Church of the Holy Sepulchre Ναός της Αναστάσεως
This 120 m long church building is a minor basilica, patriarchal basilica, and cathedral that incorporates Early Christian, Romanesque, and Gothic architecture. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the most looked-up sight in Palestine on English Wikipedia. The building is made of rock and has a capacity of 8000.
Planning a visit
The climate changes throughout the year. June, July, August, and September are the warmest months, with daily highs between 30 °C and 32 °C and very little rain. April, May, and October offer milder temperatures. During the winter months of December, January, and February, the weather is cooler with daily highs between 12 °C and 14 °C and more rain, such as 166 mm in January or 151 mm in February.
The site is 1 km from East Jerusalem and 41 km from Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv. Visitors can combine a trip to the church with nearby sites like the Church of the Redeemer, the Tower of David, the Temple Institute, or the Western Wall. The church is open daily, with summer hours from 05:00 to 21:00 and winter hours from 04:00 to 19:00. Wheelchair access is limited.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 32 °C. The wettest is January, with about 166 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 12 | 13 | 16 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 25 | 19 | 14 |
| Average low, °C | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 6 |
| Rainfall, mm | 166 | 151 | 93 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 72 | 115 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
