Western Asia (Middle East)
The birthplace of Jesus, one of the oldest cities on Earth, a UNESCO terraced village and a monastery in a desert canyon — in the West Bank, with all the complexity that means.
Photo: UAWC · CC BY-SA 4.0
This guide covers the West Bank, the part of the Palestinian territories that visitors can travel to. It has been under Israeli military control since 1967, and is administered in part by the Palestinian Authority. The State of Palestine is recognised by a majority of UN member states, but not by Israel and a number of other countries, and the status of the territory remains one of the most disputed questions in the world. We do not cover the Gaza Strip, which is not open to independent travel.
It is also a place of extraordinary depth. Bethlehem is the traditional birthplace of Jesus and holds one of the oldest continuously used churches in the world. Jericho is among the oldest inhabited cities on Earth, with a settlement at Tell es-Sultan that goes back some ten thousand years. Hebron has a market and a shrine that is holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians, and Nablus has a soap-and-sweets old city that is one of the best-preserved Ottoman centres in the region. Battir's ancient irrigated terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visiting also means seeing things that most travel guides skip: checkpoints, a separation barrier, restricted roads and communities living under a military occupation. The hospitality is exceptional and people are eager to tell their stories, and many visitors find the trip among the most memorable they have made. It requires more planning and more attention to current conditions than anywhere else in this guide, and we set out the practical detail and honest safety context below. Please read your government's advice before you book.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend each for a first visit. Bethlehem and Jericho are the easiest to reach and the most visited; Ramallah, Battir and Herodium are close behind. Hebron and Nablus are rewarding but subject to frequent closures and stronger travel advice, and should be checked closely before you go.
Bethlehem Governorate, southern West Bank
A UNESCO-listed pilgrimage town ten kilometres south of Jerusalem, with the Church of the Nativity, an old town of stone lanes and olive-wood workshops, and warm hospitality.
Don't miss The Church of the Nativity, where you stoop through the Door of Humility and descend to the grotto marked by a silver star.
Explore Destination — BethlehemJericho Governorate, Jordan Valley
A palm-fringed oasis about 250 metres below sea level with Neolithic ruins, an Umayyad palace and mosaics, a Greek Orthodox monastery on a cliff and a cable car above it all.
Don't miss Tell es-Sultan, where a stone tower more than ten thousand years old is among the oldest monumental structures ever found.
Explore Destination — JerichoHebron Governorate, southern West Bank
A historic Palestinian commercial city and a pilgrimage site, with a Mamluk-era old city, glass and pottery workshops and a divided centre where visitors see the occupation at its most concentrated.
Don't miss The Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs), a Herodian-era enclosure over the traditional tombs of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives.
Explore Destination — Hebron (Al-Khalil)Nablus Governorate, northern West Bank
The commercial and cultural capital of the northern West Bank, with a well-preserved Ottoman old city, a famous soap-making tradition, the best knafeh in Palestine and Roman remains close by.
Don't miss The old city's souk at breakfast, with knafeh coming out of huge trays and the smell of olive-oil soap in the air.
Explore Destination — NablusRamallah and al-Bireh Governorate, central West Bank
A modern, lively city 15 km north of Jerusalem with museums, a thriving arts and music scene, a good restaurant and bar scene, and the mausoleum of Yasser Arafat.
Don't miss The Arafat Museum and the Mahmoud Darwish Museum, then a long dinner of Palestinian food in the evening.
Explore Destination — RamallahBethlehem Governorate, west of Bethlehem
A UNESCO-listed farming village near Bethlehem, known for its terraced valley, its shared irrigation and its small green aubergines, and a gentle place to walk.
Don't miss The valley floor walk along the ancient irrigation channels, with olive, fig and vegetable terraces on one side and the old railway on the other.
Explore Destination — BattirBethlehem Governorate, southeast of Bethlehem
A striking man-made hill with the remains of Herod's palace, bathhouse and tomb, about 12 km south of Jerusalem and a short drive from Bethlehem.
Don't miss The tunnels beneath the mountain, first dug by Jewish rebels against Rome, and the view from the rim across the Dead Sea to Jordan.
Explore Destination — HerodiumNablus Governorate, northern West Bank
A small village on a hill above Nablus, built over the ruins of biblical Samaria and Roman Sebaste, with two thousand years of layers and almost no visitors.
Don't miss The Roman forum and its colonnade on the summit, with the olive groves of Samaria stretching away on all sides.
Explore Destination — Sebastia (Ancient Samaria)Bethlehem Governorate, Judean Desert
One of the oldest inhabited monasteries in the world, with cliff-hugging chapels, a tomb of St John of Damascus and a strict rule that admits only men, in a spectacular desert gorge east of Bethlehem.
Don't miss The view of the monastery's terraces and domes stacked against a bare desert cliff, best seen from the roof of the Women's Tower across the gorge.
Explore Destination — Mar Saba MonasteryRamallah and al-Bireh Governorate, central West Bank
A small hilltop village of stone houses and olive groves, 13 km from Ramallah, best known for the Taybeh Brewery, its Oktoberfest and its Christian heritage.
Don't miss A tasting at the Taybeh Brewery, followed by a walk through the old village to the ruins of the Byzantine church of St George.
Explore Destination — TaybehExperiences
The experiences that recur across the West Bank, and that give a trip here its distinctive character.
The basilica in Bethlehem, built in the 6th century over an earlier 4th-century church, stands over the grotto that Christian tradition identifies as the birthplace of Jesus. It is one of the oldest continuously used churches in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See Bethlehem.
Tip Go early or on a weekday, and duck through the low Door of Humility. Queues for the grotto can be long around Christmas.
An easy walk along ancient irrigation channels through some of the oldest terraced farmland in the Middle East, with an Ottoman-era railway line at the bottom of the valley. See Battir.
