Is Bethlehem Safe to Visit? My Day Trip to the West Bank
Is Bethlehem Safe to Visit? My Experience Visiting Bethlehem in the West Bank
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, is one of the top attractions when visiting the Holy Land. Before my visit, I found myself asking if Bethlehem was safe to visit. I found varying information, depending on the source, and ultimately decided that I felt safe visiting Bethlehem.
When I visited Bethlehem (July 2023), before the most recent escalation in the region, I was pleasantly surprised by how normal and welcoming it felt as a visitor and how safe it felt in practice from a tourist point of view.
Bethlehem is located in the Palestinian-controlled area of the West Bank. While tourists are welcome to cross into the Palestinian Territories, Israeli citizens are generally prohibited by Israeli law from entering Area A (which includes Bethlehem) without special permission, even though foreign tourists may visit using their regular Israeli entry visa.
During my visit to Bethlehem, I found the Palestinian people to be friendly, helpful, and extremely welcoming. I never felt unsafe and didn’t have any worries or anxiety during the time I spent in the Palestinian Territory. From my experience, Bethlehem felt safe for tourists, especially on a guided tour.
My experience was definitely enhanced by booking a tour of Bethlehem in the West Bank. Without the help of a local guide who was familiar with the area, I might have felt overwhelmed.
For those interested in visiting Bethlehem or traveling to the Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank, I recommend doing your research and making your own decisions. The politics of the region can change quickly, and tourists should stay updated on any potential conflicts. Since my visit, the situation in the West Bank has changed, and many governments now advise extra caution or even against travel to certain areas, so it is especially important to check the latest travel advisories from your own government before planning a visit. If you are researching West Bank travel safety or safety in the West Bank for visitors, please do your research before visiting the Palestinian Territories and check with your local government for any travel warnings.
This page will highlight my experience touring the city of Bethlehem on a Bethlehem day trip from Jerusalem.
Is Bethlehem Safe to Visit? My Day Trip to the West Bank - Table of Contents
- Is Bethlehem Safe to Visit?
- How to Get to Bethlehem
- Visiting the Shepherd’s Fields
- Visiting the Church of the Nativity
- Visiting the Catholic Church of St. Catherine
- Visiting the Milk Grotto Church
- Unique Sights in Bethlehem
- My Thoughts on Visiting Bethlehem
- Video Highlights of My Trip to Bethlehem
- Bethlehem Tours and Packages
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- Related Content
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How to Get to Bethlehem from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – Take a Tour
Bethlehem is located around 80 kilometers from Tel Aviv and 10 kilometers from Jerusalem. The trip to Bethlehem takes about an hour from Tel Aviv and 25 minutes from Jerusalem. As Israeli citizens are not permitted in the Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank without special permission, transportation options are more limited for them.
I highly recommend taking a Bethlehem day tour from Jerusalem, as it is the safest and easiest way to visit Bethlehem and one of my top Bethlehem safety tips. For my tour, I went with the company Elijah Tours. Elijah Tours provided a comfortable bus driven by an Arab Israeli. Our guide, Elias (not the company owner), met us once we crossed the border into the Palestinian-controlled portion of the West Bank.
On my particular tour, crossing into the Palestinian Territories was easy. Our bus did not stop at a manned checkpoint, and we did not have to personally show our passports on the way into Bethlehem. When we returned to the Israeli portion of the West Bank, an Israeli soldier boarded our bus and asked certain people to show their passports.
Most independent visitors, however, cross between Jerusalem and Bethlehem via Checkpoint 300, where you should expect to show your passport and Israeli entry slip, so I recommend bringing them even if you join a tour.
In addition to visiting Bethlehem, the tour also included the city of Jericho and the location of Jesus Christ’s Baptism on the Jordan River.
Overall, I was glad that I had the expertise of a professional driver and local guide. Without their assistance, getting to Bethlehem would have been very stressful.
According to our guide, most Israeli cars are not allowed inside the Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank. Our bus had special permission, as it was driven by an Israeli Arab. Once we entered the Palestinian Territories, we began to see white license plates with green lettering. These are the license plates of the Palestinian Territories and are different than the Israeli license plates, which are yellow.
Shepherds’ Fields in Bethlehem – First News of Jesus’ Birth
Our first stop in the Bethlehem area was the Shepherds’ Fields in nearby Beit Sahour, just outside the city. Christians believe that the shepherds of Bethlehem were the first group of people to be told about the birth of Jesus. Our guide, Elias, explained that Christians believe that the angels visited the shepherds first to inform them that the Savior had been born because they were the poorest people in Bethlehem.
