Jerusalem's holiest sites charge zero entry, and its best meals come wrapped in paper. Ride the ₪6 light rail, eat ₪18 falafel in Mahane Yehuda, walk free ramparts on Israel Museum's discount night, and sleep in Nachlaot hostels for ₪90.
Free entry to Christianity's holiest church (open 04:00–19:00 winter, until 21:00 summer). Skip the queue for the Edicule and climb the outside stairs to Deir es-Sultan, the Ethiopian monks' mud-hut rooftop village — silent, empty, free.
The Jewish Quarter's reconstructed 19th-century Hurva dome dominates a free public square; beside it the excavated Roman Cardo runs 180m underground with original columns and Byzantine mosaic, permanently open, unstaffed and unticketed.
The paid tunnel tour is ₪45, but Wilson's Arch — the vast covered hall on the left of the men's section with Herodian ashlars and a glass floor over the ancient street — is open free, 24 hours, security check only.
Outside Zion Gate, a free footpath passes the Dormition Abbey (free), the Room of the Last Supper (free, closes 17:00) and drops to a quiet cemetery terrace facing the Hinnom Valley — the cheapest sunset seat in the city.
Around 250 stalls; halva ₪8 a slice, burekas ₪10, a kilo of dates ₪25. Open Sun–Thu 08:00–19:00, Fri until two hours before Shabbat. Prices crash in the last Friday hour when vendors dump perishables.
A no-frills counter opposite the shuk serving a stuffed pita for about ₪18 and a laffa wrap for ₪25, with unlimited self-serve pickles, amba and salad bar — the standard local trick for turning one pita into lunch and dinner.
Ammunition Hill's outdoor 1967 battlefield — original trenches, bunkers and memorial wall — is walkable free; only the indoor museum charges (₪25). Light rail stops at the gate. Open daily until sunset.
The amphitheatre steps outside Damascus Gate fill at dusk with vendors selling ka'ak sesame bread rings with za'atar packets for ₪5–7, fresh sfiha for ₪8, and sage tea for ₪5. Free seating, live street atmosphere.
Walk on top of Suleiman's 16th-century walls for ₪25 (student ₪15), ticket valid two days. The northern route from Jaffa Gate takes about 90 minutes and delivers rooftop-level views into all four quarters. Opens 09:00.
Bus 275 from Damascus Gate costs ₪6 to the summit; walk down the free stepped path past the Tomb of the Prophets, Dominus Flevit garden and the Garden of Gethsemane (free, closes 12:00–14:00) back to Lions' Gate.
Entry ₪31 (student ₪17) for a 533m Iron Age water tunnel you wade through in knee-deep spring water by phone-light — the best value paid attraction in Jerusalem. Book a slot; last entry 15:00 in winter.
A free landscaped ridge promenade reached by bus 78 (₪6) with an unbroken panorama of the Old City, Dome of the Rock and Judean Desert. Benches, shade arcades and no entry gate; locals picnic here nightly.