Jericho, 10,000 years old but still cool

The city of Jericho “City of Palms” is said to be one of the oldest cities in the world with a history traced back in history for 10,000 years. Most people know the city through the battle of Jericho (Biblical reference). Alongside with Bethlehem this could arguably be one of the must do day trips for visitors to Jerusalem.

From Jerusalem the city can be reach from the Arab bus station, although you may be dropped at the main road and would have to take a shared taxi for the last part of the journey into the town. While visiting Jericho I got off the bus while travelling back from the dead sea (direction Jerusalem). As there were more people getting off the bus at the main road we split the price for a shared taxi into town.

During my trip to Jericho I stayed at the “Auberg-Inn” guesthouse that has rooms/beds in various categories and also includes a great breakfast. The guesthouse is to a big extend being run and maintained by volunteers coming to stay there and has a number of domestic animals and a big garden. It is walking distance from many areas of the town and we were walking also at night to get back to the guesthouse, quite dark but felt safe at all times.

Resident donkeys at the Auberg-Inn Guesthouse in Jericho

In the town centre there are also a number of restaurants, around the central square. Most restaurants do not serve alcohol however beer and wine is sold in a few shops (where it can also be consumed or taken back to the hotel) for those who do not want to give up drinking during a stay in Jericho. Worth to mention though is that there are some locally brewed beers that are cheaper (and arguably better) than the imported brands.

Sampling Palestinian beer in a convenience store in Jericho

A meal of grilled chicken with bread and various side dishes in Jericho

Main sights in Jericho apart from town and local town life itself are mostly of archaeological nature, Mountain of temptation (accessible by a cable car), Tell es-Sultan being the sight where ancient Jericho is being uncovered, tomb of Moses and many others. Around the area are also a number of monasteries. Some of these sights are already arranged and organised for tourists, but there are also a number of sights that are not yet fully prepared for tourism although still possible to visit (such as Herod’s palace to name one).

Below would be some pictures capturing a one day walk around Jericho and a stay at the Auberg-Inn guest house (aka House of Eggplants) during a warm summer day:

Mount of temptation - Jericho



View over Jericho and the Judean desert from Mount of Temptation

Within the Greek Orthodox monastery (Monastery of the Temptation) on Mount of Temptation - Jericho

Within the Greek Orthodox monastery (Monastery of the Temptation) on Mount of Temptation - Jericho

Street scene in down town Jericho

Fruits and vegetables for sale in Jericho near the central market

Fast food/Street food for sale in central Jericho

Orange tree at the Auberg-Inn (house of eggplants) guesthouse in Jericho

  

Guest room at the Auberg-Inn "house of eggplants" guesthouse in Jericho