Western Wall Plaza Plaza

Address: Western Wall Plaza, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel

Website: https://www.thekotel.org/

Hours: Plaza open 24/7 (visitor centre/hours vary)

Admission: Free

The Western Wall Plaza is the open public square immediately in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, serving as the principal public prayer and assembly space at the site. The plaza provides direct access to the wall and viewing points for the Temple Mount above.

The space functions as a large outdoor synagogue with fixed gender-separated prayer sections and is used for religious services, national ceremonies and large public gatherings. Adjacent facilities include prayer pavilions, an archaeological park and access routes to the Western Wall tunnels.

The plaza was cleared and established as an open public area after the Six-Day War in 1967. It sits at the western foot of the Temple Mount, within the Old City of Jerusalem.

• Plaza creation: The plaza in front of the wall was created after the Six-Day War in 1967 when nearby structures were removed to open the space for public prayer and ceremonies.
• Prayer arrangements: The prayer area is organised with separate sections for men and women and regularly hosts morning prayers, national ceremonies and bar/bat mitzvahs.

What to See#

• Western Wall (Kotel): The Western Wall itself, a surviving retaining wall of the extended platform built by Herod the Great around the Second Temple period.

The Western Wall Plaza sits at the southwest corner of Jerusalem’s Old City and is best reached on foot from the Old City gates. If using public transit, take the Jerusalem Light Rail to the City Hall / Jaffa Road stops and walk roughly 10-15 minutes east/up to the Old City (or continue to Jaffa Gate and enter from there). From the Jerusalem Central Bus Station the plaza is a short taxi or bus ride or about a 25-35 minute walk into the Old City.

• Enter the Old City via the Dung Gate to reach the Western Wall Plaza quickest; expect security screening at the plaza entrance and allow extra time during peak hours.
• Avoid Friday afternoons, Jewish holidays and the hour before Shabbat when the plaza becomes extremely crowded; early mornings on weekdays are the quietest times for unobstructed viewing.
• If you want a deeper visit book the Western Wall Tunnels tour in advance-those ticketed subterranean sections are often missed by casual visitors and fill up separately from plaza access.