Tip Go in spring, when the terraces are green, and ask for a local guide at the village.
Homestays and guesthouses in villages and towns give a personal way to see daily life, share meals and hear stories that do not appear in official histories.
Tip Arrange through a local tourism cooperative, and bring a small gift such as sweets or fruit.
Musakhan, maqluba, freekeh, olive oil from ancient trees and Nablus knafeh are among the best-known dishes. Food is central to hospitality, and refusing a second helping is difficult.
Tip Come hungry, and bring an appetite for olive oil.
The lowest city in the world, about 250 metres below sea level, and the site of a settlement that is roughly ten thousand years old. A cable car climbs to a monastery on the Mount of Temptation. See Jericho.
Tip Go in the cooler months, and go early.
Palestinian guides and organisations run walking tours in Hebron, Bethlehem and Ramallah that explain the politics and history on the ground, from a Palestinian perspective. Israeli and international groups offer other perspectives.
Tip Consider both perspectives, and book a licensed guide.
Food and drink
Palestinian cooking is one of the great Levantine cuisines, built on olive oil, za'atar, sumac, lamb, chicken and seasonal vegetables. Meals are generous and communal, and hospitality is taken seriously.
The name means 'upside down': rice, chicken or lamb and vegetables are cooked in a pot and turned out onto a platter. A family favourite.
Where to try it Home-style restaurants across the West Bank.
A hot dessert of white Nabulsi cheese under crisp shredded pastry, drenched in syrup, and sold from huge trays in the old city. It is the best-known Palestinian sweet.
Where to try it The old-city souk in Nablus.
A spread of olive oil, za'atar, labneh, hummus, fuul, cheeses and eggs, with fresh bread. It is a leisurely start to the day.
Where to try it Guesthouses and cafés across the West Bank.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Travel in the West Bank involves Israeli-controlled borders and checkpoints, so entry rules are Israel's, and conditions can change at short notice.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
The hills of the West Bank have a Mediterranean climate, with a dry, warm summer and a cool, wet winter. Jericho and the Jordan Valley are much hotter, and the Jordan Valley is best in winter.
Green hills, wildflowers and warm, clear days. The best season for walking at Battir and the hills. Easter is busy in Bethlehem.
Hot and dry in the hills and very hot in Jericho, often over 40°C. Evenings are pleasant, and it is the season for weddings and festivals.
Warm, clear and pleasant. October and November are the olive-harvest season, when families pick and press olives together.
Cool and often wet, sometimes with snow in the hills. Jericho is at its best. Christmas brings pilgrims and celebrations to Bethlehem.
Worth planning around: Days of heavy rain or snow, when roads and checkpoints can close, and summer in Jericho. Check for Israeli and Palestinian holidays, as checkpoints and crossings close and public transport changes.
Trip length
Many visitors see Bethlehem and Jericho on a day trip from Jerusalem, but a few days gives you time for the hospitality, food and landscapes that are the main reason to visit. Delays at checkpoints mean you should allow more time than distances suggest.
Getting around
Transport in the West Bank is mostly by service taxi, bus and private driver. Checkpoints and closures can affect journey times, and Israeli-registered vehicles and drivers face restrictions in Palestinian-administered areas.
Sample route
A route through the West Bank from south to north, using Bethlehem and Ramallah as bases. Conditions in Hebron and Nablus may make parts of this impractical, so check current advice and be ready to adapt. Covers all ten destinations in this guide.
Culture
Palestinian society is warm, family-centred and hospitable. Most Palestinians are Muslim, with a significant Christian minority, and communities are proud of their history and food. Politics is part of daily life, and people are usually happy to talk about it if you listen.
You will be offered tea, coffee, sweets and meals. Accepting is a courtesy, and you should say 'shukran' and try a little of everything. Refusing repeatedly can cause offence.
Cover shoulders and knees, and women should consider a scarf for mosques and conservative towns such as Hebron and Nablus. Ramallah and Bethlehem are more relaxed.
Conversations about the occupation, Jerusalem and history are common. Ask questions, avoid arguing, and accept that people may see things differently from you.
Always ask before photographing people. Do not photograph soldiers, checkpoints or military areas, and avoid taking pictures of children without permission.
During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight in conservative areas. Friday is the day of prayer, and many shops close in the morning.
Israeli border officials may ask about your plans. Answer honestly and calmly, and be aware that visiting the West Bank may be questioned, and it is best to carry evidence of your accommodation.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in the West Bank, several of which are specific to how the territory works.
FAQ
It depends on where and when. Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah are the most visited and are generally regarded as safe for tourists in normal times, but conditions have worsened since 2023 and many governments advise against travel to parts of the West Bank, particularly the north and Hebron. Check current advice, travel with local guidance and be prepared for closures.
Yes. Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah are easy day trips from Jerusalem, with foreign passport holders usually crossing without difficulty. Israeli citizens are barred from Area A, and some rental cars are not permitted. Check current conditions and the rules for your nationality, and see our Israel guide for the Jerusalem side.
There is no separate Palestinian visa for most visitors. Entry is through Israel or the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge from Jordan, so Israeli entry rules apply. Israeli officials have questioned visitors about travel to the West Bank, and some have been refused entry. Check the current rules.
March to May and September to November. Spring has green hills and mild weather, and autumn brings the olive harvest. Jericho is best in winter, and summer is hot.
One day covers Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Three to five days let you see Jericho, Ramallah and some of the countryside, and a week covers the whole territory if conditions allow.
No. The Gaza Strip is not open to independent travel and is not covered in this guide. Conditions there have been dire since October 2023.
Stay in local guesthouses, eat in local restaurants, hire Palestinian guides and buy from local workshops. Listen to a range of perspectives, respect local customs, and be honest with border officials.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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