Bethlehem Old Quarter Tour (Private Tour)

Getting to Bethlehem

Jerusalem to Bethlehem:

Option 1 – Bus no. 231: The bus departs from the Damascus Gate Bus Station in East Jerusalem (located on Sultan Suleiman Street) and travels via Beit Jala to Bethlehem. Tickets cost around 8 ILS. Duration: Approx. 30-40 minutes.
Note that this bus does not go through the main (checkpoint 300” (Rachel’s Tomb crossing). The bus will drop you off at the Bethlehem / Beit Jala intersection (“Bab el-Zqaq”) which is 1 km away from Manger Square. You can easily follow the Pope Paul VI Street to get to the Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity in 15 minutes. You can also take a taxi to Manger Square. Price around 15-20 ILS per drive (not per person). A shared taxi is also available and cost around 3 ILS.

Option 2 – Bus no. 234: The bus leaves from the Damascus Gate Bus Station (located on Sultan Suleiman Street) and takes you directly to the Bethlehem Checkpoint – “checkpoint 300” (Rachel’s Tomb crossing) and back. Tickets cost around 5 ILS. Duration: Approx 20-30 minutes. You will have to walk through the checkpoint as you enter and exit Bethlehem. From the checkpoint, you can either walk half an hour or take a private taxi (15-20 ILS) to the center of Bethlehem (Manger Square), which is about 2.5 km away. A shared taxi is also available and cost around 3 ILS.

Option 3 – Private Taxi: A private taxi from Jerusalem to Bethlehem city center will cost around 150-180 ILS ($50) in each direction (up to 7 seats van). Duration: Approx. 20-30 minutes.

Option 4 – Private Taxi: A private taxi from Jerusalem to Bethlehem’s Rachel’s Tomb “checkpoint 300” will cost round 100-120 ILS ($30-35) and will drop you off outside of Bethlehem. You will then have to cross the checkpoint into Bethlehem on foot and continue from there (see option 1 or 2).

Ramallah to Bethlehem:

Option 1- Shared Taxi to Bethlehem: Take a shared taxi (servees) to Bethlehem from the Central Bus Station in Ramallah (located at Al-Nahda Street). The cost is around 21-25 ILS. The taxi will stop at the main bus station in Bethlehem (5 minutes walk from Manger Square). Duration: Approx. 45-60 minutes.

Option 2: Bus no. 218 to Jerusalem, then connect to Bethlehem: Departs from Al-Nahda Street in Ramallah. Tickets cost around 8 ILS. The bus will drop you off at the Damascus Gate bus station in East Jerusalem (located on Sultan Suleiman Street). From there, connect to Bethlehem (see getting from Jerusalem to Bethlehem). Duration: Approx. 45-60 minutes.

Option 3- Private Taxi -Via West Bank: A private taxi from Ramallah to Bethlehem (4 seats) costs around 150-170 ILS ($40-45).

Option 4: Private Taxi Via Jerusalem: A private taxi from Ramallah to Bethlehem will cost around 250 ILS ($70). Duration approx. 30-45 minutes.

Hebron to Bethlehem:

Option 1 – Shared Taxi to Bethlehem (Bab el-Zqaq Intersection): Take a shared taxi (servees) from the Hebron Central Bus Station (located on Wadi Al Tufah Street) to the Bab El-Zqaq intersection in Bethlehem. Price around 10 ILS. Duration: Approx. 30-45 minutes.

Option 2 – Shared Taxi to Bethlehem (central bus station): Take a shared taxi (servees) from the Central Bus Station in Hebron (located on Wadi Al Tufah Street) to the Bethlehem Central Bus Station (located on Manger Square Street). Price around 10 ILS. Duration: Approx.30-45 minutes.

Option 3 – Private Taxi : A private taxi from Hebron to Bethlehem cost around 250 ILS ($65. Duration: Approx 30-45 minutes. )

Jericho to Bethlehem:

Option 1 – Shared Taxi: Take a shared taxi (servees) from Jericho City Center to Bethlehem Central Bus Station (located on Manger Square Street). The price is around 20-25 ILS. Duration: Approx. 45-60 minutes.

Option 2 – Private Taxi – Via West Bank: A private taxi from Jericho to Bethlehem (4 seats) costs around 150 ILS ($40). Duration: Approx. 1 hour

Option 3: Private Taxi – Via Jerusalem: A Private Taxi from Jericho to Bethlehem (4 seats) costs around around 370 ILS ($100). Duration approx. 1 hour.

Nablus to Bethlehem:

Option 1 – Shared Taxi to Ramallah and connecting to Bethlehem: Take a shared taxi (servees) from Nablus Central Station (located on Rafidiya Street), to the Ramallah Central Bus Station (located on Al Nahda street). From there take another shared taxi to the Bethlehem Central Bus Station (located on Manger Street). Price from Nablus to Ramallah around 17-20 ILS. Price from Ramallah to Bethlehem around 21-25 ILS. Duration: Approx 2 hours and a half.

Option 2 – Private Taxi – Via West Bank: A private taxi from Nablus to Bethlehem (4 seats) costs around 250 ILS ($70). Duration approx 1 hour.

Option 3: Private Taxi – Via Jerusalem : A private taxi from Nablus to Bethlehem via Jerusalem will cost around 740 ILS ($200). Duration approx 2 hours.

Jenin to Bethlehem:

Option 1 – Shared Taxi to Ramallah and connect to Bethlehem: Take a shared taxi (servees) from Jenin Central Station (located on Jama’a Street of Cinema street) to Ramallah Central Station (on Al Nahda Street). From there take another shared taxi to the Bethlehem Central Bus Station. Price from Jenin to Ramallah around 35 ILS. Price from Ramallah to Bethlehem around 21-25 ILS. Duration approx 3 hours and half.

Option 2 – Private Taxi – Via West Bank: A Private Taxi from Jenin to Bethlehem (4 seats) costs around around 450 ILS ($125). Duration approx. 2 hours.