Jerusalem with Kids — 25 Best Activities

Jerusalem is far more than a city of prayer and pilgrimage. Beneath its ancient stones you will find water parks, science museums, chocolate workshops, underground caves, and street-food markets that send children into raptures. Whether you are a local family looking for a fresh weekend idea or tourists planning a first visit, this guide to the best Jerusalem with kids activities gives you everything you need — neighborhoods, prices, and the practical details that make the difference between a good day and a great one.

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Why Jerusalem Is Perfect for Families

The city is compact enough to cover a lot of ground without exhausting small legs, yet varied enough to keep every age group engaged. Public transport is reliable, most major sites cluster around the center, and Israelis are famously indulgent toward children in cafes and restaurants. Best of all, many of Jerusalem's greatest spectacles — the Old City walls, the Mahane Yehuda market, the panorama from the Haas Promenade — cost nothing at all.

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Old City Adventures (Ages 6 and Up)

1. Walk the Ramparts

The Ramparts Walk lets families circle the Old City on top of the medieval walls. Kids love the height, the arrow slits, and spotting landmarks across the rooftops. Entry is around ₪18 per adult and ₪9 per child, and the full circuit takes about 90 minutes. Start from Jaffa Gate for the best opening panorama.

2. The Western Wall Tunnels

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation runs guided tunnel tours beneath the Old City that reveal 2,000 years of buried history. The torchlit passages feel genuinely adventurous, and guides know how to pitch the narrative at younger visitors. Book online in advance; tickets run ₪35–₪45 per person.

3. Hezekiah's Tunnel in the City of David

One of the best pure Jerusalem with kids activities anywhere in the city. Children wade through an 8th-century BCE water tunnel, torches in hand, water rising to knee height. The City of David entrance fee is ₪29 per adult and ₪15 per child, and the tunnel is included. Wear shoes that can get wet and bring a change of clothes.

4. The Cardo

The reconstructed Roman street in the Jewish Quarter is free to visit and doubles as an open-air archaeology lesson. The market stalls selling spices and ceramics keep younger children occupied while parents absorb the history.

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Museums That Kids Actually Enjoy

5. The Israel Museum — Youth Wing

The Youth Wing at the Israel Museum in Givat Ram runs rotating interactive exhibitions designed specifically for children. The full museum also houses the famous Shrine of the Book and the scale-model Second Temple, which never fails to impress. Admission is ₪54 for adults; children under 17 enter free on Saturdays.

6. Bloomfield Science Museum

Located on the Hebrew University campus in Givat Ram, this is the single best rainy-day destination for Jerusalem with kids activities. Four floors of hands-on physics, biology, and technology exhibits mean children run from station to station for hours. Entry costs around ₪55 per adult and ₪45 per child, with family tickets available.

7. The Bible Lands Museum

Adjacent to the Israel Museum, the Bible Lands Museum brings ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Canaan to life with real artifacts and engaging family trails. Saturday afternoons often feature free children's workshops — check the website before you visit.

8. Tower of David Museum

The citadel at Jaffa Gate houses one of Jerusalem's most dramatic museums, and its courtyard is a natural adventure playground. The Night Spectacular sound-and-light show (summer evenings, ₪70–₪85 per person) runs late enough for older children and is a genuine spectacle.

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Outdoor Spaces and Parks

9. Sacher Park

The vast green expanse near the Knesset in the center of the city is the city's living room. Pack a picnic, rent a pedal car, and let children run free. Totally free; pedal car hire costs around ₪30 for 30 minutes.

10. Gan HaPa'amon (Liberty Bell Park)

Katamon's beloved park contains a full-size replica Liberty Bell, excellent climbing frames, a skate area, and an open-air amphitheater. Entry is free and the park is open all day. It connects neatly to the Emek Refaim neighborhood for post-adventure ice cream.

11. Meir Park (Gan Meir)

In the German Colony, this shaded park with a small pond and playground is ideal for toddlers. The surrounding streets are lined with independent cafes that welcome strollers — one of the easiest spots in the city for parents who also want a good coffee.

12. Haas Promenade (Armon HaNatziv)

The panoramic promenade on the southern ridge offers the most famous skyline view in Jerusalem. The walk along the promenade is flat, pram-friendly, and entirely free. Go at golden hour for unforgettable photographs and cool breezes.

13. Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

Located in Malha, the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is consistently voted one of Israel's top family attractions. The zoo focuses on animals mentioned in the Bible and is beautifully landscaped with shaded paths and a lake. Tickets cost ₪65 for adults and ₪52 for children; an annual family membership pays for itself in two visits.

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Hands-On Experiences and Workshops

14. Chocolate Workshop in Mahane Yehuda

Several vendors in and around the Mahane Yehuda market run 90-minute chocolate-making workshops for families. Children pour, temper, and decorate their own truffles and leave with a box of their creations. Sessions typically cost ₪120–₪150 per participant. A perfect Jerusalem with kids activity when the weather turns.

15. Pottery and Ceramics in the Armenian Quarter

The Armenian Quarter's family pottery studios welcome children from age five upward. A one-hour wheel session costs around ₪80 per child, and the finished piece is fired and posted to you if you are visiting from abroad.

16. Baking Challah at a Jerusalem Bakery

Several bakeries in Nachlaot and the German Colony offer Friday-morning family challah-baking sessions timed to the rhythm of Shabbat. Children knead, braid, and bake their own loaf. Sessions run ₪90–₪130 per person and almost always include tasting fresh bread with local honey.

17. Archaeological Sifting at Emek Tzurim

Run by the Temple Mount Sifting Project near Mount Scopus, this is a genuine citizen-archaeology experience. Families sift through soil excavated from the Temple Mount and regularly find coins, pottery shards, and mosaic tiles. Entry and sifting cost ₪35 per adult and ₪25 per child.

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Day Trips and Nearby Escapes

18. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve (90 minutes)

The Dead Sea oasis of Ein Gedi combines waterfall swimming, ibex-spotting, and easy hiking trails suitable for children from age seven. The nature reserve entrance is ₪35 per adult and ₪20 per child. Combine with a Dead Sea float for an unforgettable family day.

19. Stalactite Cave (Soreq Cave) — 40 Minutes West

The Soreq Cave near Beit Shemesh is the most spectacular cave system in Israel and requires almost no physical effort to visit. A guided walkway takes families through 50-million-year-old formations in under an hour. Entry is ₪35 per adult and ₪18 per child.

20. Latrun Tank Museum

Children who are fascinated by machines will be mesmerized by the open-air collection of over 300 tanks and armored vehicles at Latrun, 30 minutes west of Jerusalem on Route 1. Entry is ₪45 per adult, ₪35 per child.

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Food Experiences Kids Love

21. Mahane Yehuda Market Food Tour

A self-guided family tasting tour of Mahane Yehuda market introduces children to Jerusalem's extraordinary food culture — fresh halva, sfinge doughnuts, kanafeh, and fruit squeezed to order. Budget ₪50–₪80 per person for generous tastings.

22. Pizza in the German Colony

Emek Refaim Street in the German Colony is lined with family-friendly pizzerias and burger joints with garden seating. It is also one of the safest and most pleasant evening strolls in the city.

23. Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Street Ice Cream

The midrachov in the city center is a reliable source of artisan gelato, fresh juice, and street food at every price point. Jerusalem with kids activities often end here naturally, as children are drawn to the buskers and the buzz.

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Practical Tips for Families in Jerusalem

24. Use the Light Rail

The Jerusalem Light Rail connects the main family destinations — the Central Bus Station, City Hall, the Hebrew University area, and the Old City — with air-conditioned carriages and pram spaces. A single adult ticket costs ₪5.50; children under five travel free.

25. Plan Around Shabbat

From Friday afternoon to Saturday night, most commercial venues close. The upside: parks empty of traffic, the Old City becomes quieter, and many museums offer free or reduced admission. Plan your museum days for Saturday and your market and shopping days for mid-week.

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Where to Find More Family-Friendly Businesses

Jerusalem's family scene is growing fast. New play cafes, climbing walls, escape rooms, and child-friendly restaurants open every season. Browse the kids and family section of Index Jerusalem for up-to-date listings, user reviews, and opening hours — all curated by locals who actually live in the city.

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Ready to Explore?

Jerusalem with kids activities range from free afternoon walks on ancient walls to world-class museum days and unforgettable hands-on workshops. The city rewards curious children and patient parents in equal measure. Start with one neighborhood, follow your children's enthusiasm, and let the city surprise you.

Browse all family-friendly businesses on Index Jerusalem and plan your perfect Jerusalem family day.