Israeli entry permission applies. Access between Israeli-administered and Palestinian Authority-administered areas typically passes through Israeli checkpoints, where wait times vary. Access to the Gaza Strip is highly restricted by Israeli and Egyptian authorities and is not feasible for ordinary tourism. Travellers planning a visit should check their own government's current advisories before booking and confirm the situation with their tour operator or hotel a day or two before travel.
Common Visa Types
Israeli Tourist Entry (Standard Route)
The default route for visiting the West Bank — Bethlehem, Jericho, Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus, Sebastia.
Allenby / King Hussein Bridge from Jordan
Land crossing from Amman direct into the West Bank, useful for combined Jordan + Palestinian-territories itineraries.
Gaza Strip Access (Highly Restricted)
Access to Gaza is not available for ordinary tourism.
Essential Palestine Travel Information
Travel Guide
Palestinian travel concentrates a remarkable density of heritage and natural sites within a small area. Bethlehem anchors the Christian pilgrim circuit: Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity (UNESCO), the Milk Grotto and the Shepherds' Field at Beit Sahour draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, with Christmas Eve services drawing the largest international crowds. Jericho, forty minutes from Jerusalem along the Dead Sea road, combines the world's oldest continuously inhabited urban site at Tel es-Sultan with the eighth-century Umayyad mosaics of Hisham's Palace, the Mount of Temptation Monastery (cable car access from the valley floor), and the Qasr al-Yahud baptism site on the Jordan River — itself a moving stop for Christian travellers. The West Bank shore of the Dead Sea, with public beaches at Kalia and the world's lowest spa elevations, sits within easy reach. Hebron's old city — covered souks, glass-blowing and ceramic workshops, the Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of the Patriarchs — is a UNESCO listing in its own right. Nablus combines Roman, Crusader and Mamluk archaeology with the Levant's most famous knafeh, a long olive-oil and soap-making tradition, and the small Samaritan community on Mount Gerizim above the city; nearby Sebastia adds Roman remains and a Crusader-era cathedral. East Jerusalem's Old City quarters, the Mount of Olives with the Garden of Gethsemane, Mar Saba Monastery in the Judean Desert and the terraced agricultural landscape of Battir (UNESCO Land of Olives and Vines) round out the cultural circuit. Cuisine is unmistakably Levantine — musakhan, maqluba, mansaf, knafeh, fresh olive oil, za'atar, coffee with cardamom — and contemporary cultural life is vivid: oud and qanun music, dabke dance, tatreez embroidery, and a growing Palestinian cinema and gallery scene in Ramallah, Bethlehem and Birzeit.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The four-day pilgrim circuit linking Bethlehem (Church of the Nativity, Milk Grotto, Shepherds' Field), Jerusalem's Mount of Olives and Old City, Jericho's Mount of Temptation Monastery and Qasr al-Yahud baptism site, and Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs is among the most concentrated religious-heritage itineraries in the world. Christmas (Catholic, Orthodox and Armenian dates differ) and Easter draw the largest crowds; spring and autumn shoulder months offer milder weather and quieter sites. Many Christian denominations operate guesthouses and hospices in Bethlehem and Jerusalem (Casa Nova, Notre Dame, Casa Santa Marta and others) which can be booked directly.
Tel es-Sultan in Jericho exposes Neolithic walls and round towers from c.9000 BCE, among the earliest urban architecture anywhere. Hisham's Palace preserves a vast star-mosaic floor and an ornate audience hall from the Umayyad period. Sebastia near Nablus layers Iron Age, Hellenistic, Roman and Crusader remains on a single hilltop. Hebron's covered souk and Mamluk-era domestic architecture form a continuous old-city fabric, and Battir's terraced landscape preserves Roman irrigation channels still in use. Excellent local guides operate in each city; many speak English and several European languages.
Knafeh Nabulsi (Nablus's signature semolina-and-cheese sweet served warm), musakhan (sumac-roasted chicken on taboon bread), maqluba (the upside-down rice and meat casserole), za'atar with olive oil and fresh taboon bread, and the strong cardamom coffee of the West Bank define the everyday food culture. Hebron glass and Nablus soap remain working crafts; tatreez embroidery in cross-stitched red and black is a UNESCO-listed intangible heritage. Ramallah's restaurant and cafe scene, Birzeit University's cultural calendar and the Palestinian Museum at Birzeit anchor contemporary cultural life.