Chapel of the Shepherds’ Field
There is a small chapel at the site of the Shepherds’ Fields. The current chapel was built in 1953 CE on the remains of an earlier monastery that dated back to the 4th century CE.
Inside the chapel is a small altar for prayer with the words of the angel to the shepherds written in gold.
There are two mosaics inside the Chapel of the Shepherds’ Field. One shows the birth of Jesus Christ, and the other shows the shepherds rejoicing that the Savior has been born.
Grotto of the Shepherds’ Field
After visiting the Chapel of the Shepherds’ Fields, Elias led us to the Grotto of the Shepherds’ Fields. There, we had a nice view of the city of Bethlehem.
The Grotto of the Shepherds’ Field consisted of a few different caves. It was surprising how cool it was inside the caves. Elias explained that the caves kept the shepherds cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Pictured below (right) is what a manger actually looked like during the time that Jesus was born. Elias explained that when Europeans heard that Jesus Christ was born in a manger, they immediately thought of a European-style wooden manger. In reality, a manger in the Holy Land was made of stone and not wood.
Church of the Nativity – Visiting the Birthplace of Jesus
Our second stop in Bethlehem was the Church of the Nativity, which was a short drive from the Shepherds’ Fields. This church marks the location of the birth of Jesus Christ. The original structure dates back to the time of Constantine (326 CE), with the current church being completed in 565 CE. Today, the Church of the Nativity is widely regarded as one of the oldest continuously used Christian churches in the world and the oldest major church in the Holy Land, and it is a highlight of many Bethlehem West Bank tours.
The Door of Humility at the Church of the Nativity
To enter the Church of the Nativity, visitors have to pass through the Door of Humility. This door is only about three feet in height and causes anyone entering the Church of the Nativity to bow down, leaving their ego at the door.
Inside the Church of the Nativity
Inside the Church of the Nativity, there are mosaics on the wall and 44 columns decorated with images of various saints. There is an altar located in the front of the church, and behind the altar is the Grotto, which marks the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
There have been many renovations to the Church of the Nativity over the past 1,500 years. Pictured below is part of the mosaic-decorated floor, which dates back to the Byzantine period.
According to Elias, golden mosaics once covered the side walls of the church. Today, most of those mosaics have been lost, and only a small part of them remain.
As stated earlier, there are 44 columns with mosaics portraying various saints. Below is an example of one of the columns.
After learning the history of the Church of the Nativity from Elias, we had to wait for a few minutes in front of the main altar before visiting the Grotto, which marks the location where Jesus Christ was born. Elias explained that there were various masses performed in front of the birthplace of Jesus and that tourists were only allowed to visit during certain hours of the day.
Grotto of the Nativity – Traditional Birthplace of Jesus
Eventually, the mass ended, and we were allowed to enter the Grotto of the Nativity.
We only had five minutes for our entire group to walk through the Grotto as they were setting up for an Armenian Mass. I was able to snap one quick photo but was unable to get a photo of the 14-pointed star marking the location of Jesus’ birth. The star is located just under the red altar in the photo below.
As soon as we left the Grotto, an Armenian priest entered and began another mass. I was able to get a photograph using my zoom lens of the mass.
Catholic Church of St. Catherine in Bethlehem
In total, we spent just under an hour in the Church of the Nativity. After exiting, we walked to the adjacent Catholic Church of St. Catherine. The current church sits on the site of a shrine dedicated to St. Catherine that dates back to 1347 CE, but the present structure is the result of a later Franciscan reconstruction. Elias explained that there is also a series of caves from the time of Jesus under the church. During this tour, we did not have time to visit the caves.
Located in the front of the Catholic Church of St. Catherine is a star-shaped stained glass window and a pipe organ.
Milk Grotto Church – A Bethlehem Pilgrimage Site of Hope
Our next stop on our tour of Bethlehem was the Milk Grotto Church. According to Christians, this is the location that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fled to during the massacre of the Innocents. Feeling threatened by the birth of Jesus, King Herod the Great ordered that all male children under the age of two be killed. An angel warned Joseph, and he took Mary and Jesus to Egypt. On the way to Egypt, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus took refuge in the grotto under what today is the Milk Grotto Church.
