Mount Herzl Plaza Plaza

Address: Mount Herzl (Har Herzl), Jerusalem, Israel

Mount Herzl Plaza is the paved forecourt and assembly area associated with Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery and memorial site in Jerusalem. It functions as the public entrance and ceremonial space for official commemorations.

The plaza is used for state ceremonies, memorial services and for visitors assembling before entering the cemetery and adjacent memorial sites. It provides open space for organized events and access routes to the national cemetery and other memorial installations on Mount Herzl.

The plaza was developed as part of the broader Mount Herzl complex, which was established in the mid 20th century as Israel’s national cemetery and site for state remembrance. It has since been the locus for official national ceremonies, including Memorial Day and state commemorations.

Situated on the western slope of Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl, the plaza adjoins the national cemetery and lies within the Jerusalem municipal area, immediately accessible from main roads and public transport serving the Mount Herzl complex.

• Ceremonial role: Serves as the formal forecourt for national remembrance ceremonies and state events held on Mount Herzl.

Mount Herzl (Har Herzl) is served directly by the Jerusalem Light Rail (Red Line) - disembark at the Mount Herzl/Har Herzl stop and walk about 5 minutes to the plaza. The site is also served by multiple Egged bus routes that stop in the Har Herzl area. By car it is reached via Har Herzl Road on the western side of Jerusalem with nearby parking; from central Jerusalem it is a short drive.

• Aim for weekday mornings to see Mount Herzl Plaza quietly and to get unobstructed views across the city-national memorial ceremonies (especially around Yom Hazikaron/Yom Ha'atzmaut) draw large crowds and should be avoided if you want a peaceful visit.
• Use the main visitor‑centre entrance on the Mount Herzl approach (near the Herzl Boulevard/bus stops) to pick up maps and audio‑guide information; the entrance organizes access to the ceremonial plaza and the cemetery sections.
• Check the national-ceremony calendar before you go and, if you want context, allow time to follow the marked pathways that lead through the military cemetery and the adjacent memorial installations-many casual visitors stick only to the plaza and miss the explanatory panels and overlooks.