Prague Bar & Restaurant, Jerusalem

Advantages: Beautiful City, plenty to do, lots of history.
Disadvantages: Watch out for dodgy dealers. A lot of 'friction' in Israel.

...might rip you off. The New City is pretty much like any other modern European City, with shops, bars, cafes and night clubs (mostly centred around Zion Square). Jerusalem has plenty of places to stay from nice hotels to the dirtiest cheapest hostels you can imagine. For a truly outstanding experience you can sleep on the roof of a hostel in the Old City for about 1 pound 50. Most decent hostel rooms are around 3-4 pounds. There are many other things to see in the area, Yad Vashem the holocaust museum is good but left me feeling a bit depressed, the Knessett (parliament building) is close by with tours but is a little boring unless you are into politics. There are many other religious sites in Jerusalem such as the Mount of Olives and numerous churches/synagogues/mosques (the Old City is actually split into four quarters each with it's own... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Ancient and vibrant, a city that lives simultaneously in and beyond time
Disadvantages: Prone to acts of war and other forms of madness

...Jerusalems: West Jerusalem, which is predominantly Jewish; East Jerusalem, which is predominantly Arab Palestinian; and the Old City, which both claim. Visitors to West Jerusalem can browse through the restaurants and shops of Ben Yehuda, tour the seat of government for modern Israel at the Knesset, and indulge in the familiar comforts of a typical European city. Visitors to East Jerusalem can pray at neighborhood mosques, drink heavy Turkish coffee in local cafes, and sample a lifestyle that is more typically Middle Eastern. How these two rivals learn to accommodate one another, and how they will share the prize they both covet--the Old City--is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Those of us who love Jerusalem, by whatever name we apply, can only hope that they manage to rise to the challenge. ►►Transportation◄... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Like nowhere else on Earth - very memorable.
Disadvantages: Avoid the Easter crowds & summer heat - try May for pleasant weather.

...If you are a foreigner in Jerusalem, whether a permanent resident or just passing through, you have certain special privileges. You will see the cool, cosmopolitan Israeli youth culture in the many bars and clubs (check out the Russian Compound area - usually neglected by the tourist crowds, and very trendy), the 4000 year old way of life of the bedouin, and the daily struggles of the Palestinian and Israeli Arab people in the city. You will have access that these groups don't have to some of the richest archaeological sites in the world, that you have heard about since your early childhood, as well as the many world class museums and exhibits (don't leave without seeing the Israel Museum in the SW area). As an outside observer, you can learn an incredible amount, very safely, about this cultural melting pot.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful