Bethlehem
City in Palestine
Bethlehem is a city in Palestine with a population of 36,000 in 2019. Located 9 km from East Jerusalem, it draws visitors to sights like the Church of the Nativity.
What to see
Visitors can explore the Holy Land, Rachel's Tomb, the Church of the Nativity, the Chapel of the Milk Grotto, and Solomon's Pools. Natural and historical locations nearby include the Judaean Mountains, the Kidron Valley, and the Monastery of Saint George of Choziba.
When to go
June, July, and August have daily highs of 30 °C to 32 °C with no rain. January and February are the coolest months, with daily highs of 13 °C, lows of 5 °C, and about 138 mm to 151 mm of rain over 9 to 11 days.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, located 46 km away.
Top sights in Bethlehem
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 32 °C. The wettest is January, with about 151 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 13 | 13 | 17 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 19 | 15 |
| Average low, °C | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 151 | 138 | 84 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 65 | 103 |
| Rainy days | 11 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Bethlehem (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Monastery of Saint George of Choziba
- Mosque of Omar
- Solomon's Pools