Squares & Streets in Jerusalem

Traditionally believed to trace Jesus's path to crucifixion, this narrow route winds through the Muslim and Christian Quarters past the nine of the fourteen Stations of the Cross marked along the way (the final five are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre). Franciscan friars lead a public procession along the route every Friday afternoon, open to all visitors.

The main western entrance to the Old City, Jaffa Gate opens onto a lively junction of the Christian and Armenian Quarters. From here, the Ramparts Walk lets visitors climb onto the 16th-century Ottoman walls and walk along the top of the fortifications, with sweeping views down into the Old City's rooftops and out to the surrounding hills.

This pedestrianized shopping street in the modern city center is lined with cafes, street performers, falafel stands, and souvenir shops, and stays lively well into the evening. It's a good gateway between the Old City and West Jerusalem's more contemporary side, and connects easily on foot to Jaffa Road and the Mahane Yehuda Market.

An open-air pedestrian shopping promenade linking Jaffa Gate to modern West Jerusalem, Mamilla mixes international and Israeli fashion brands, restaurants, and restored 19th-century arched facades. It's an easy, walkable stretch to end an Old City day with dinner and a bit of shopping before heading back to a hotel in the new city.