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Jerusalem, Israel is a holy place for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, with ancient and medieval ruins, and unique historical sites. But it’s also a living city of over a million. World Traveling Mom returned from a first visit with the scoop on memorable things to do with family in Jerusalem, Israel.
My husband and two college-aged children just returned from our first family visit to Jerusalem, Israel. In our 10-day visit, we were amazed by the wide variety of things to do, see, and eat. In fact, we can’t wait to return. Read on for more about our experience — and our top 5 things to do with family in Jerusalem.
1. Yad Vashem is among essential things to do with family in Jerusalem.
We visited Jerusalem’s emotionally challenging Holocaust memorial and museum, Yad Vashem, beginning with the Holocaust memorials located outside the museum. The several memorials do not teach facts about the Holocaust. Instead, each memorial is an artistic tribute to people murdered by Nazis.
We were moved by the powerful memorial honoring the children the Nazis murdered. Giant photographs of children’s faces reminded us of individuals. But the memorial also included a darkened room, resembling a starry night sky filled with flickering candles. While looking at the constellation of candles, an unseen voice listed names and home countries of individual children.
Even before visiting, I knew I wanted to see the Holocaust memorial honoring the Righteous Among Nations. These individuals courageously saved people from being murdered by Nazis. Such as the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. To honor each, Yad Vashem planted a tree or created a plaque.
Inside the Yad Vashem Museum
After my family explored the outside memorials, we went inside the Yad Vashem Museum. The museum uses photographs, video, written explanations, and artifacts, like diaries, Nazi propaganda posters, stolen silver, and paintings. It teaches how Nazis seized power, how Jews resisted, and how 6 million Jews were killed.
Videos of survivors telling their own stories were heartbreaking. The tribute to the Yiddish and Eastern European culture the Nazis destroyed, a video mash-up of home movies, newsreels, and Yiddish movies most moved my husband.
Leaving the museum, I was struck by what people chose to keep to the last. Often, bodies were found with pockets filled with photographs of loved ones. Sometimes they were formal posed photos. But some were candid photos of swimming, hiking, or picnicking. Ordinary happy times with family and friends.
We spent three hours at Yad Vashem. It is a don’t miss experience, among the most emotionally powerful things to do with the family in Jerusalem.
2. Dinner with locals is among things to do with family in Jerusalem
While not Jewish, my family wanted to experience a traditional Friday evening religious meal, a Shabbat dinner. Our travel agent (Lisa Ratner, [email protected]) arranged a Shabbat dinner with a local Jerusalem family. She scheduled dinner through Shabbat of a Lifetime.
Local families host Shabbat dinner in their homes for Jewish and non-Jewish visitors to Jerusalem. At a pre-arranged time, we met our host on a street corner. Several other families joined us, a happy surprise Together, we walked to our host’s apartment and enjoyed a several course meal.
While we were novices, our hosts explained parts of the traditional meal, such as blessing the wine, uncovering the challah bread, and singing prayers. Shabbat dinner in a private home is a don’t miss experience in Jerusalem.
3. Fun things to do with family in Jerusalem – Sound and Light Show
As a kid, I loved the nighttime sound and light shows. But I was worried this way of bringing an ancient Jerusalem building to life might bore my college-age kids. I shouldn’t have worried. The Night Spectacular at the Tower of David Museum is one of the fun things to do with family in Jerusalem.
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Beginning at 9 p.m., the outdoor show projects beautiful moving images on the walls of the ancient Tower of David. The creative images showed Jerusalem history from 3000 B.C. to the 1948 establishment of the state of Israel.
TravelingMom Tip: If you go to Jerusalem in the winter like we did, dress warmly.
4. Outdoor markets are fun things to do with family in Jerusalem
We visited both the lively corridors of the main Jerusalem market and the Muslim Quarter market located inside the Old City walls.
At the Muslim Quarter market, we saw an individual stall selling all of the following: scarves, jewelry, metalwork, yarmulkes, Santas, T-shirts with pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian slogans. I loved the colors of the market and the fragrance of incense.
TravelingMom Tip: We felt comfortable visiting the Muslim Quarter market only because we were with a guide.
At the equally colorful Mahane Yehuda Market, the main event is food. In addition to stands selling fruits, meats, flowers, and desserts like halva, babka, and baklava, we saw lots of casual restaurants.
TravelingMom Tip: If you visit on Friday, expect crowds and shops closing by 2:00 pm to prepare for Shabbat dinner.
5. Things to do with family in Jerusalem: the Western Wall
On the day we visited the Western Wall, we saw several families celebrating bar mitzvahs and a crowd praying at the Wall. In other words, we saw current believers. That’s a huge difference between visiting ruins of an Ancient Greek, Roman, or Mayan temple and visiting the similarly ancient ruins of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
Dozens of rows of believers gathered at the Western Wall, chanting and praying for rain to end the Israeli drought. We even heard their prayers while touring the underground tunnels beneath the Western Wall. Exploring the Western Wall both above-ground and below ground is among don’t miss things to do with the family in Jerusalem.
Where to stay in Jerusalem
My husband and I love boutique hotels within walking distance of shops and attractions. We enjoyed the traditional Israeli breakfast of fresh grilled vegetables, fresh fruits, hummus, breads, cheese, yogurt, and other deliciousness. If that appeals to you, staying at Harmony Hotel is among the things to do with the family in Jerusalem.
