Mount of Olives
Mountain Ridge east of Jerusalem with major religious sites
The Mount of Olives overlooks Jerusalem’s Old City, hosting ancient Jewish cemeteries, the Church of All Nations and panoramic viewpoints used by pilgrims and visitors interested in biblical history.
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
_P106_Mount_of_Olives_settlement.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
The Mount of Olives is an east-facing ridge immediately to the east of Jerusalem’s Old City that is important in Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. It forms a natural overlook above the Kidron Valley and contains a concentration of religious sites and cemeteries.
Key visitor features include panoramic viewpoints over the Old City and Temple Mount, the extensive historic Jewish Cemetery, Christian pilgrimage sites such as the Dominus Flevit church and the Chapel of the Ascension, and paths leading to the Garden of Gethsemane at the mountain’s base. The ridge is an active pilgrimage destination year-round.
The Mount of Olives appears frequently in biblical accounts and has been used as a burial ground and place of worship for many centuries; it remains a focal point for processions, pilgrimages and religious commemoration. Control and access to parts of the ridge have changed through successive historical periods but it has retained continuous religious significance.
Geographically the mount sits immediately east of Jerusalem’s Old City across the Kidron Valley and forms a prominent skyline feature seen from the city centre.
- Best views: offers panoramic views eastward over the Old City of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound and the Kidron Valley, making it a widely used vantage point for photography and pilgrimage.
- Historic cemetery: contains one of the oldest and most extensive Jewish cemeteries in the world, with burials that span many centuries.
What to See #
- Jewish Cemetery: A large and historic Jewish cemetery on the slopes of the ridge containing many thousands of graves and used for burials for centuries.
- Dominus Flevit: A 20th-century church marking the traditional site where Christian tradition holds that Jesus wept over Jerusalem; it is sited on the western slope facing the Old City.
- Chapel of the Ascension: A small domed shrine and site venerated in Christian tradition as the place of the Ascension; the site has both a chapel and an open area marking the location.
How to Get to Mount of Olives #
The Mount of Olives sits immediately east of Jerusalem’s Old City; the road up the ridge is Ma’ale HaZeitim (Mount of Olives Road). From the Old City’s eastern gates (Lion’s Gate) it is an uphill walk of roughly 10-20 minutes; from central Jerusalem a taxi or private car takes about 5-15 minutes.
Jerusalem city buses and shared taxis serve stops on Ma’ale HaZeitim and nearby neighborhoods (ask locally for the Mount of Olives/Har HaZeitim stop). If arriving by car, follow local signage east from the Old City onto Ma’ale HaZeitim; parking is available at a few viewing points and at the main cemetery and church sites.
Tips for Visiting Mount of Olives #
- Aim for early morning (sunrise) for the clearest light on the Old City and far fewer visitors; approach the Mount of Olives on foot from Lion's Gate if you're coming from the Old City to save time and avoid steep vehicle routes.
- Don't just stop at the viewpoint - walk the ridge to Dominus Flevit and the Pater Noster church for quieter overlooks that many day-trippers miss, and take time to pass through the historic Jewish cemetery for its scale and views over Jerusalem.
- Avoid peak tour-bus hours (late morning to mid-afternoon) by starting your visit at opening or midweek; once crowds arrive, head uphill away from the Garden of Gethsemane slopes where most groups concentrate.
Best Time to Visit Mount of Olives #
Best visited in spring or autumn for mild weather and comfortable sightseeing.
Weather & Climate near Mount of Olives #
Mount of Olives'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 11°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (106 mm).
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm).
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
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.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 18°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
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.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 17°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall and clear sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm).
.jpg?width=600)