Near the entrance of the church is artwork showing Mary, Joseph, and Jesus traveling by donkey towards Egypt. There was also a sculpture of the Prophet Elias. I took this opportunity to capture a photo of Elias, our guide, next to the tribute to the Prophet Elias.
Inside the Milk Grotto Church
While hiding in the grotto, Christians believe that a drop of milk from Mary hit the floor, turning the floor white.
Today, many people travel to the Milk Grotto Church in Bethlehem in the hope of healing infertility. Christians also believe that prayers made on behalf of children will be miraculously answered. This makes the Milk Grotto Church an important stop on many Bethlehem Christian pilgrimage itineraries.
Unique Sights Around Bethlehem and the West Bank Barrier
While walking through Bethlehem and the surrounding area, we saw quite a few unique sights. I wasn’t sure where these best fit on this page, so I created a separate section. Pictured below are Palestinian homes and a wall dividing the Palestinian and Israeli lands.
Palestinian Homes in the Palestinian Territories
Water is a big issue for people who live in the Palestinian Territories. Most of the homes have giant water tanks on the roof to store water.
Banksy Mural in Bethlehem
On our way from the Shepherds’ Fields to the Church of the Nativity, we passed by a famous mural by the street artist Banksy. Banksy is an English street artist and political activist whose real identity remains unknown.
Car in a Tree
We also passed a car that was stuck in a tree. Elias did not tell the back story of how the car ended up in the tree. He just said, “In Bethlehem, cars grow on trees.”
Square Bucks and Starts and Bucks Cafe
Like many places around the world, there are knockoffs of US companies in Bethlehem. Pictured below are two coffee shops that named themselves after a popular US coffee chain. Elias pointed out that both Square Bucks and Stars and Bucks always get a good laugh from tourists.
KFC in Bethlehem
In addition to having knock offs of US companies, there was also a KFC in the Bethlehem shopping mall.
Giant Cross of Bethlehem
A very photo-worthy spot was a large cross with the city of Bethlehem in the background. This location was seen in the walk to the Church of the Nativity.
Pope Mobile from Pope Francis’ Visit
Just past the large cross, the Pope Mobile is on display from Pope Francis’ 2014 visit to Bethlehem. It was hard to get a good photo as we were viewing the Pope Mobile through a fence. I was able to get the photo below by sticking my camera through one of the holes in the fence.
Shopping in Bethlehem
The one place I wish I would have been able to see more of was the shopping area we walked through on the way to the Milk Grotto Church. I did buy a few small items but would have loved to have more time to look in the shops and interact with the local people.
My Thoughts on Visiting Bethlehem
I was extremely happy that I visited Bethlehem. Before my visit, I had been slightly worried about entering the Palestinian portion of the West Bank and kept wondering, “Is Bethlehem safe to visit as a tourist?” Not only did I feel safe the entire time, but I found the Palestinian people to be extremely hospitable.
For me, being in the Palestinian Territories was almost more interesting than viewing the religious sites. If I ever visit Bethlehem again, I would like to take a private Bethlehem tour, which would give me more time to explore the city and apply what I’ve learned about West Bank travel safety from my first trip.
That being said, Elijah Tours provided a wonderful tour, and our guide Elias (not the company owner) was knowledgeable, friendly, and made sure everyone had a great time. I highly recommend Bethlehem tours for travelers who want to see these historic sites while feeling safe and supported by a local guide.
Video Highlights of My Trip to Bethlehem
In this video, I take you on a sacred journey through Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, as I explore some of Christianity’s most holy sites in the Holy Land. You’ll see the Shepherds’ Fields, where tradition says the angels announced Christ’s birth, step through the Door of Humility into the Church of the Nativity built over the traditional site where Jesus was born, and visit the Milk Grotto, known for its white stone and stories of answered prayers.
Along the way, I also stop at the Catholic Church of St. Catherine and show a few of the other unique sights around historic Bethlehem. Whether you’re planning a Holy Land pilgrimage or simply curious about key biblical sites in the West Bank, these video highlights offer an authentic look at what it’s like to visit Bethlehem on a day trip from Jerusalem.
Bethlehem Tours and Packages
In my opinion, the best way to visit Bethlehem is to take a tour. The reason I recommend a tour is due to the difficulties of crossing back and forth from Israel into the Palestinian Territories. Below, I have linked a few tour options for Bethlehem. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
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