Visit Bethlehem

Bethlehem has been a tourist destination since before tourism was invented.  For the past 2,000 years, pilgrims from all over the world have travelled to Bethlehem in the footsteps of a star that promised Joy and Goodwill and Bethlehem welcomed them all as it does today.

Almost one million tourists a year visit Bethlehem.  However, the vast majority of these come on whistle-stop tours to the Nativity Church, organised by Israeli tour operators, which offer little direct contact or insight into the history of the city or the life and nature of its communities.

To redress this, OPEN BETHLEHEM works to promote alternative travel programmes organised by a network of tour operators that offer a well-rounded experience of Bethlehem, through fact-finding tours, engagement with the city’s life and culture and the work of its institutions.  We invite you all to visit Bethlehem. 

Travel Partners and Programmes

To make it easy for you to plan your journey, we have included a list of tour operators that cater to visitors of all backgrounds and interests. You can choose the star you want to follow here.

Pilgrimages and Tours

We also list some of the many pilgrims and tours that are available here.