38 Best Hotels in Jerusalem, Israel

In the picturesque village of Ein Kerem, this boutique hotel occupies a century-old house famous for the true-life, Romeo-and-Juliet story of a Jewish--Arab couple. Named for famous lovers from the past, the guest rooms are modern creations with arched windows, diaphanous drapes, and billowy beds set against stone walls. The courtyard that once linked the two wings has been transformed into an intimate dining room where the chef creates new gourmet menus each night based on the culinary preferences of his guests. Surrounded by gardens, the Alegra has a rooftop plunge pool and a wooden deck overlooking the valley of Ein Karem. It's a 20-minute drive and 40-minute bus ride from Downtown.

One of East Jerusalem's longtime favorites, the Ambassador has been tastefully renovated with loads of Jerusalem stone. Rooms are airy and well appointed; for extra space, upgrade to a junior guest room with an Old City view. In fine weather, the Al-Diwan restaurant—Middle Eastern and Italian fare, mostly—expands to the patio where there is a summer bar in the inviting garden. It's a 15-minute walk from Salah-A-Din Street in downtown East Jerusalem.

Once a pasha's palace, this cool limestone oasis with its flower-filled inner courtyard and gorgeous garden is in a class of its own—no wonder it's a favored haunt of statesmen and celebrities. It's a 10-minute walk from the Old City's Damascus Gate but shielded from the hubbub of East Jerusalem. Owned by a British family, managed by a Swiss company, and staffed mainly by local Arabs, the American Colony combines the best of all these disparate worlds. The turquoise-and-blue tilework, Damascene wood inlay, and potted palms in the elegant vaulted lobby lead to spacious and luxurious rooms with rug-strewn flagstone floors and antique painted-wood ceilings.

In this stylish boutique lodging named after Arthur Balfour (of the famed Balfour Declaration that promised the Jews a national home in Palestine), guest rooms feature unusual black-and-white tile floors, comfortable leather armchairs, and soothing periwinkle walls. Try to reserve one of the few rooms with modest balconies. An abundant breakfast is served in the charming lobby with wooden furniture or outside in a small garden. There's an evening happy hour with complimentary drinks and refreshments every day except Saturday.

Inside the Jaffa Gate, this guesthouse is part of the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East. Pinkish limestone floors and simple furnishings define the guest rooms, many of which have balconies. There's also a shaded courtyard and wholesome cafeteria.

A lovely sundeck, deluxe rooms with delightful views, and a funky lobby lounge give this hotel a contemporary appeal. Staff are accommodating and great food is a constant draw for guests. Rooms are painted in cheerful shades of burnt orange and mustard yellow. Work out in the small, modern gym or by making the short walk to the Old City.

Cascading down Mount Scopus, the sprawling Dan Jerusalem has spectacular views, an oasis-like pool, and a bold design. The sophisticated spa, popular among Jerusalemites and tour groups, includes an authentic marble Turkish bath, which was imported piece by piece. About a third of the guest rooms overlook the Old City. Common areas are clean and spacious, but the decor is a bit outdated. Suites are spacious and offer extra amenities like socks, chocolates, and wine. The location is far from Downtown, but the light-rail is nearby.

The guest rooms at this 11-story landmark in the middle of the hotel district are a bit compact, but thoughtful lighting, well-placed furnishings, and interesting artwork make a difference. It's worth spending a bit more to stay in one of the updated rooms, which have loads of light and are more spacious. Modern touches include flat-screen TVs and handy writing desks. The rooftop terrace has a 360-degree view of Jerusalem.

Talk about a great first impression—this hotel's lobby, by noted Italian architect Piero Lissoni, is modern and welcoming, illuminated by the natural sunlight streaming in from the arched glass roof. A sumptuous breakfast with omelet and waffle stands is served in the lounge and terrace one floor above, with stunning views of both the Old City and the amphitheater-shape pool area. The contemporary guest rooms, spacious and elegantly decorated in soft tones of beige and cream, have oak parquet floors. Well-appointed bathrooms add to the appeal. The magnificent children's play center has plenty to keep the younger ones entertained, and there are video game systems for older kids.

The address in the heart of a prestigious hotel district—just a five-minute walk from Downtown or from Jaffa Gate—is a major draw here. Rooms are sunny and decorated in cheerful colors. Those over the main entrance are smaller but quieter. Rooms facing King David Street (some with views of the Old City) are more spacious, but expect traffic noise when the double-glazed windows are open. The rental-car company that owns the property often offers good deals to hotel guests.

An unbeatable location and lovely rooftop terrace make this a welcome addition to the neighborhood's growing list of boutique hotels. The spare lobby is tiled in black marble, and one wall is made of fuschia-color glass. More expensive rooms have pocket-size balconies where you can watch the neighbors go about their day, although the local hangouts make it noisier at night. There are 18 free parking spaces underground, as well as complimentary access to a local gym.

This huge hotel offers a large, airy lobby with limestone walls and marble arches, and comfortable guest rooms with soft decor and bright bathrooms, although staff can be unresponsive. The suites are impressively large. Complimentary parking is a nice perk.

A combination of stellar service and delightful rooms heralded this first of many boutique hotels in the historic Nahalat Shiva neighborhood, in the heart of downtown Jerusalem. A generous breakfast is served in the lobby, where the ceilings are covered with silk-screened historical photos. You can enjoy an open-air terrace or a lounge with working fireplace. The modern rooms are decorated in sophisticated shades of red and dove gray. The daily happy hour includes complimentary glasses of wine, fruit, and cookies.

Named after the British-Jewish politician who governed Israel during the Mandate, Herbert Samuel is a widely celebrated hotel in the downtown area. Guest rooms are chicly decorated in warm tones of grayish beige and include espresso machines and free international calls from the land line. The lobby is modern and whimsical; you can enjoy a cocktail and a book from the wall library as you sit on a sapphire blue couch. The real draw is the underground pool and saunas, where daybeds, a vintage portrait of Jerusalem, and classical music inspire pure relaxation.

This popular hotel makes a practical—if somewhat remote—base for families, since rooms are reasonably priced and there's plenty of space for kids to run around. Standard rooms have a double bed and two fold-out single beds. Shower walls feature large photographs of old Jerusalem. Animal lovers will enjoy being close to Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo. The lobby has a beautiful coffee shop on a terrace overlooking the Jerusalem hills.

Jerusalem stone lends a warm glow to this low-slung hotel, which is wrapped around a central courtyard and atrium. In warm weather, the best way to start the day is with an excellent outdoor breakfast in the shaded courtyard. The well-maintained guest rooms are comfortably furnished and all have views. Penthouse suites have balconies overlooking the Old City, a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Others face the leafy Talbieh neighborhood. The gym, spa, and heated pool are added bonuses. The hotel's location next to the playgrounds at Liberty Bell Garden makes it ideal for families. Major renovations and rebranding have recently taken place and the hotel is as luxurious as ever, including their in-house restaurant, 02.

Steps from the Old City, this hotel's prime location makes it a great option if you want to be close to the action. The rooms are smallish and lack frills, but thoughtful updates and splashes of color give them a light, airy feel. Ask for an east-facing room above the sixth floor to guarantee an Old City view. The dining room and bar have a modern feel.

This grande dame of Israeli luxury hotels opened in 1931 and has successfully defended its title ever since, adding modern amenities like a well-appointed gym and luxuries like a French-style restaurant (La Régence). The ceilings, columns, and walls of the bustling lobby and bar are decorated in "ancient Mesopotamian" geometrics. Airy guest rooms are elegantly orchestrated in burgundy and gold, with old-fashioned writing tables adding a gracious touch. Pricier rooms and suites have views or balconies facing the Old City. Shaded by palm trees, the landscaped pool area and tennis courts are the most beautiful in Jerusalem.

A huge circular skylight in the middle of the lobby gives this hotel a sense of light and space. Rooms have parquet floors, sophisticated color schemes, and beds covered with crisp linens. "Superior" is the house term for standard rooms; the better "deluxe" rooms are on the 8th floor and have private balconies. This place is favored by local families and large tour groups.

Overlooking Independence Park, the 22-story Leonardo Plaza is a Jerusalem landmark with terrific views, especially from upper floors. Popular with a religious Jewish clientele, the sleek guest rooms are done up in black and white. Primavera, the Italian restaurant presided over by acclaimed chef Shalom Kadosh, has won kudos locally for its tasty food and elegant atmosphere.

