City of David, Jerusalem – Visitors Guide
The City of David is considered the initial core settlement in Jerusalem. And using various tracks and tours, you can explore it.
What is the difference between the City of David and the Tower of David?
Before we begin with the overview, let’s address a common question.
Since the City of David and the Tower of David bear David’s name, many people confuse them. The Tower of David, also known as the Jerusalem Citadel, is near the Jaffa Gate. And inside, you can find a museum dedicated to Jerusalem. Moreover, the Tower of David has no connection to King David. For additional information, see Tower of David.
The City of David is located on the other side of the Old City of Jerusalem, near the Dung Gate. It was part of ancient Jerusalem. Most tourists know it for Hezekiah’s Tunnel, also known as the Water Tunnel, but there are many other points of interest, and today, we will visit all of them.
Map
The City of David is near the Dung Gate on Ma’alot Ir David Street.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
You can find the following map in several places in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Note: You can click on the map to enlarge it.
On the map above, you can see the City of David marked in the square L11.
Since we are discussing location, did you know the City of David was on Mount Zion?
For example, let’s take a look at 2 Samuel 5:7 (NRSV):
Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David.
According to the Bible, Mount Zion was in three places, one of which is the City of David. You can find additional information in the Mount Zion guide.
And there is the trail map:
Note: You can click on the trail map to enlarge it.
Directions
During one of our visits to the City of David, we used the First Station paid parking lot. There is a free shuttle to the Dung Gate and back. But there are many other ways as well. For detailed directions, check the guide to the Old City of Jerusalem.
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday: 08:00 – 17:00
Friday and holiday eves: 08:00 – 14:00
Saturday – closed.
Note: Tickets are sold up to two hours before the closure time.
Entrance Fee
You can visit the City of David or join one of the tours. Here are the different options (all prices are in NIS):
| Visit Type | Adult | Child (5-18)/Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance to the City of David (without a tour) | 31 | 16 |
| The Biblical City of David – Guided Tour | 62 | 45 |
| The City of David – Western Wall Cornerstone – Guided Tour | 52 | 42 |
| HALLELUJAH – night show | 62 | 51 |
| Sifting activity at Tzurim Valley National Park | 26 | 21 |
| Zip Line at Mitzpe David | Single Zipline Ride – 152 Shared Zip Line – 220 |
Notes:
- You can purchase discounted tickets using Matmon, HTZone, the teachers’ association, credit card clubs, and other available options. You can find the complete list here.
- If you need a flashlight for the tunnels, you can rent one for your visit, and it costs 6 NIS.
- You can take optional transportation from the end (Pool of Siloam) to the starting point for 7 NIS.
If you are wondering what a Matmon card is or planning to visit several National Parks, then consider purchasing a combo ticket and check out the National Parks and Nature Reserves.
Note: Opening hours and ticket prices were updated as of August 2025. In any case, recheck the official site before visiting.
Tours
As you saw in the entrance fee section, you can join different tours. So this is an option. Later in this post, I will tell you about the time we joined the tour from the City of David to the Western Wall. Also, on another occasion, we visited the Archaeological Experience in the Tzurim Valley National Park. In both cases, we enjoyed the experience, and I would recommend considering these options (if they offer tours in your language).
Hallelujah Night Show
Besides tours, there is a nighttime light show called Hallelujah. Here are several photos from our latest visit:
Our visit started with a short tour. Most of the tour was spent at the Givati excavations, and then we headed to the half-hour light show.
The show is in Hebrew. You can take headphones with simultaneous translation to other languages. The tour was in Hebrew and English.
We enjoyed the night show, and it was a lovely experience. Here is a short video from our visit:
You can find additional info and purchase tickets on the official website.
What is the City of David?
Before my first visit to the City of David, I had never considered the location of the Old City. I assumed its current location was the same during all periods. But if you ponder, you understand one simple thing. People can not survive without water. And there are no water sources in or near the Old City.
Here is an illustration of the site: