Muslim Quarter
Muslim Quarter
4
About
The Arab souk in the Muslim Quarter extends from Damascus Gate to the Via Dolorosa. Its many stalls sell spices, pastries, embroidered dresses, sheepskin coats, leather goods, antiquities and other handicrafts,
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: Givat Ram
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4.0
205 reviews
Excellent
64
Very good
77
Average
38
Poor
16
Terrible
10
Trang Tran
3 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
Be careful when you go to these shops and restaurants, they'll scam you. The little shawmar sandwich shop on the right by the entrance charged me $24 for a bottle of water and 3 falafel. The food was not good at all. The price wasn't listed and I was by myself so I was ripped off by the owner. All the shops in these quarters jack up the prices so don't buy anything there. Go to King George or Jaffa street where locals shop. The only bathroom is very hard to find and dirty. Please don't go there. You don't miss anything about these quarters
Written 19 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen C
4 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
It was crazy and busy and loud, but a lot of fun and great shopping. Some very motivated sellers who want you to buy from their stores! 😁 Lots of competition and bargaining. Hang on to your purses! Fabulous food options as well! Not for the faint of heart or if you are claustrophobic. Great for purchasing spices, T shirts, jewelry, trinkets, purses, luggage etc.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,626 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
Lots of interesting things to see and buy along the shopping pathways of the Muslim Quarter. This is my second day walking through the area. My main interest is seeing the ancient buildings and other structures. Some prices seem reasonable. I bought a coffee pot for USA$6.
Written 8 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee V
56 contributions
Sept 2017 • Family
Could not believe the amount of rubbish everywhere in this quarter of the old city. The Jewish, Christian and Armenian quarters are spotless. Motorbikes, scooters and vans regularly drive up and down through the narrow streets of the muslim quarter, why this is permitted I don't know as it is dangerous. We did not see this in any of the other quarters of the old city. Even though non muslims are prohibited from entering the al aqsa mosque, we tried a couple of times to gain access to just view it from the outside but we were prevented from entering as we were not muslim. If you prevented a muslim from entering the grounds of a christian or jewish area there would be hell to pay with screams of discrimination and racism. The old city is a fascinating place but sadly the muslim quarter is a blot on the landscape
Written 9 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miranda R
Moorhead, MN59 contributions
Sept 2011 • Family
There's no point in going to this part of Old Jerusalem. This quarter was the dirtiest of all of them, the people in this quarter are quite possibly the most hostile group of people on earth. We were simply walking through the quarter, with our heads down, minding our own business and people were yelling at us to "get out." We had one man threaten to kill us and a group of teenagers came at us with bats and rocks yelling "Americans!" Police stopped them before they got to us. The merchants are AWFUL. The people walking the streets in this quarter glared at us, hissed, insulted us, threatened us repeatedly, refused to sell us food or water (we had a difficult time finding our way out for a long time). The Jewish, Christian, and Armenian quarters were much friendlier, cleaner, and welcoming, though those areas have their issues as well. Overall, a terrible experience. The violence in that market astounds me!
Written 29 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christophe M
Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France3 contributions
May 2015 • Solo
Be very careful when traveling in this area, especially if you're alone like I was. Although it was quite interesting, you can feel that non-Muslims ( maybe just Americans) are not welcome in this area. I was assaulted by a couple of the locals while I was walking around on my own. One of them pushed me while the other one hit me on the head.
Written 19 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kitty567
New York City, NY619 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
From multiple visits to the Old City, I recommend that the Muslim Quarter be experienced starting from the Damascus Gate. The light rail (rachevet hakala) stops at station Damascus Gate. Walk a bit past the gate to see the ornate arabic gate decorations in the direction away from the gates to the direction of the Rockefeller Museum. Walk back, walk through the Damascus Gates, so named because the entrance faces the trade road that lead to Damascus. From the very beginning you enter the madness of the market. Take a snack break at the falafel place (featured on Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown) at the point where the main street splits into two. On the right hand side, is a well established coffee shop, which makes a great gift for coffee lovers at home, you can add a local spice, although acquired taste. If you take the road to your left (el Wad), continue until Ala e'Din on your left (you will notice the muslims walking in that direction, and you will not be allowed, as it is the Inspector's gate to the Temple Mount (where there is the Dome of the Rock and the El-Aksa Mosque). P.S. visitors to the Dome of the Rock are allowed only from the entrance of the Western Wall near the Dung Gate). On the left, notice the decrepit remains of an ornate water fountain, a muslim theme near religious sites. ( At this point, turn right (I think the street name is Aquabat e-Taquiya, your que will be a bread shop on your right hand side). Continue until you see the remnants of an Ottoman Sultana's (wife of the sultan) residence. Unfortunately there is no information available about this building on the internet. You will easily recognise the decrepit but ornate building. At the moment there is a kitchen for the city's poor there, feel free to walk in and look around. The nearby building is a vocational school for the city's orphan youth, who are learning carpentry. Peak inside the bared windows to see the interior of what used to be the palace. The youth is quite friendly to visitors. We asked them to show us what they were working on and they proudly showed us the results of their labor.
