Hi
I'm a 30 year old female who hasn't been to to Israel for 10 years. I'm going on a 4-day trip at the end of May with a friend who's attending a conference in Jerusalem, but there are times when I will need to fill some time on my own! I'm into shopping, museums, sightseeing etc, but I just don't know that the feeling is these days about safety for tourists walking around on their own. Are there places I should avoid? If anyone has any tips about places I will feel safe browsing, I'd appreciate it!
Thanks

Jerusalem is probably one of the safest cities in the world. There is almost no crime at all in Israel. You can walk in the streets at 2.00 am with no problems.

The security situation is such that it is very, very unlikely that you would be anywhere near a terrorist attack. They are much fewer in number these days. In any case they generally look for areas where Israelis congregate and do not target tourists.

I do not recommend wandering around alone in the Old City alone at night only because it is so spooky - almost totally deserted. The western part (the "New" city) is alive until about 11 pm or so.

Not much in the way of nightclubs, but they too do exist if that is what you want.

If you take a taxi *insist* that the meter be turned on. The buses are easy to use.

Welcome and have fun!

"You can walk in the streets at 2.00 am with no problems."

-- Well.... Ummmm.... I wouldn't let my wife (or daughter) walk alone at 2am in ANY CITY IN THE WORLD....

And I also think a claim like "There is almost no crime at all in Israel." is a bit of an exaggeration...

But true, the old city is OK during the day, but not at night. Main streets in Jerusalem are safe.

Just a note, unlike Tel Aviv where you can hardly find a vacant table at a cafe or restaurant on the beach front at 12 midnight on a weekday, Jerusalem goes to sleep EARLY. Not much of night life there, and not too many on the streets at night.

Mamamia - I don't know when you were last here but these days Jerusalem does not fold up the streets and go to bed at 9 pm anymore True it was like that for many years, but nowadays the coffee shops are open till midnight. Buses run till 12.30 am, and there are people in the streets till 11 or later.

As for what you would 'let' your wife or daughters do, that is your choice. I can assure you that it is completely safe in Jerusalem at any hour. My granddaughter, who is a teen, often comes home alone late at night after being dropped off by friends near-by. I have waited on the street at 3 am for a taxi to the airport (arranged in advance of course) and walked more than 3 km home after an evening with friends. No worries!

just returned from a week in jerusalem. there are no worries to be a woman alone. the city, old and new have plenty of people out at night. the western wall is beautiful in the dark. the restaurants and clubs are lively.
bonnie