Ein Karem
עין כרם
A stone village in a valley southwest of the city, traditionally identified as the birthplace of John the Baptist. It has several churches and art cafés.
Ein Karem lies in a valley southwest of Jerusalem. Surrounded by old stone houses, olive groves and cypress trees, it preserves the look of an Arab village and is now a small village where artists and restaurants gather. Main attractions include the Church of St. John the Baptist, the Church of the Visitation halfway up the hill, where the Magnificat is inscribed on the walls in many languages, and the Russian Orthodox Gorny Monastery with its gold dome on the hilltop. Buses from the city centre take about 30 minutes. The village has many slopes, so wear comfortable shoes.
Opening hours
Village open all day; church approx. 8:00 am–5:00 pm (closed at midday)
Nearby sights
- Yad Vashem
- Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
- Mount Herzl
- Bible Lands Museum
- Israel Museum
- Knesset
- Monastery of the Holy Cross
- L. A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art