City of David & Hezekiah's Tunnel

Descend to the oldest part of Jerusalem and wade through the water tunnel carved in King Hezekiah's day.

• RegionJerusalem
• Duration3-3.5 hours
• DifficultyModerate
• Distance2.5 km
• Upcoming datesOn request, for groups and families
• Pricefrom ₪200
• Suitable for kids✓

The City of David is the hill on which Jerusalem was first built thousands of years ago. We start at a lookout over the excavations, continue to remains of palaces and fortifications, and reach the Gihon Spring, the ancient city's water source.

From there we enter Hezekiah's Tunnel, a narrow passage about 500 meters long, cut through the rock some 2,700 years ago to bring water inside the walls. The walk through the water takes about half an hour and ends at the Pool of Siloam and the stepped street that led up to the Temple Mount in Second Temple times.

Route notes

The water in the tunnel reaches knee height. Bring water shoes and a small flashlight. Changing rooms and lockers are available on site. There is also a dry route for those who prefer to stay out of the water.

The visit can be combined with other nearby sites.