Walking the Wadi Qelt gorge between Jerusalem and Jericho, hiking sections of the Masar Ibrahim al-Khalil (Path of Abraham, a long-distance trail running the West Bank from Rummana in the north to the Hebron Hills in the south), visiting the Mar Saba Monastery cliff complex above the Kidron Valley, and bathing in the Dead Sea at Kalia Beach are the staples of the outdoor circuit. Spring olive blossom (April) and the autumn olive harvest (October) are particularly atmospheric in the terraced landscapes around Battir, Bethlehem and Nablus.
Money & Currency
Israeli Shekel (ILS) / Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
Currency code: ILS
Practical Money Tips
Israeli New Shekel (ILS/NIS) is the primary currency in the West Bank — Jordanian Dinar (JOD) also widely accepted in some areas; USD accepted at many hotels and tourist services; exchange EUR, GBP, and USD at Arab Bank, Bank of Palestine, Cairo Amman Bank branches in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jericho, Hebron; no exchange in rural areas
The Israeli New Shekel (ILS, also called NIS) is the primary currency used in the West Bank for everyday transactions. The Jordanian Dinar (JOD) is accepted in many areas, particularly near the Jordan River crossings and in Jericho. USD is accepted at major hotels, guesthouses, and some tour operators. EUR can be exchanged at bank branches in Ramallah (Al-Manara Square area), Bethlehem, Nablus, Jericho, and Hebron. Arab Bank, Bank of Palestine, Cairo Amman Bank, and Palestine Islamic Bank are the main banking institutions. No exchange facilities in rural villages or small towns — carry ILS for everyday use.
ATMs available in main West Bank cities — Arab Bank, Bank of Palestine, Cairo Amman Bank ATMs in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jericho, Jenin, Hebron; accept Visa and Mastercard; limited ATMs in smaller towns and villages; no banking in remote rural areas; withdraw ILS or JOD in city centres before heading to rural sites
ATMs are available in the main cities and towns of the West Bank. Arab Bank, Bank of Palestine, Cairo Amman Bank, and Palestine Investment Bank have ATM networks in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jericho, Jenin, and Hebron. Most ATMs dispense ILS; some in Jericho also dispense JOD. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Smaller towns (Sebastia, Battir, Bireh) and rural areas have very limited or no ATM access. Withdraw sufficient ILS in the city before visiting rural archaeological sites, nature reserves, or small villages.
Card acceptance good in Ramallah and tourist areas — Visa and Mastercard at Ramallah hotels and restaurants, Bethlehem tourist shops, Jericho resorts; Apple Pay: limited; Google Pay: limited; cash strongly preferred in markets, local restaurants, taxis, and smaller towns
Card acceptance is reasonable in Ramallah (the main business centre), Bethlehem tourist shops and hotels, and Jericho resort hotels. Visa and Mastercard are the most accepted. Apple Pay and Google Pay have limited support — only available at a small number of modern establishments. Cash (ILS or JOD) is strongly preferred or required at local markets (Hebron market, Nablus Old City), local restaurants, shared taxis (service taxis), private car hires, smaller guesthouses, and any rural or village accommodation. Keep ILS or USD for practical everyday use.
Affordable destination — guesthouse or small hotel in Bethlehem ILS 150–350/night (EUR 40–93); Ramallah mid-range hotel ILS 300–600/night; restaurant meal ILS 40–100 (EUR 11–27); shared taxi Ramallah–Bethlehem ILS 5–10; Jericho cable car ticket in ILS; tipping ILS 5–15 at restaurants appreciated; carry ILS for daily use
The West Bank is an affordable destination by regional standards. Guesthouse or small hotel in Bethlehem (e.g., Jacir Palace area, Beit Sahour): ILS 150–350/night (EUR 40–93). Ramallah mid-range hotel: ILS 300–600/night (EUR 80–160). Restaurant meal at a local Ramallah or Bethlehem restaurant: ILS 40–100 (EUR 11–27). Hummus and falafel at a local stall: ILS 10–20. Shared taxi (service): ILS 5–15 per journey. Jericho cable car to Mount of Temptation Monastery: ILS 60. Bethlehem Christmas market entry: free. Tipping: ILS 5–15 at restaurants is appreciated; USD 1–2 per person for tour guides is common.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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