If you are outgoing and want to meet a local, like we did, continue walking along the street, you will encounter a kindergarden on your left, ask around for Rami, he lives in the house across from the kindergarden. The fascinating thing about the Old City is that everyone knows everyone! We met Rami when we wondered into this street and were looking at the palace, as he was walking by, he offered to show us around (he was not the only one to do so, you are likely to encounter friendly locals). He also invited us to his house. At first we were caught off guard, being 2 young women, however, we decided to accept the invite. He showed us his family's house, characteristic of the old city construction, with an interior yard and apartments around it, and stairs to the second floor. He shared with us his story, about his mixed religious family, tough childhood, and introduced us to his father and his neighbour. We sat down to chat over coffee and took cool pictures on the roof of his house with a view of the old city, as he told us a little bit of history about each of the buildings in view. It was quite an experience!
Other interesting muslim sites, although characteristically decrepit, are the tomb on the Ha-shalshelet street that leads to the Chain Gate of the Temple Mount. Again, there is no signage or information online on the ornate building. but if you have a flashlight, you may be able to see that it contains a tomb. If you continue straight directly to the Chain Gate, you will pass an characteristically muslim decorative overpass and arrive to what was once a nice fountain for worshipers to enjoy. It is really sad that these treasures do not get the attention that they need so that the locals and the visitors can enjoy them. Until then...
Some say that the muslim quarter has a completely different character. Of course! Especially commercially pushy, yes, its part of the culture and people want to make a buck. If you are not street smart, you will get taken advantage of, as at any popular travel destination. NOTE: Bargaining is part of the culture, its is a norm to over-charge by at least 30% on trinkets and and as much as 50% on more expensive items (i.e. I wanted to buy a bag, whose original price was $100, and the seller told me that for $50 I can take it now!) Note that you there are many others who sell the same thing, so be willing to walk away! At this point many will agree to your offer. Bargain on everything!!! And enjoy the experience.
If you are outgoing and want to meet a local, like we did, continue walking along the street, you will encounter a kindergarden on your left, ask around for Rami, he lives in the house across from the kindergarden. The fascinating thing about the Old City is that everyone knows everyone! We met Rami when we wondered into this street and were looking at the palace, as he was walking by, he offered to show us around (he was not the only one to do so, you are likely to encounter friendly locals). He also invited us to his house. At first we were caught off guard, being 2 young women, however, we decided to accept the invite. He showed us his family's house, characteristic of the old city construction, with an interior yard and apartments around it, and stairs to the second floor. He shared with us his story, about his mixed religious family, tough childhood, and introduced us to his father and his neighbour. We sat down to chat over coffee and took cool pictures on the roof of his house with a view of the old city, as he told us a little bit of history about each of the buildings in view. It was quite an experience!
Other interesting muslim sites, although characteristically decrepit, are the tomb on the Ha-shalshelet street that leads to the Chain Gate of the Temple Mount. Again, there is no signage or information online on the ornate building. but if you have a flashlight, you may be able to see that it contains a tomb. If you continue straight directly to the Chain Gate, you will pass an characteristically muslim decorative overpass and arrive to what was once a nice fountain for worshipers to enjoy. It is really sad that these treasures do not get the attention that they need so that the locals and the visitors can enjoy them. Until then...
Some say that the muslim quarter has a completely different character. Of course! Especially commercially pushy, yes, its part of the culture and people want to make a buck. If you are not street smart, you will get taken advantage of, as at any popular travel destination. NOTE: Bargaining is part of the culture, its is a norm to over-charge by at least 30% on trinkets and and as much as 50% on more expensive items (i.e. I wanted to buy a bag, whose original price was $100, and the seller told me that for $50 I can take it now!) Note that you there are many others who sell the same thing, so be willing to walk away! At this point many will agree to your offer. Bargain on everything!!! And enjoy the experience.
Written 11 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IanandLesleyxx
Manchester UK17 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
The Muslim quarter of Jerusalem is vastly different to the other three quarters. You are only allowed in part of it - some areas being cordoned off and entry prohibited. Men sit in chairs in the road and turn you back if you wander into an area that they consider you should not. The area is dirty and populated mainly by market style shops. The owners constantly pester and harangue you to buy from them. It feels unpleasant - not quite unsafe - but unpleasant. Tourists are clearly not welcome on Temple Mount and, on two separate occasions, I saw Muslim men aggressively forcing non-Muslims to leave the area. The Muslim quarter is worth seeing for the contrast but not a place to linger.
