Things to Do at Western Wall

Complete Guide to Western Wall in Jerusalem

About Western Wall

The stones are warm. You press your palm flat against the 2,000-year-old limestone of the Western Wall and feel the heat of a million hands before yours, plus the Jerusalem sun that has been baking this rock since Herod the Great set the foundation blocks in 19 BC. Notes are wedged into every crack - prayers on scraps of paper, some typed, some handwritten, some on napkins. The wall is 57 meters long, 19 meters high above ground, but extends another 9 meters underground. This is the holiest place in Judaism - the retaining wall of the Temple Mount where the First and Second Temples once stood. Admission is free, open 24 hours, every day of the year. The plaza is divided by gender: men on the left (larger section), women on the right. Security screening at the entrance is thorough but fast. Modest dress is required - shoulders and knees covered for everyone. Men need a head covering, available free at the entrance (kippot in a bin by the security gate). What most people miss: the Western Wall Tunnels (ILS 35, must book in advance at thekotel.org). A 488-meter underground passage along the full hidden length of the wall, including the largest stone - the Western Stone, estimated at 570 tons. The tunnel reveals what the above-ground wall doesn't: the true scale of Herod's engineering. Best time to visit the wall is Friday evening at sunset for Shabbat services - thousands gather, singing fills the plaza, and the energy is electric regardless of your faith. Allow one hour for the wall and plaza, add 75 minutes for the tunnel tour. Only a local would know: visit at 2:00 AM on a Thursday night and the plaza is nearly empty, the floodlights create long shadows, and you can stand with your forehead against the stones in complete solitude. Worth it? This is one of the most emotionally charged places on earth.

What to See & Do

The Wall Itself

Touch the stones, say a prayer if you wish, tuck a note into a crack. The wall accommodates all levels of observance - ultra-Orthodox men in black hats stand alongside secular tourists in shorts and kippot from the free bin. The left (men's) section reaches closer to the original Holy of Holies site. The experience is personal regardless of faith

Prayer Notes

Millions of handwritten prayers on scraps of paper are wedged into every crack in the wall - some typed, some on napkins, some in envelopes. The notes are collected twice a year and buried on the Mount of Olives. Write your own and push it into a crack. The tradition is open to everyone, any faith, any language

Western Wall Tunnels

A 488-meter underground tunnel along the wall's hidden length. Book at thekotel.org (ILS 35, 75-minute guided tour). You'll see the Western Stone (570 tons, one of the heaviest objects ever moved without machinery), a 2,000-year-old water channel, and a segment of the wall closest to the Holy of Holies. The most important site most visitors skip

Davidson Center Archaeological Park

Adjacent to the wall, this park reveals the fallen stones from the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 AD - massive blocks tumbled exactly where they landed 2,000 years ago. ILS 30. A virtual reality film recreates the Temple. The Robinson's Arch remains and the ancient street are genuinely impressive. Often empty

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebrations

Most Monday and Thursday mornings, families celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs at the wall with singing, dancing, and Torah reading. The joy is contagious and visitors are welcome to watch and photograph. The contrast between solemn individual prayer and exuberant family celebration captures the wall's dual nature

Practical Information

Opening Hours

Open 24/7, though security screening operates from early morning until late evening. The Western Wall Tunnels require advance booking and have specific tour times

Tickets & Pricing

Free access to the Western Wall plaza. Western Wall Tunnels tours cost around 35-40 NIS for adults, with discounts for students and children

Best Time to Visit

Early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds. Friday evenings and Saturday mornings offer the most authentic religious atmosphere but expect larger crowds

Suggested Duration

30 minutes to 1 hour for the plaza visit, plus 75 minutes if you take the tunnels tour

Getting There

Enter the Old City through the Dung Gate (closest to the wall, 5 minutes' walk downhill) or the Jaffa Gate (15 minutes through the Jewish Quarter). Light Rail to City Hall station, then walk 15 minutes through Jaffa Gate. Bus routes 1, 3, and 43 stop near the Dung Gate. Taxi from central Jerusalem costs ILS 30-50. The Western Wall plaza has airport-style security screening at the entrance - queues are usually under 10 minutes but can build on Fridays and holidays.

Things to Do Nearby

Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif
The contested holy site above the Western Wall, home to the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque

City of David
Archaeological site just south of the Old City where you can explore ancient Jerusalem's origins and walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel

Jewish Quarter
Reconstructed neighborhood with synagogues, museums, and the fascinating Cardo - the main street of Byzantine Jerusalem

Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Christianity's holiest site, believed to be where Jesus was crucified and buried, about a 10-minute walk through the Old City

Via Dolorosa
The traditional path Jesus walked to his crucifixion, winding through the Old City's narrow streets

Tips & Advice

Friday evening at sunset is the most powerful time to visit. Shabbat services fill the plaza with thousands of people singing and dancing. You don't need to be Jewish to attend - stand respectfully and absorb the energy. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset

Book the Western Wall Tunnels tour in advance at thekotel.org (ILS 35). The underground passage reveals the wall's true scale - the 570-ton Western Stone is one of the largest cut stones in the ancient world. Tours in English run several times daily

Men need a head covering (kippah/kippot) - free ones are available in a bin at the security entrance. Women don't need head coverings but shoulders and knees must be covered. Modest dress applies to everyone regardless of faith

Visit at 2:00-4:00 AM on a weeknight for an experience most tourists never have. The plaza is open 24 hours, floodlit, and nearly empty. The solitude at the wall in the small hours is profound