How To Visit Bethlehem
It can seem daunting planning a trip to the Middle East. Believe me, I know. Uncertainty about crossing borders, safe ways to travel from city to city and misinformation in the media all contribute to the confusion and overwhelm you might face when planning your trip. If you’re wondering how to visit Bethlehem, you might be concerned about safety, people speaking English or getting lost.
But fortunately, it’s not as difficult as it may seem! Knowing some key facts about how to get around the Holy Land will keep your trip running smoothly.
Bethlehem is a small town rich with biblical history and easily accessible from Jerusalem.
However it is located across the border in Palestine. The Israeli/Palestinian border issues might seem intimidating to try and navigate as a tourist.
Due to this political issue, many travelers chose not to visit the Holy Land all together. Yet we found Bethlehem not only a worthwhile travel destination but an easy day trip from Jerusalem.
Just keep in mind a few things before you go!
How To Get There
If you’re coming to Bethlehem from Jerusalem, it is very simple to take the public bus. For only 7 shekels ($1.96 USD) you can take Bus 231 right into the center of Bethlehem. It’s a fairly scenic ride and the coach is large, air conditioned and has plenty of seats. You’ll need to pay cash, not card to get on the bus.
We had no issues crossing the border into Palestine. We were able to stay on the bus the entire time and cross right over.
Route: Bus 231 from Jerusalem Damascus gate
Cost: 7 shekels
Alternative: GetYourGuide Tour
However, you’re intimidated to make the journey on your own, you could always book a day tour from Jerusalem on GetYourGuide. This particular tour has good reviews and will bring you to many of the same stops we visited.
Where To Stay
Skip the hotel, book an Airbnb!
Airbnbs in Palestine are beyond affordable. You can expect to pay just $15-$40 a night for a decent Airbnb.
This is the exact Airbnb we booked and I couldn’t image a better place to stay while in Bethlehem! For only $35 a night, this place was an incredible value. Yes you read that correctly. Just $35 TOTAL for a full and private multi-room apartment.
Not only was there room enough to sleep 6 people, the entire apartment was spacious, clean and our host, Issa, really went above and beyond. Issa sent clear, helpful instructions on crossing the border from Israel into Palestine by bus, making our journey very smooth.
When we arrived, we found he had also left us groceries for breakfast. Coffee, bread, eggs and bottled water- how sweet is that?! He stopped by the property when we first checked in to offer any assistance or advice for our stay. He was the friendliest, most helpful host I’ve had on Airbnb. (Just another reason I tend to prefer staying in local properties over hotels! )
What To See & Do
Visit the Church of Nativity
The reason most people visit Bethlehem is of course, to see the birthplace of Jesus Christ at the Church of Nativity. From the moment the church opens each morning, people pour in from all over the world to pay their respects. While waiting in line, we heard people speaking Spanish, French, German, Chinese…
Be prepared to go right when the church opens. The Grotto of the Nativity, a cave which enshrines the exact location Jesus is said to have been born, is located within the church. A long line forms extremely quickly and you may find yourself waiting over 2 hours to enter the Grotto if you wait until late morning. The line dies down again in the evening.
Visit the Milk Grotto
According to tradition, this cave is where Joseph and Mary stopped to nurse the baby Jesus while while on the run from King Herod’s soldiers. As the story goes, a drop of Mary’s milk fell onto the stone, turning the rocks white.
Today people come to pay their respects to the mother Mary, especially new mothers or women wanting to conceive. Kneeling in the same spot they believed Mary nursed Jesus, they pray for conception, a healthy birth and enough milk to help their children grow.
How To Get to the Milk Grotto
Just a short walk from the Church of Nativity, the Milk Grotto is an easy walk past local shops to the top of the hill.
Along the way, you can stop for cold drinks and to chat with some of the shopkeepers. We met the kindest people in Bethlehem! At every turn people welcomed us with warm smiles and offered suggestions or help when we were lost. All the shopkeepers, taxi drivers and workers in the tourist hubs spoke excellent English.
Explore Shepherd’s Field
A short distance from the town, you can explore the caves and field’s where the shepherd’s tended their flock during biblical times.
Archaeologists have discovered more than one possible site but many Christian’s believe this field to be the exact location where the shepherd’s received the news of Christ’s birth.
Suggested afternoon: Walk through the underground caves, visit the prayer sites, soak up the views of Bethlehem and stop for lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the field.
How To Get Around
Taxi’s are a cheap and easy way to get around Bethlehem. If you don’t want to walk to Shepherd’s Field or King Solomon’s pools- you can easily find a taxi.
We hailed a cab and before getting in, offered the driver $10 to take us to Herodium and Shepherd’s Field. As our luck would have it, we happened to have the kindest and most enthusiastic taxi driver I’ve ever encounter. He happily shared all about his life in Palestine with us, played specialized music and narrated as we drove. As an extra stop, he even drove us right to the Israel/Palestine border so we could see firsthand what it looks like.
Pro tip: Confirm your price before getting in the taxi so they don’t overcharge you!
Locals were also very quick to offer help, point out directions or assist us if we were lost. What seemed like a daunting, difficult trip to plan without a tour guide, turned out to be quite easy! If we can do, you can do it!
How Long To Stay
Bethlehem is a relatively small town, it’s easy to see most of the sites in a single day. Some speedy travelers might even make a half day trip out of the city of Jerusalem to come see the town.
Recommended Trip Length: One day
Keep reading: WHAT TO WEAR IN THE HOLY LAND: A WOMEN’S GUIDE TO FEELING FASHIONABLE AND COMFORTABLE
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