The City of David is an amazing archaeological excavation near the Dung Gate, not far from the Western Wall Plaza that enables us to feel as if we have gone back in time to Ancient Jerusalem! In this site, you see what set Jerusalem apart from other cities as a key spiritual center for the Jewish world and the world in general. These sites are family-friendly, meaningful, and a lot of fun! This is the most popular first stop for families touring in Jerusalem (ages 5 and up). Everyone will have such a great time, they will be asking for more tours!

Tour includes options for several tunnels. One is a water tunnel that is great for adventurous visitors in the warmer months.

There are some 10 minute movie options at the site as well.

Based on your families ages and length of the tour, I will suggest the best route for an active, fun and meaningful visit.

Tunnel Options:

1) Easier Route: There is a dry Tunnel from the time of Abraham which takes about 6 minutes to walk through. It's a little narrow in some places, but most people find it reasonable to do. The floor is paved and the ceiling is high. Tunnel is well-lit. The dry Canaanite Tunnel is recommended for everyone for cooler seasons. (In winter, there can be some puddles in this tunnel - white shoes are not recommended).

2) More Challenging Route: Hezkiyahu HaMelech's (King Hezekiah) water tunnel. This tunnel which is approximately 2,700 years old, is a highlight of a visit to Jerusalem for many people! It's a low and somewhat narrow - single file - tunnel. Anyone over 5 feet tall will need to bend for some parts of (10-20 minutes). Not recommended for anyone with claustrophobia or back problems. It takes 25 minutes minimum to walk through (can take longer if there is a large group ahead). Water is cool and refreshing (perfect in the hot summer), and depth of the water varies; it is 70 cm (about 2 1/2 feet) at its deepest point. If we do the water tunnel, we reach the ancient Shiloach pool and the original stairs the Olei Regel (pilgrims to Jerusalem) took to walk up to the Temple Mount when they came for the festivals – Passover, Shavuot and Succot.

After we walk through either of these tunnels we will be at the bottom or the City of David. In regular times, they offer a shuttle for 7 shekels per person. During war time or other very slow tourist times, they do not have the shuttle. A private driver will take us back from the bottom of the City of David to the next stop.

Another option:

If you would like to walk through an ancient tunnel in a shorter and easier tour, there's a 2,000 year old tunnel that leads to the Southern Steps/Davidson Center excavations near the Kotel.

This tunnel requires bending in a few places and it is narrow, but most people are fine walking through it. It’s about 5 1/2 feet high at its lowest point. It's lit and takes about 5 minutes to walk through. In the rainy season, it can have some puddles.

We will make the best plan together depending on your route and family.

Every tour day, you'll want to be ready to go with the following: comfortable walking shoes with good treads, a backpack, water, snacks just-in-case, sunhat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Tissues and hand sanitizer can always be useful for under-stocked bathrooms. You'll want to make sure your phone is fully charged to take pictures of all the amazing sites. An extra battery pack to charge devices can help ensure you won't miss out on any moments you would like to capture. If you will be visiting the Western Wall on this day, you will want modest clothes that cover shoulders and knees or a scarf put on over whatever you are wearing.

Here are additional items needed for the City of David:

Water shoes (Must have for water tunnel). It’s best to have shoes or water sandals that hold the foot and have good treads, not crocs or flipflops. Good walking shoes are also important for this tour.

Simple flashlights if you want to do the water tunnel. You can buy flashlights at the City of David for approx. 7 shekels each.

With the right clothes, it’s possible to tour the city of David even in the rain. Some areas are covered. If it's a cold, rainy winter day, you'll want umbrellas, waterproof shoes, and rain jackets. For more information about what to pack for the weather, check out our FAQ page.

Some people like to put water-sensitive items (like iPhones) in Ziploc bags, just in case, but it's generally not necessary. Most people just put their backpacks high on their backs. You can take a camera in the water tunnel – and of course, any devices you take in are at your own risk. Waterproof pouches for phones can be purchased in advance of your trip on Amazon. They also have lockers for 10 shekels if you want to lock up non-valuables (tell me before we head down to the water system).

Change of clothes: It's ideal to do the water tunnel on summer days when it's so hot outside that your clothes will be dry before you have a chance to get to a change room! On these days, most people keep their regular clothes on for the tunnel. If you want to do the water tunnel in cooler weather, you can bring a change of clothes. Just keep in mind that it means carrying around the wet clothes (bring a bag) for the rest of the tour. Small children tend to get wetter than adults due to their height, so they might want to have a change of clothes. Water is up to pocket level on someone 5 ft tall. So, many adults don't get so wet in the tunnel.

Guiding fees are according to the length of the tour. Please see Jerusalem Tour page for details.

The entrance fees to the City of David are as follows. They can be paid by shekels cash or credit card upon arrival to the site.

Please know the exact number of seniors, children, and students in your group and who will be doing which parts of the tour, so the ticket buying will go as fast as possible. Seniors get discount if they also are eligible for a discount in the country in which they live. Students over 18 need to bring a student card for a discount. The National Park Membership card doesn’t apply to the entire entrance fee.

Adults: 44 shekels which is approximately $12 for the special double site rate.

Seniors/Children (up to 18):

22 shekels which is approx $6 special rate.

7 shekels per person for the shuttle (cash at the bottom or can pay on arrival by credit card)

15 minute 3D Movie is 15 shekels per person, all ages.

(If the tour is only of the Upper City of David and doesn’t include the water system, the fees are slightly less, 30 shekels per adult and 16 per senior/child).

1. These tunnels are not the same as the Western Wall Tunnels which is another amazing site. You can join a group tour there on your own, or I can guide a private tour for your family - highly recommended.

2. It’s possible to do a shorter version of this tour for those who prefer less walking or who have already done the water tunnel which includes the upper sections of the City of David and 2,000 year old tunnel to the Western Wall, without doing the other tunnels lower down on the site.

3. Tour involves a lot of walking, fun and sun. It’s best not to make a lot of plans for that evening.

4. Click here for information groups of more than one family.

4. This tour can be done with kids ages 5 and up. It’s not possible to take a stroller or baby carrier through the tunnel. It’s also not possible to carry a child through the tunnel because they can bump their heads on the stone walls/ceiling. The site has a lot of stairs (some steep or winding), so all kids need to be able to do all the walking on their own without a stroller. For families with strollers or children under age 5 or if there are members of the group who are not able to do a lot of walking/stairs, I recommend touring in the Jewish Quarter or Western Wall Tunnels together with the Southern Excavations/Davidson center. Please see tour options for families with younger children. And ask me for a list of suggested routes.

5.Also be aware this is not the same site as the Tower of David.

7. It's essential to arrive on time to complete the route as planned. Allow 30 minutes to walk or take a taxi through the Old City if we are meeting near Dung Gate/The Western Wall.