Ramparts Walk

The Ramparts Walk is divided into two separate walks, totally just under two miles: the north side walk and the south side walk.

Both are included in the admission ticket and both have their differences. The north side walk is the longer of the two and covers a far greater area, from the Jaffa Gate (on the west side of the Old City) to the Lions Gate (on the east side, approaching the Dome of the Rock). The south side walk is shorter but ends at a more convenient location, the Western Wall (or Kotel as it is known in Hebrew). The south side walk begins at the Tower of David (on the west side of the Old City, beside the Jaffa Gate) and continues around to the south side of the city, ending off between the Zion and Dung Gates.

From the north side walk, one passes over the Christian Quarter with the numerous churches and other Vatican buildings seen, sometimes below the wall! These include views of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of Flagellation, among many, many more. The walk carries on into the Muslim Quarter, where mosques and minarets as well as schools and playing fields can be seen from a unique angle. Crossing over the New Gate, the Damascus Gate, the Herod’s Gate and finally the Lions Gate.

On the south side walk, the shorter and easier of the two, one passes by the Tower of David and only crosses over one gate, the Zion Gate. The walk covers the Armenian Quarter and ends at the Jewish Quarter, before the Dung Gate. Included in the sites are many of the Armenian churches and important historical buildings such as the Dormition Abbey and the Church of St. Peter.