If your cruise ship docks in Ashdod and you're looking for something to do on shore, join us on this excursion to Bethlehem and Jerusalem! We'll go to the Holy City to see its most emblematic sites and visit the place where Jesus was born.
Shore Excursion to Bethlehem and Jerusalem
At the appointed time we'll pick you up at the cruise port of Ashdod and hop on the bus to Jerusalem. The trip will take about an hour.
The first stop of the day will be at Mount Scopus, where we'll enjoy a fabulous panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. After taking some pictures, we'll go to the foot of the Mount of Olives to visit the Gardens of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Do you know why these two places are so important? We'll reveal a bunch of fascinating information during the tour.
We'll cross the Kidron Valley and reach the historic center of Jerusalem. Once there, we'll visit the Wailing Wall, the only surviving remains of the largest sanctuary of the kingdom of Judah. We'll travel back in time to the year 70 to discover its tragic history and understand the significance of this place for the Jews.
Then, we'll go down the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus walked on his way to crucifixion, and pass by several markets and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Whether you're believers or not, this place is deeply moving for everyone.
We'll leave you an hour of free time for lunch in Jerusalem. Once we're refreshed and ready to go, we'll return to the vehicle and set off on the route to Bethlehem.
Once we arrive at Manger Square, we'll walk to the Church of the Nativity, declared a World Heritage Site. According to tradition, this temple was built in the place where Jesus was born and is one of the oldest churches in the world.
From Bethlehem, we return to the port of Ashdod, where we'll say our goodbyes after this nine-hour excursion.