Mount Scopus Mountain

Address: Mount Scopus (Har HaTsofim), Jerusalem, Israel

Admission: Free (public hill/campus areas)

Mount Scopus is a hill to the northeast of Jerusalem’s Old City, notable for hosting the original Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University and several institutional sites. The hill overlooks the city and provides strategic viewpoints toward the Old City.

The site contains the university campus established in 1925, landscaped botanical areas and archaeological monuments including the Tomb of Nicanor. Paths and terraces on the hill are used by students, staff and visitors for access and for views over central Jerusalem.

During the 20th century Mount Scopus had periods of contested access and strategic importance; the campus was established in the British Mandate era and expanded over time to include research facilities. After changes in the mid-century the university and associated institutions were reconnected to the rest of the city.

Mount Scopus lies about 2 to 3 kilometres northeast of the Old City, on the northern ridge of Jerusalem, with roads linking it to central Jerusalem and surrounding neighbourhoods.

• Viewpoint: Offers clear views across the Kidron Valley to the Old City and the Temple Mount, making it a popular vantage point for photographs and orientation.

What to See#

• Hebrew University (Mount Scopus campus): University campus founded in 1925 that includes lecture halls, research institutes and terraces overlooking the city; it was the original campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
• Botanical gardens and viewpoints: A landscaped botanical garden and archaeological remains are present on and around the slopes, with walking paths that offer panoramic views toward the Old City and the Temple Mount.
• Tomb of Nicanor: A small modern cemetery and the Tomb of Nicanor, an ancient funerary monument located on the hill and visited for its historical associations.

Mount Scopus is on the northeastern/eastern edge of Jerusalem and is home to the Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University. It can be reached from central Jerusalem by city buses and by taxi - buses from the city centre and Old City run to stops near the campus and the National Botanical Garden; walking from those stops to campus buildings is typically 5-20 minutes depending on the stop and entrance used. Driving from central Jerusalem is a short trip of a few kilometres.

• Go at sunrise or late afternoon to take advantage of the best light over the Old City - the Hebrew University plaza on Mount Scopus offers one of the clearest public viewpoints toward the Temple Mount.
• Stick to the public university grounds and main plaza areas if you're visiting as a tourist; campus buildings and museums have specific opening hours and occasional security checks, so verify access times beforehand.
• Don't miss the small botanical garden and the university museums near the summit - they are quieter than the viewpoint and give context about the hill's role in modern Jerusalem, but are often overlooked.