Registration for Tour Silwan/City of David

Emek Shaveh’s archaeological tour in the Village of Silwan and at City of David aims to expose the cultural wealth of the site and to describe the role of archaeology in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in the life fabric of the village. At the site, archaeological layers – from Jerusalem’s earliest existence and to this day – have come to light, and it constitutes a key focal point of political friction in East Jerusalem.

The Silwan/City of David tour is a walking tour, which includes visits to archaeological sites and through the streets of the Village of Silwan.

The recommended minimum donation to help cover costs is NIS 50.

The tour is approximately two hours long, and is suitable for age 18 and up. Please bring a sun hat, water, and walking shoes.

Meeting point: In front of the entrance to the “City of David” archaeological park in Silwan. See detailed instructions further down on this page.

To arrange a group tour, please contact us at tours@alt-arch.org.

Photo Gallery

To catch a glimpse of the tours, click here.

Directions to tour starting points

Start location:

In front of the “City of David”  Visitors Center in Silwan.

Nearby parking areas:

• Zion Gate parking lot (a close walk to the Visitors Center).
• Mamila parking lot (a close walk to Jaffa Gate, and from there, through the Old City; about 15 minutes total).

Arriving by private vehicle:

 In Jerusalem: From Hebron Road

Go north on Hebron Road towards the Jerusalem Cinematheque. After passing the Cinamatheque on your right, continue until the traffic light, where you will see a sign to the “City of David.” Go right at the traffic light, and immediately right again. You will descend a narrow road that leads to the valley. At the bottom, turn left. Continue along Maalot Ir David Street until it ends (mostly a sharp incline). At the end of the road, you’ll see the “City of David” Visitors Center on your right. Park along the road, or at the Mt. Zion parking lot (see above), which will be on your left.

In Jerusalem: From Bar-Lev road

 Take Road 1 (Bar-Lev Road) south towards the Old City; go left at Sultan Suleiman Street (the turn is directly across from the Old City Walls). Continue straight along the walls (they will be on your right), and when they end, go right again along Jericho road. Go right at the first light to Ha-Ofel Road; at the top of the street on the right, you will see the Dung Gate. Park along the road, or at the Zion Gate parking lot (see above).

From outside Jerusalem

 At the entrance to the city, continue straight to Sderot Shazar. Bear right at Sderot Ben Zvi; after passing through the traffic light, get in the left lane. At the light immediately after Gan Sacher, turn left to Ramban Street. Continue with the street, and take an immediate left at the “no entry” sign to Ben-Maimon Street. Go straight to Paris Circle (Kikar Pariz).  At the large intersection, turn right onto Keren Ha-Yesod Street; continue down the hill until you see a gas station on the right. Continue straight through the light to David Remez Street. Follow the road around, past the Khan Theater (on your left) and the Old Train Station (on your right), until the next light, which is Hebron Road. Go left on Hebron Road. After the Cinamtheque (on your right), continue straight until the traffic light, where you will see a sign to the “City of David.” Go right at the traffic light, and immediately right again. You will descend a narrow road that leads to the valley. At the bottom, turn left. Continue along Maalot Ir David Street until it ends (mostly a sharp incline). At the end of the road, you’ll see the “City of David” Visitors Center on your right. Park along the road, or at the Mt. Zion parking lot (see above), which will be on your left.

Using public transportation:

Take any bus that goes to the Western Wall and the Dung Gate: 38,1,2 or 3.

From the Central Bus Station the 1 and 3 buses depart from Binyanei Ha-Uma (across from the bus station) to these destinations.

The number 2 bus departs from the Har Nof neighborhood.

The 38 bus also reaches the Western Wall.

Map

Lectures

Emek Shaveh publishes various reports on how archaeology is used to further political ends in the area of Jerusalem’s Old City Basin and the West Bank. We accept invitations for discussion and lectures on the topics of archaeology and politics in the City of David, the Historical Basin of Jerusalem, and the West Bank.

To arrange a lecture, please contact us at info@alt-arch.org