Visit Jericho

Thinking to visit Jericho or to know more about this Palestinian city? Then look no more, you’re totally in the right place!

Claimed to be the world’s oldest inhabited city, Jericho is a truly interesting place to stop for the day or two.

It is located in Palestine, West Bank, and can be easily reached by public transportation from Jerusalem of Bethlehem. It is positioned at the base of the Judean Mountains, close to the Dead Sea and near the border with Jordan.

The overall sensation is that everything is lost in time, with a peaceful atmosphere on the streets and with people that all know each other.

One interesting fact I discovered thanks to the Lonely Planet travel guide is that Marc Antony gave this city as a wedding present to Cleopatra!

Today, the main reason to visit the city is for religions purpose. In the Judean Mountains Jesus resisted Satan after 40 days of fast in the desert. Also, close by is Qasr Al Yahad, the site where John the Baptist received its own baptism from Jesus in the waters of the Jordan river.

Now, let’s discover together the city’s main attractions and surroundings!

Sycamore Tree

Not far away from the city center there is a Russian Museum. When we arrived, there was nobody at the entrance, probably because of the lack of visitors so we had to walk around and find somebody.

In the end, we didn’t visited the museum itself, but its beautiful garden. It was covered with flowers, trees and fruits. But, the big treasure was a sycamore tree known in the Bible as the Tree of Zacchaeus.

The story says, while Jesus was passing by, a wealthy man – tax collector – called Zacchaeus, climbed this tree in order to see Him. When Jesus seen him, He asked if he can come later to visit his home. Zacchaeus was overwhelmed about His gesture so he decided to follow Jesus path.

If you don’t want to pay the entrance for the museum’s garden, you can still see the tree from outside the fence as well.

Mount of Temptation

You can see the Mount of Temptation from everywhere around but the best views are from the top of the mountain. To reach the pick you have a few possibilities: to walk, to come by car or to take the Jericho’s Cable Car.

We preferred the last one to have some amazing views all around on the way up and down. Even if is quite expensive, the experience is worth in the money.

Tel Es Sultan

To really understand Jericho, you need to make a visit to Tel Al Sultan. Take a look at the oldest settlement in the world with its fortification and walls, telling the stories from 10,000 years ago.

Monastery of the Qurantul

Welcome to Jericho’s top attraction. Located in the Mount of Temptation, this monastery is literally digged in the stone and offers spectacular views over the city up to the Dead Sea and Jordan on clear days.

Located near Jericho’s Cable Car is an easy attraction to reach even on hot days. Anyway, expect a small walk and a few stairs until actually reaching the monastery.

Once there, go inside the cave and see the place Jesus resisted to Satan after 40 days of fast in the desert.

Hisham’s Palace

Today, only your imagination and a 3D reconstruction can bring back to life the Hisham’s palace, once called the Versaille of the Middle East.

Start with the video to learn more about the place, then continue with the small museum on the right and finish with the place itself.

Near Jericho

Qasr Al Yahad

If you ever dream to be with one foot in a country and the other one in another, here is almost possible! In Qasr Al Yahad the Jordan river is so narrow that you could almost cross it by walking.

Apart from this visual scene, seeing the Israeli and Jordanian border so close, a religious purpose gave the true importance of the spot. Here, in this water, John received his baptism from Jesus.

Many pilgrims are entering the water into white robes waiting to receive their own baptism by a priest. While was too early in the morning to find somebody to baptism us, my mother and I done it reciprocal.

I don’t know how it was 2000 years ago, but today, the water is brownish and dirty.

Nabi Musa

Nabi Musa is a the Mosque where Muslims believe Prophet Moses was buried. The road to reach the mosque and the view from up are spectacular.

Dead Sea

This is the time to go below the see level and I’m not speaking about diving! The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the entire Earth, with a bit more than 430 meters!

While not many can climb the Everest, the highest point on Earth, we can all easily go to the other extreme!

Kalya Beach

Are you dreaming about a relaxing day on the beach, floating on the water and having some skin treatments? Then, chose the Dead Sea, the best natural spa in the world!

Located only a few kilometers far away from Jericho, Kalya is a private beach located at the North of the Dead Sea. While the entrance is quite expensive, about 60 euro per person per day, you have all the conditions to enjoy the day at its fullest. It is well equipped with sunbeds, showers, toilets, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops!

At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter to which beach you’ll go to. Just check for showers as you don’t want to be covered in salt after drying! And, don’t forget to have some fun! We have created our own avatars!

I hope you liked this article and you’ll visit Jericho during your trip! If you’re interested to know more about Palestine and Israel continue reading more here.