For more family experiences in Jerusalem, click here.
Have you thought of visiting Jerusalem, Israel? Tell us about it in the comments.
Full experience for the trip, I plan to go there with my family in November this year.
The article is really useful to me now. Thank you!
So glad it is helpful to you. We’d happily return.
I visited Israel about 5 years ago — and was totally blown away by the experience. I agree with your observations on Jerusalem — we had a guide, and still felt a little uncomfortable.
What a fascinating trip! I visited Dachau as a child and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Looks like you really immersed yourselves in the history and culture. So important!
Great tip about dressing warmly for Israel if traveling in winter. I would have assumed a Mediterranean climate year round. Great post!
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That food! Looks so wonderful
WOW! Truly special destination to take the kids to see. Would love to take my kids to see Jerusalem as well. Your list of memorable things to see and do in Jerusalem is inspiring. Love that you had a meal with the locals, we always try to incorporate some truly authentic experiences into our travels as well.
I am reminded of our own visit to Israel a few years back. There was so much to do in Jerusalem that we decided to extend our stay by few days. I agree with all your points except, if the family includes small children, Yad Vashem may be given a miss.
We enjoyed our visit so much, we are hoping to make a return trip. I agree with you that Yad Vashem may be too emotionally challenging for littler kids. Although my first visit to Anne Frank’s house was at age 9, and seeing photographs of the Holocaust for the first time made a huge impression on me. I’ve returned twice, and brought my own kids when they were about 11 and 8. Likely it depends a great deal on the kid and the circumstances.
Israel has been a huge bucket list item of ours. We were so close to visiting when we were in Jordan but didn’t have the time to make the journey across the border. Thanks for the great inspiration. I need to start looking at tickets again!
I hope you get the opportunity to make the trip. We’re already hoping for a return visit to Israel.
What an amazing trip your family had! I bet you’ll have wonderful memories for a long time to come! Going to Jerusalem is a dream of my daughter’s and of course, I’d love to accompany her, as long as it is safe. Seeing all the museums and memorials and places of historical interest would be the best!
We did feel safe, and navigated each evening on our own in the main touristed area, without a guide. For navigating around Jerusalem, such as visiting the Arab market, we felt safe because we were with a guide.
This is an interesting read- I haven’t come across too many articles on Jerusalem and I’m not really aware of the things to do there. Having a meal with a local family is always a very interesting thing to do- you get to learn so much about their culture, lifestyle, daily struggles, beliefs, etc. A visit to Yad Vashem museum, although emotionally straining, sounds educational too. Thanks for sharing this info about an offbeat destination!
Eating dinner at a local family’s home was a highpoint. And visiting Yad Vashem was long on my bucket list – amazing history, so important not to repeat.
Great post, Sarah! I especially love that you had Shabbat dinner with a local family, which to me is always the best way to discover a place – not just the food, but dinner with locals! I can’t imagine the emotional experience of visiting the Holocaust Museum, but I would think it’s an essential when you’re there. Sounds like an amazing trip all around!
Yes, dinner with locals was a real highlight. And Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial and museum, was so emotional we decided to cancel the afternoon plans to just linger over lunch and reflect on the experience. An amazing place to visit.
Jerusalem is an amazing city! It’s one of the oldest cities in the world, and only for that it feels amazing to hang around there! Besides that, with the mixture of cultures, it has an enchanting atmosphere. You really summed up some nice things to do there! Thanx for sharing!
I agree, an amazing place. One visit to Jerusalem was not enough. I hope we get to revisit Israel, and this ancient city.
I very much appreciate all of this story, but especially your point about “current believers” as a different experience/interaction than ancient religious runs. Thoughtful consideration. I experienced both in next-door-neighbor Jordan.
I hope we get to visit Jerusalem again, and that our next trip can include a visit to Jordan. I can see how the experience of witnessing “current believers” would distinguish both of these places.
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Sounds amazing, though the best part to me is that you managed to organise dinner with locals. One of my favourite things to do so you can actually see what it’s like to live in a destination.
Completely agree – Shabbat dinner with locals, and coffee at the home of a Bedouin woman were highlights of the trip. (That second is in the Israel blog post I’ll publish this week). Both were opportunities to hear different perspectives on living in Israel. Both were arranged by our amazing travel agent. Her contact info is in the post – highly recommended.
My first visit to Israel was last October. Enjoyed reading your article and reliving my trip! Now I’m inspired to write mine.
I’m eager to return. What an experience.
I would go all out with tasting the local cuisine in Jerusalem. That spread looks so tempting that its made me dream of getting a hummus snack for lunch today. I just love Middle Eastern food with its varied flavours.
Yes, the food was a delicious surprise! Since the Middle East is a cultural crossroads, the food reflects many cultures. And the fruits and vegetables were so fresh everywhere we went, maybe because Israel is a big agricultural producer. Yum.
Five things that really sound fun to do for just about anyone. I’ve never been to Israel but we were just invited to Israel today but the dates don’t work for us. Hopefully we get a chance to visit soon – the historical sites and food really make me want to visit!
I hope you do get to visit Jerusalem. We were amazed by the history, different cultures, variety of experiences – and the food. Can’t wait to return.
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Love reading Traveling Mom! Thrilled you had such a wonderful trip to Israel!
Thank you for the shout out,
Lisa Ratner Atlas Travel
I’m so glad you saw this! We are very grateful to you for arranging the trip of a lifetime for us.