Kidron Valley
Valley Biblical valley east of Jerusalem with ancient tombs
The Kidron Valley runs east of Jerusalem’s Old City; pilgrims and history-minded visitors come for tombs, biblical associations, views toward the Mount of Olives and nearby Via Dolorosa landmarks.
The Kidron Valley is the ravine that runs on the eastern side of Jerusalem’s Old City between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives, carrying seasonal watercourses and lined with ancient burial monuments. It contains several visible rock-cut tombs and funerary monuments dating to antiquity.
Well-preserved stone mausolea and carved tomb facades, including monuments long identified as the Tomb of Absalom and the Tomb of Zechariah, are among the valley’s most visited features. The valley has layered significance in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions and appears in biblical and later texts.
Over many centuries the valley served funerary, agricultural and drainage functions and has been modified by road construction and urban expansion. Archaeological remains attest to use from the Iron Age through the Roman and Byzantine periods.
The Kidron Valley lies immediately east of Jerusalem’s Old City walls in the West Bank/East Jerusalem area, descending southeast from the Temple Mount toward the Judean Desert and ultimately toward the Dead Sea.
- Best viewpoints: Mount of Olives viewpoints on the eastern ridge provide clear views down the length of the valley and overlook Old City walls and many tomb monuments at sunrise.
What to See #
- Tomb of Absalom: Tomb of Absalom (Yad Avshalom) - a prominent rock-cut funerary monument on the slopes of the valley historically associated with the Second Temple period.
- Tomb of Zechariah and Benei Hezir: Tomb of Zechariah and the Benei Hezir tombs - ancient rock-cut burial monuments located close together on the valley slope and notable for their preserved stone facades.
How to Get to Kidron Valley #
The Kidron Valley runs along the eastern side of Jerusalem’s Old City between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. The valley is best accessed on foot from the Old City - enter through Dung Gate or Lions’ Gate and walk east into the valley, or approach from the Mount of Olives / Garden of Gethsemane on the eastern ridge.
By vehicle it is a very short drive from central Jerusalem; follow local roads down from the Mount of Olives or from the Old City entrances and park at nearby viewpoints or on-street parking, then continue on foot into the archaeological areas.
Tips for Visiting Kidron Valley #
- Best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon for cooler light and quieter paths between the Mount of Olives and the Old City; these hours also give the best views down into the valley from the eastern slopes.
- Approach the valley on foot from the Mount of Olives or the Garden of Gethsemane side to access the sequence of tombs and tomb markers (including the Tomb of Absalom and the Tomb of Zechariah) in a single loop rather than trying to reach them by car.
- Many visitors focus on the Old City - take time to follow the valley floor and lower slopes where archaeologically important burial caves, ancient terraces and sections of old aqueducts are located; these features are easy to miss from higher viewpoints.
- To avoid tourist groups, skip midday and Sundays (when pilgrimage groups peak) and instead plan a weekday visit; stick to the quieter eastern paths and viewpoints rather than the main gates of the Old City.
Best Time to Visit Kidron Valley #
Best visited in spring or autumn when temperatures are mild and walking around the valley is most comfortable.
Weather & Climate near Kidron Valley #
Kidron Valley's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 5°C to 29°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (105 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 18°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 18°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 17°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall and clear sunny skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
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