This handsome Ottoman-style mansion with dramatic arched windows sits on the edge of a residential neighborhood dotted with many shops and restaurants. Some rooms at this budget-conscious lodging are a little cramped, but all have nice touches like hardwood floors and refrigerators. Family rooms have space for up to five people to sleep comfortably. A room with vaulted ceilings serves as an inviting bar and coffee shop, and in warm weather the action spills out onto a shaded courtyard.

The small hotel makes no pretensions about being a full-service facility, but it is comfortably furnished, a good value, and within walking distance of the Old City. There is some street noise, but double-glazed windows help. Some of the rooms are more spacious than others, especially those for families. In warm months, enjoy plenty of outdoor seating for breakfast.

Tucked into an alleyway behind the souk in the Armenian Quarter, this guesthouse is a maze of stone buildings and tranquil gardens. It has beautiful views of Jerusalem's holiest places. The single rooms are very small, so reserve a larger one if space is important. Room 25 and 36 have their own balcony.

With clever and soaring architectural flourishes by starchitect Moshe Safdie and a restrained yet luxurious modern interior design by Piero Lissoni, the Mamilla is a sleek and comfortable haven with bars and restaurants that appeal to locals and travelers alike. Perched above the outdoor Mamilla pedestrian shopping mall, all rooms include wood floors, black metal headboards, espresso machines, and richly textured drapes, while the contemporary bathrooms boast deep rectangular soaking tubs and see-through walls that frost over for privacy. The dining establishments offer stylish surroundings, as well as appealing menus. Take a dip in the underused underground pool, tiled in navy blue mosaics, and then head over to the award-winning Akasha spa. Don't skip the in-house breakfast, as Mamilla takes the Israeli morning repast to a whole new level. Visitors also have complimentary access to the David Citadel's outdoor pool.

The side-street location in the center of town—on a pedestrian-only block with shops and restaurants just outside the front door—adds to the serenity of this reasonably priced hotel. The lobby is an aesthetic blend of rough limestone walls, parquet and flagstone floors, and faux-leather sofas. The modestly sized rooms have flat-screen TVs, large mirrors, and simple wood furnishings. Rooms facing the street are larger, and the windows are double-paned to keep out the noise. The rooftop terrace is great on warm nights.

Five minutes from the Old City, this historic hotel puts you in close proximity to Jerusalem's great sights. Back in the 1950s, this was the favorite Jerusalem hangout for Jordan's King Hussein. Rooms are small but decorated with wood furnishings, and family rooms sleep up to four. The well-equipped gym, ground-floor coffee shop, and the al-Watani rooftop restaurant are nice bonuses.

Tiny iron balconies overlooking Jaffa Gate make this century-old hotel a solid choice for a historic—if humble—night near the Old City walls. The guest rooms are fairly basic, but the large family rooms with sleeping lofts are excellent value.

Pilgrim tour groups have long been drawn to the modest rooms and stellar location (a 10-minute walk from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher) of this gorgeous stone castlelike building owned by the Vatican and dating back to the 1880s. Most guest rooms lack TVs and are minimally decorated in beige and brown, but the architecture in the style of a French cathedral is rich with history. Enjoy a glass of imported wine and cheese at the rooftop restaurant, which attracts many nonhotel guests in pursuit of arguably the city's most remarkable sunset views overlooking the Old City. Rooms with balconies are available at an extra charge.

The stone arches, lacey latticework, and bronze ornaments in the reception area help create a distinctly regional atmosphere, as do the old flagstones in the skylit atrium and polished floorboards in the comfortable lounge. The guest rooms are not huge, but are comfortably furnished and decorated with black and gold touches.

“The Kings"—the name by which it's still known—sits on a busy intersection, less than a 10-minute walk from Downtown and the Old City. Guest rooms and bathrooms can be small, but there are pretty pink flower boxes outside every window, and a well-lit lobby coffee shop, as well as several seating areas around the hotel. If your budget allows, upgrade to a junior suite with a balcony. The entrance is on Ramban Street.