Usually done as day tours arranged by tour companies, my friends and I visited Bethlehem independently back in 2022. Coming from Jerusalem, we explored Bethlehem as a day trip and on a budget! Here's how to do it and find out what's waiting for you!
NOTE:Β Due to the ongoing conflict between Israel & Palestine, we do not encourage any form of travel at this moment. Let's continue to pray and hope for peace between the two.ππΌ
What is in Bethlehem?
Bethlehem is a renowned pilgrimage destination in the Holy Land, holding a significant place in history as the birthplace of Jesus and King David. The city is home to several landmarks of cultural and religious importance, including the Milk Grotto, Shepherds' Field, Rachel's Tomb, and the Mosque of Omar.
Crossing the Israeli-Palestine Border (Checkpoint 300)
Situated in the Judean Mountains, Bethlehem is located in the territory of Palestine. Visiting Bethlehem involves crossing the land border calledΒ Checkpoint 300.
While some would not acknowledge it as an International Border, set your views aside for now. Instead, make sure to bring your passport during your visit. There are no requirements nor passport control to enter the Palestinian side. You just have to walk through the grilles, follow the crowd, and walk straight until you're outside.
However, you have to go through the Passport Control to enter the Israeli side. Make sure you bring your passport along with your Israeli Entry Permit or the Blue Slip as it will be asked at the Passport Control.
Transportation from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on a Budget:
To keep this post as short as possible, I wrote another post on How to Go to Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Options on how to go and even the public transportation costs are all mentioned in that post. Feel free to give it a read!
Highlights of our Day Trip in Bethlehem:
Due to our limited time during our trip, we couldn't stay long and only spent almost half a day in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, feel free to add these highlights to your list too!
Church of Nativity
Starting with the most famous of all the historical sites, the Church of the Nativity is a basilica where the grotto is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
It is one of the oldest sites of worship place by Christians and also one of the oldest churches in the Holy Land. Because of its significance, expect a massive crowd and tour guides offering you a 'tour' inside.
Apart from the doors of humility where you are supposed to bow a little to enter, the highlight is the grotto itself. The grotto below the main altar is where believed to be Jesus' birthplace spot, the manger.
From the photo above, that is the queue to get to the 'spot'. The crowd isn't that bad yet so if you go on significant seasons (Christmas), expect the worst. But I tell you, it's worth it.
Milk Grotto
Another church on our list is the nearby Milk Grotto. Just a street behind the Church Nativity, Milk Grotto Church is claimed to be the resting spot of Mama Mary after giving birth to Jesus Christ.
Various accounts claimed the church was where the Holy Family stayed before fleeing to Egypt. It's also believed to be a place to heal infertility for couples.
A smaller church than the Church of Nativity, Milk Grotto has a calm and solemn ambiance compared to all the other churches we've visited. There are church pews inside for you to sit while you pray and there's also a chapel built above the grotto. Take a look around and you can even have a panoramic glimpse of the city from the chapel side.
West Bank Wall
Witnessing it in the blink of an eye, we passed by the West Bank Wall on our way back to Checkpoint 300. Also called the Separation Wall, the wall's significance is controversial as it is a result of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Not because I don't want to take a stand, but I'm not gonna comment on which side is which.
At present time, the wall is a symbol of Palestine's protest. It became the world's largest protest graffiti and the famous artist Banksy joined the game. While I wasn't able to see Banksy's art with my own eyes, seeing a portion of the wall has woken me up in my day dreaming that the world will become better as days go by.
Bonus: Blessings Gift Shop
This might be subtly advertising the shop but hear me out first. Bethlehem is a tourist-driven city. Taxi drivers, merchants, and even tour guides are all quite aggressive in selling something. And I want to emphasize one more time that it's not their fault, I cannot blame them. The reason why I have included this gift shop is because it's where I felt genuine hospitality.
Mr. Basem, the owner of the shop, was a busy bee inside the shop when we entered. He didn't try to sell us anything at all and he kept telling us, "You don't need to feel obliged to buy, feel free to have a look". And I kid you not, it's the warmest line I've ever heard in Bethlehem.
Out of his genuine approach, we felt so comfortable looking around the shop and ended up buying the things we wanted to buy, He offered water, Wi-Fi, and use of the washroom and gave us tips about the local transportation costs as well.
He even let us go to the rooftop to have a panoramic view of Bethlehem.
And you know that saying that it's the people we meet that make our journey? It's him who played that role during this trip so I cannot not include him. No photo of him but I'll ask him for one when we meet again next time π
There are many more landmarks in Bethlehem than listed above. I wish we stayed at least one night in Bethlehem to fully explore the place. Unfortunately, we only managed to squeeze a day trip to Bethlehem. I promised myself that I would come back... but I guess not anytime soon because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. For now, there's only hope and prayers for peace between the two.
That's all folks, ciao!
