Har’outa Bethlehem – This is Bethlehem!

With Ramzi Salsaa

About the Tour:

This tour is intended to give you an insider’s look into Bethlehem’s culture and vibrant city life. Meet the people of Bethlehem by touring their city. Walk through their neighborhoods and learn about the history, customs and daily life. Explore old buildings, institutions and museums. Try some local snacks or have a mouthwatering lunch in a private home! By the end of the day, you will fall in love with Bethlehem and all it has to offer.

Curated By:
Ramzi Salsaa

Tour Duration:
Half-day tour

What to Bring:
Comfortable clothing, shoes and sun protection in summer. Bring your passport if coming from Jerusalem, since you will pass a checkpoint. A camera for photos and an environment-friendly bag to put your shopping in. Cash in local currency (shekels).

About the Guide

Ramzi Salsaa

With Ramzi was born and raised in Bethlehem. Ramzi is serious about Bethlehem and appreciates all its beauty. Ramzi has a dream: to make every visitor fall in love with the city. His dream is becoming a reality for people who take part in this tour.

Tour Highlights

Look at the buildings and learn about their history and people. Watch the vibrant life of the town by wandering through the streets and markets; feel the hope and fears of its population. Challenge your knowledge by visiting an old museum; you might break your stereotypes. Meet the locals and get to know them. Taste the flavors of their local cuisine.

Tour Details

This half-day tour reveals the vibrant life of Bethlehem. After refreshing ourselves at a café, we will look towards the north of the city with its mix of Israeli settlements, Palestinian refugee camps and the separation wall. From there, we will pass the revered Bethlehem University and the Holy Family Hospital. Then, we immerse ourselves in the hustle and bustle of the city with the old cinema, the many vendors, shops, and the popular Afteem Restaurant, which sells the best falafel in town. In the market, we can watch the bargaining skills of the sellers and customers, while gold shops give us a glimpse of their importance in the Palestinian culture. The Baituna al-Talhami Museum, run by the Arab Women’s Union (AWU), is an excellent way for us to learn about the traditional lifestyle, including the highly developed craftsmanship. We end our sightseeing tour in the world-famous Church of Nativity. Or if you like – with a unique Palestinian lunch in a local home (extra charge).

Testimonials

Shopping with bargaining is an art, and Ramzi is definitely the person to show you how to master this art. I never saw bargaining as a way to meet people. It no longer annoys me.

Most of the important sites have plenty of information already online. Yet Ramzi shared information that would have been impossible for us to get access to online. This is what real life tours should be: worth the jet lag and travel hardships.

I love falafel. It tastes much better than back home, not surprised. Ramzi showed me the city of Bethlehem as I would have shown my town back home to Ramzi if he wishes to visit me.