Mount Zion Hill

Address: Mount Zion, Jerusalem

Admission: Free (public area; some individual sites/buildings may charge)

Mount Zion is a hill adjacent to the southwestern edge of Jerusalem’s Old City that holds several sites of religious and historical significance for Jews and Christians. It includes shrines, a historic cemetery and monastic buildings concentrated on a compact area.

Prominent locations on the hill include the area venerated as David’s Tomb, the Dormition Abbey and the traditional Upper Room or Cenacle associated with the Last Supper. The hill has been a focal point for pilgrimage and religious practice for many centuries.

Historically Mount Zion has been identified with different parts of Jerusalem in varying periods; it became associated with King David and later Christian traditions. Over time the built environment has included churches, convents and burial grounds reflecting successive religious communities.

Mount Zion lies immediately outside the Old City walls near Zion Gate in the Jerusalem District, a short walk from the Western Wall and the Old City’s Armenian and Jewish quarters.

• Religious significance: Sits immediately outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City near Zion Gate and contains sites important to Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions.
• Access note: Access and opening hours for some religious sites on the hill can be limited or subject to security and liturgical schedules.

What to See#

• David’s Tomb: A small complex that contains the traditional site venerated as the burial place of King David, located on the southern slope.
• Dormition Abbey and the Cenacle: A church complex built on the hill that includes a prominent monastery and the site traditionally identified as the Upper Room or Cenacle.
• Mount Zion cemetery: A centuries-old Jewish cemetery that occupies the hill’s slopes and contains tombs traditionally revered in Jewish tradition.

Mount Zion sits immediately outside Jerusalem’s Old City near Zion Gate. It is a short walk from the Old City walls-about 5-10 minutes from Zion Gate or a 10-15 minute walk from Jaffa Gate. Central Jerusalem buses and taxis drop close to the Old City gates; once at Zion Gate walking is the usual way to reach the mount’s sites.

• Enter the Old City via Zion Gate when visiting Mount Zion sites-the gate gives direct access to the small cluster of religious sites south-west of the Old City.
• Check individual opening hours before you visit: sites on Mount Zion (Dormition Abbey, King David's Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper) have different visiting schedules and may close for religious services.
• To avoid peak crowds, aim for weekday mornings outside major pilgrimage periods; late afternoons and Sundays are typically busiest with organized groups.