Christmas.vg

For those of you required to register in Bethlehem for the Roman census, here’s how to get to Bethlehem in December 2008.

Bethlehem, West Bank

By Air

The easiest way is to fly into Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion airport in Israel (with good international airline services) and then travel onto Bethlehem by bus or car. However, Bethlehem has been run by the Palestinian authorities since 1995 and as such you will have to cross a checkpoint to get from Israel into Bethlehem.

Click here for a list of the travel services from Ben Gurion airport, as listed by Go Israel.
Click here for a map of how to get from Ben Gurion airport to Bethlehem in the West Bank.

Those arriving in Israel from the UK, US, Canada and Ireland are among many visa exempt countries. Flights to Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion airport from London Heathrow through KLM are about £752 (return) over the Christmas period. A quick look at flights through British Airways shows prices from £179 (one-way).


From Jerusalem, you can get to Bethlehem under your own steam:

From Jerusalem, you can take Bus 22 from the Damascus Gate Bus Station to Bethlehem.

Alternatively, taxis from the Damascus Gate are very cheap and run more frequently than the buses. They go to the west side of Bethlehem, the opposite side of town from the Church of the Nativity.

If you are driving, head south out of Jerusalem. Just north of Rachel’s Tomb, at 8 km from Jerusalem, is the checkpoint for entering the Palestinian area of Bethlehem. The road divides, continuing straight ahead to the west side of Bethlehem and to Hebron. Take the left fork into Bethlehem and continue up the hill to Manger Square on the right. Parking and the bus station are just before Manger Square.

Blue Guide Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Available from Waterstones £17.99 or from Blackwell, also £17.99 (who also ship worldwide)

By Sea

You can also get to Bethlehem by sea (through the port of Haifa). Click here for guidance from Go Israel on mooring at Haifa. If you are arriving in the port of Haifa, it is actually possible to retrace the steps taken by Mary and Joseph from Nazareth – 156km. Check out the route by clicking here – 1hr 55 mins by car, several days by donkey. Many large cruises stop by at Haifa, and private yachts can moor by prior arrangement at many marinas along the Israeli coast.

By Land

Arriving by land from Jordan you will cross the Allenby Bridge or the Sheikh Hussein Bridge to enter Palestine. If you are arriving by land via Egypt, you will come through the Rafah Border crossing. The Palestinian authorities suggest that you use a trusted tour operator to manage logistics – click here to view a list of operators at Visit Palestine.

In Bethlehem

The Church of the Nativity is a basilica built on the place where Jesus was thought to have been born. There is a silver star marking the spot and outside is Manger Square. However, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Tony Blair and Jack Straw have all been banned from entering the Church by the Father who runs it – if you happen to be one of these four people, you cannot go in.

If you still can’t find Bethlehem, just follow the biggest star.