Jerusalem Western Wall Tunnels

Western Wall Tunnels Tour

Start with an overview of Jerusalem from Mount Olives, looking down at the Old City and the Temple Mount. Visit the Herodian Mansion and the Burnt House, archaeological remains of homes destroyed during the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, now under the homes in the restored Jewish quarter. Continue to the Southern Wall excavations by entering the  Temple, Hulda gates and see the two thousand year old steps ,leading up to the Temple Mount. Walk through the Western Wall tunnels. This is dependent on the availability of space as advance booking is required. If not possible, then a visit to the Citadel at the Jaffa Gate.

*Visit not guaranteed as entry to Tunnel requires advance booking!

Substitute visit to the breathtaking structures of David's Citadel, built by King Herod for defense of the northern part of the city.

Western Wall tunnels - General Information

Most people know where and what the Wailing Wall is, it is the one remaining outer retaining wall of the ancient Jewish Temple that was destroyed by Romans in 70AD. However not everyone knows that there is even more of the Wailing Wall/Western Wall or Kotel to see which is underground and not visible from the Wailing Wall Plaza.  The Wailing Wall Tunnel takes you beneath the Old City of Jerusalem and reveals layers of the Holy wall which for years lay undiscovered.

Story of the Wailing Wall Tunnels

During the 1800's archeologists were first able to calculate the length and methods of construction of the Wailing Wall when researches uncovered the extended wall adjacent to the Wailing Wall Plaza. It was only after the six day war that work began on uncovering the hidden wall which lay beneath houses and buildings which had been built on top of the second Temple wall. During the twenty year excavation archeological findings threw light on many aspects of the history of the wall and Temple Mount.

This was no ordinary excavation, the religious laws, politically delicate location of the wall beneath both Arab and Jewish property and the fragile archeological finds meant the prolonged project took it's time. However the hard work paid off and remnants were found from many periods in history including the Hasmonean period, Herodian Period and the first Temple. There were various structures found along with the wall including cisterns, aqueducts and roads. Today a trip to the Wailing Wall Tunnels is like a journey back in time, peeling back the layers with several periods of history revealed.

Visiting the Wailing Wall Tunnels

A visit to the Wailing Wall Tunnels is by guided tour only and the tour takes about an hour and fifteen minutes as you pass by the 485 meters of the wall that is now visible. The entrance to the Wailing Wall tunnels is from the Wailing Wall Plaza which is best reached from the Dung Gate. During a tour of the Wailing Wall Tunnels your guide will be shown you things which to the untrained eye may go unnoticed.

The Wailing Wall Tunnels are wheelchair accessible, air conditioned and with well lit walking paths.

Significance of the Wailing Wall to Jews

To religious Jews the Temple is the central pillar of their belief and each Jew prays for the rebuilding of the Temple. Now that the Wailing Wall Tunnels are open Jewish worshipers can get to the closest point that is possible today to the "Holy of Holies", the alter of the Temple. Today Jews cannot reach this place above ground because of the Dome of the Rock's position. So a few devout Jews prey in a small "cave" synagogue along the Wailing Wall Tunnels route which has been turned into a synagogue.

The wailing Wall Tunnels also make an excellent option for a Bar Mitzvah tour as it is close to the Wailing Wall where most Bar Mitzvah ceremonies take place and so guests don't have to catch a bus to get to the tour.

Modest dress required Minimum 2 participants Entry fees not included Visit to Herodion conditional to Israeli/Palestinian Authority regulations