travelino

Hi, this is a follow-up from an earlier post. We're going on our first trip to Israel in September. After spending a few days in the north, we'll arrive in Jerusalem on Thursday evening and stay until Sunday after lunch. We'll then spend a day and a half in Tel Aviv.

The Tel Aviv part is planned, we're now looking for advice for our Jerusalem long weekend. While in Jerusalem, we're also considering a day trip to Masada/Ein Gedi. Some quesions we have:

1. Is it worth it to miss 10 hours in Jerusalem to go to Masada?

2. If so, to maximize sightseeing in Jerusalem, should we go to Masada on Friday
or Saturday?

3. To go to Masada, should we rent a car, go with a bus tour, or take a public bus? We would have to rent the car from Friday to Sunday, and park it somewhere in Jerusalem
for two nights. Is this feasible? (we're staying in Rechavia).

4. Any suggestions on how to best use our time to see the main sights
in Jerusalem is appreciated.

Thanks!

JerryS

Answers to your questions:

1- Yes, especially since many sites, restaurants, etc are closed on Saturday (Shabbat).
2- Go to Masada on Saturday, assuming it is open.
3- Take a bus tour, if available. It would be the easiest and most convenient.
4- Read a good guide book and make your choices. Effectively, you have only Friday (until sundown) and part of Sunday.
If you can afford it, hire a good guide. They will run about $350-400 a day.

Oreet

Masada is open on Saturday and that is good day to go there - if you are willing to rent a car that is the best way to go. You will be able to set your own schedule - you will also be able to experience a float in the Dead Sea, visit Ein Gedi, etc.

A bus tour is okay - but you are limited by the schedule and plan of the tour.

You should be okay finding on street parking overnight. You don't have to feed the meters from mid afternoon on Friday until Sunday morning.

Parking in Rechavia may be a bit of a challenge, or you may find something quickly - at worst you'll have to go a few blocks farther away to find parking.

Elkaz

I just spent a lot of Shabbat walking around Rechavia. I was surprised to see a decent amount of street parking in some areas. ( and none in other areas) Where are you going to be?

travelino

Thanks for the replies. Going on Saturday sounds good.
Still hesitating between bus tour and car. Bus tour is easier, but I read some bad reviews about one of the main tour companies (they take you to a factory, don't leave much time to see the sites, etc.). On the other hand, if we rent a car we would have to break our day on Friday at noon just to pick up the car and park it.

travelino

I'm the OP again: there are a few local rental car agencies in East Jerusalem that are open all day on Saturday and offer drop off / pick up service anywhere in Jerusalem. This would avoid us the problem of finding and paying for parking, and wasting precious time on Friday and Sunday. Does anybody have any experience with such agencies?

travelino

Although nobody replied to my last question, this may be useful to others who need to rent a car in Jerusalem on a Saturday, when all the major rental car companies are closed. We went ahead and reserved a car from an East Jerusalem rental car company. They will bring us the car to our hotel on Saturday morning and pick it up at the hotel on Saturday evening. The hotel vouches for the company and they seem very professional.