‘Tis the season of lights, Santa Claus and gift wrap. It’s that time of year when Bethlehem once again becomes a hot news story around the globe. The real town of Bethlehem, that traditional site of Jesus’ birth, still stands only a few miles from Jerusalem, but these days it’s mostly Arabs who live there, not Jews.
Every Christmas Eve, faithful Christians gather at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity to worship. For many it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to commemorate Jesus’ birth in the city where he was born.
Maybe it’s on your bucket list as well. If so, to ensure you get the most out of your visit, here are a few things about Bethlehem that you should know before you go, from entry and culture to tours, sites and souvenirs.
1. You will need your passport.
You’ll have to cross an official border to get to Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Most tourists fly to Israel and visit Bethlehem on a day trip from Jerusalem or Tel-Aviv. Regardless of entry point, everyone has to pass through a guarded checkpoint with passport in hand.
Another thing: Don’t take photos of the checkpoint. Don’t even or aim your camera in the direction of the checkpoint! It’s a standard security procedure here.
That said, you can take all the pictures you want after you enter the territory.
2. Bethlehem is actually called Beit Lechem.
If you translate Bethlehem’s name into English, Beit Lechem means either “House of Bread” (Hebrew) or “House of Meat/Flesh” (Arabic). Either way, the name is a pretty good clue that this is a great place for delicious Middle Eastern food.
Be prepared to spend your entire time in Bethlehem completely stuffed. This is a culture that knows how to feed its guests.
3. The most visited site is the Church of the Nativity.
The church has seen its share of renovations and additions but all the improvements were built around the original structure. It is the oldest Church in the Holy Land still in use and one of the oldest churches in the world.
4. The Grotto of the Nativity, traditional site of Jesus’ birth, is beneath the church.
A 14-point silver star embedded in white marble marks the exact spot where Jesus was actually born. At least, that’s what they say. There are always really long lines to see the star, so if you don’t care that much about seeing the actual star, you can opt to visit a different part of the grotto via an alternate route.
5. The Grotto of the Nativity was originally a cave.
Some scholars believe that this cave was originally a cultic shrine to the pagan god Adonis-Tammuz (lord Tammuz), stating that the word Bethlehem could also mean “House of Lahmu.” (Lahmu was the serpentine gatekeeper in pagan lore.)
On the other hand, Jerome claimed that it began as a shrine to Jesus and was later rededicated to Tammuz. Read this article for more about that.
6. The church is jointly controlled by three Christian denominations.
Each of them — Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic — controls a different part of the basilica, but nobody gets special treatment. All have equal access to the Grotto.
7. Bethlehem is also the traditional burial site of Rachel.
Bethlehem has a second pilgrimage site, the tomb of Rachel. Rachel was a Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob’s two wives.
Rachel is also beloved as the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Jacob was renamed Israel after he wrestled with an angel.) She died in childbirth with Benjamin and was buried on the road to Efrat, just outside Bethlehem.
ⓘ TIP: Rachel’s tomb is open to the public 24/7. However, it is temporarily closed due to Security Restrictions, on Shabbats, holidays, and Sunday thru Thursday 10:30 pm thru 1:30 am.
8. Bethlehem is famous for its handicrafts
Olive wood carvings are tops on the list, and plenty are available all over town. You’ll find the prices are far better than you can get anywhere else. (Be sure to haggle!)
Even better deals can be found on the street, where people hawk huge bottles of water for $1.
9. Muslims rarely patronize non-Muslim businesses
To do so would result in being ostracized socially. Both family and community are extremely central to Arab culture. Because of this, many Christians and other non-Muslims rely on income from tourists and others in a similar situation.
10. Merchants are willing to take U.S. dollars
It’s easy to make purchases in American dollars as well as Israeli shekels. This means you can buy souvenirs without worrying about exchange rates. Have fun shopping!
Plan your Bethlehem visit
Bethlehem is a short trip from anywhere in Israel. Invest in a good travel guidebook to get the most out of your visit.
There are plenty of things to do in Bethlehem, so stay overnight if you can. Check prices here to find comfortable and convenient accommodation.
Google Maps offers an aerial view of Manger Square, Bethlehem. Zoom, scroll around and explore!
For more sightseeing, see our photo album from Bethlehem.
Want a guided tour?
Tours: G Adventures has some very nice 1- to 3-week itineraries, some including Jordan and Egypt. Check their current deals here.
Day trips: Don’t have that much time? Check out the affordable day trips to Bethlehem on Get Your Guide.
Very good advice indeed. We would also include reading up on the Palestinian struggle in order to prepare for many of the messages on the wall along the walk to the border crossing. There is also Omar Mosque that is worth a quick visit – they hand out head coverings if you don’t have one. We will never be able to hear the song “O Little Town of Bethlehem” again without imaging the actual town of Bethlehem now. 🙂
Dang, missed the Omar Mosque. I’d love to return and explore further afield. It sure is a lot easier when you’re not with a tour group.
Thank you for this very rare insight into the ancient city of Bethlehem. It’s definitely a big attraction for the Christians all over the world. We wanted to go to Israel several years ago, but gave up because of the unstable political environment there.
I hope you change your minds. Thousands of visitors annually prove it’s a safe destination. And the food … oh, the food!