David's Tomb Archaeological Site

Address: David Street / Mount Zion area, Jerusalem

David’s Tomb is the traditional site identified as the burial place of the biblical King David, located on Mount Zion in the Jerusalem District. The chamber has been a place of veneration since at least the Byzantine period.

A small, vaulted subterranean chamber is the principal feature, used today as a Jewish prayer space; visitors also see the building above it, which contains the historically significant upper room. The upper room - commonly called the Cenacle - occupies the upper level of the same structure and is visited for its association with early Christian traditions.

The complex includes courtyards and separate prayer rooms that reflect the site’s multi-faith significance; photographic and access restrictions often apply inside prayer areas and during services.

The location has been identified with David’s burial since at least the Byzantine era and became a medieval pilgrimage site. Over centuries the building complex acquired Christian, Muslim and Jewish uses; administrative control of the Old City changed in the 20th century, and the site has been repaired and restored periodically.

Sited on the western slope of Mount Zion just outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City near Zion Gate, the complex sits within the Jerusalem District and is a short walk from other Old City landmarks.

• Multi-faith veneration: The site has been venerated since at least the Byzantine period and is considered a holy place by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
• Variable access: Access arrangements and visiting hours vary; the complex contains multiple prayer rooms and upper-level spaces that may have separate entry rules for different faiths.

What to See#

• Tomb chamber: A vaulted subterranean chamber venerated as the traditional burial place of King David; the room now contains a Jewish prayer area and is entered from the complex above.
• Cenacle (upper room): The Cenacle (upper room) sits above the tomb in the same building and is traditionally associated with the Last Supper; the room is part of the multi-level Mount Zion complex.
• Mount Zion complex: Adjacent courtyards and prayer rooms that form the Mount Zion pilgrimage complex, with separate entrances and areas used by different religious communities.

David’s Tomb is on Mount Zion, just outside the southwestern edge of Jerusalem’s Old City. From the Jaffa Gate or the Armenian Quarter it is a 10-15 minute walk downhill. Local buses and taxis to the Old City will drop visitors within easy walking distance; the site is best accessed on foot through the Old City gates.

• The site is in a politically sensitive area; opening hours and access can change - confirm with local authorities or tour operators in Jerusalem before going.
• Allow time to walk the stairs and alleys around Mount Zion - the area's religious layering is dense and best experienced on foot.
• Modesty of dress is appreciated; the site sits inside a contested religious and cultural landscape.