Written 30 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel42,755 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
There's basically not much to do in the Muslim quarter, other than to visit the local market.
However, forget about a nice and tranquil experience at the market (called in Arabic - Suk).
The market is over crowded, smelly, not very clean (to say the least), but the most annoying feature are the local merchants.
The Muslim merchants will immediately detect you are a tourist. If you look "too Western" to them, they will nag you and keep nagging you for your entire visit.
The regular prices are very low, but they would pump them up thousands of percents, so if you really want something - be prepared to go into endless haggling. The merchants will try to cheat you no matter what, and will probably tell you lies about them being so poor, children with cancer and more tales from the Arabian nights. Simply ignore them.
Simply walk away if you do not like what you see and don't mind their yelling and cursing.
Women travellers - I'd hate to say it, but in case you are good looking, do not get into the market without a male companion, as the Muslim merchants would do everything to be able to touch you "occasionally" (despite Islam totally prohibiting this).
All in all, there are much better Muslim markets in Israel than this annoying place, so my advice is to skip this one and try the one in Acre, instead.
However, forget about a nice and tranquil experience at the market (called in Arabic - Suk).
The market is over crowded, smelly, not very clean (to say the least), but the most annoying feature are the local merchants.
The Muslim merchants will immediately detect you are a tourist. If you look "too Western" to them, they will nag you and keep nagging you for your entire visit.
The regular prices are very low, but they would pump them up thousands of percents, so if you really want something - be prepared to go into endless haggling. The merchants will try to cheat you no matter what, and will probably tell you lies about them being so poor, children with cancer and more tales from the Arabian nights. Simply ignore them.
Simply walk away if you do not like what you see and don't mind their yelling and cursing.
Women travellers - I'd hate to say it, but in case you are good looking, do not get into the market without a male companion, as the Muslim merchants would do everything to be able to touch you "occasionally" (despite Islam totally prohibiting this).
All in all, there are much better Muslim markets in Israel than this annoying place, so my advice is to skip this one and try the one in Acre, instead.
Written 25 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Baz77a
Sydney, Australia15 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Stick to the crowded main touristy streets. May not be the best of ideas to wander off the main commercial streets. We thought we'd do a bit of exploring off the main streets only to be shouted at by one group of kids after another that this is a "Muslim only" area. One even "kindly" showed us the way out for the asking price of 50 shekels. We declined.
Written 7 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
כמה מדרגות יורדים משער יפו
עד הכותל המערבי דרך השוק המוסלמי
Written 17 September 2019
AmYisraelChai18
Jerusalem District, Israel
“I yelled ‘please help me!’ and they just spat at me,” said Banita of the surrounding Palestinian shopkeepers whom she said looked on and did nothing as Palestinian terrorist Muhannad Halabi attacked her and her family in an alleyway near Lion’s Gate in the Old City.
The Banitas’ two-year-old son was also lightly injured in the attack. Their infant girl was unharmed.
She said that one of them slapped her and another laughed in her face and told her to “drop dead” when she told him she’d give him a million shekels if he helped her get away with her two babies.
**See how Arab shopkeepers stand by while this woman cries for help - no one even bothers to save her two young children sitting in their strollers within reach of the murderer, or perform CPR on her husband who lies dying or dead on the ground. The Jewish man (seen wearing black and white) who ran to her rescue, Nehemia Lavi HYD was killed by the terrorist while the shopkeepers watched.
Video: youtube watch?v=7FRtjBjvMbY
Best not to go to the Muslim quarter if you are Jewish or even 'look Jewish'. Remember the non-Jewish CBS reporter who was sexually assaulted during the Tahrir square demonstrations in Egypt?
Written 26 January 2016
Well, I'm sitting in a hostel in the Muslim Quarter of Old Jerusalem right now. Been here several days and wandered around the quarter a lot, both day and night time, without any sign of trouble. (I am white British, neither Jewish nor Muslim). Readers of the above review need to be aware that Jews in Jerusalem largely have nothing good to say about the Muslims, and vice versa. I have been told about the above matter whilst here and it is apparent firstly that this was an isolated incident (I am being told about it months later) and secondly that the victim was a local resident, not a tourist (tourists do not carry guns). Incidents of violence, whilst obviously regrettable, can happen in any city in the world. Is it safer in New York? Or Paris?
Written 27 May 2016
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