Mount Scopus
הר הצופים
A hill north of the Mount of Olives, home to the Hebrew University, with views west over the Old City and east toward the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea.
Mount Scopus lies northeast of the Old City, on the northern stretch of the Mount of Olives, at an elevation of about 826 meters. Since ancient times it has been a strategic height for attacking Jerusalem. It is home to the main campus of the Hebrew University, founded in 1925, and Hadassah Hospital. From the campus viewpoints and botanical garden, you can overlook the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock and the whole Old City. To the east, the wilderness of the Judean Desert stretches out, and on clear days you can see mountains in the direction of the Dead Sea. The hilltop also has a cemetery for Commonwealth soldiers from World War I. Admission to the viewpoints is free. Entering the university campus requires passing a security check and carrying your passport. You can reach the hill by bus or taxi. It pairs well with a Mount of Olives viewpoint route and is most beautiful around sunset.
Opening hours
Open all day (university campus areas follow university hours)
Nearby sights
- Rockefeller Archaeological Museum
- Tomb of the Virgin Mary
- Church of Saint Anne & Pool of Bethesda
- Gethsemane & Church of All Nations
- Mount of Olives
- Garden Tomb
- Dome of the Rock (Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif)
- Damascus Gate