Amazya Bloch

To start the day calmly and enjoyably, I recommend parking your car at the Safra Square parking lot (in Waze: Safra Square Parking Lot, 7 Shivtei Israel Street). From there, it is a short walk of about 6 minutes to your morning coffee at one of Jerusalem’s most iconic local institutions, “Café Kadosh” on Shlomtzion HaMalka Street. If you feel like going for a generous, indulgent family breakfast, I recommend walking 8 minutes to “Café Nadi” on Hillel Street.

From the café, walk towards IDF Square. Do not miss a family photo next to the giant “I LOVE JLM” sign by the municipality. Then continue another 100 metres straight to the impressive Notre Dame guesthouse complex, located right opposite the New Gate. This is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Jerusalem. Enter the lobby, buy an entrance ticket for a symbolic fee of 10 NIS, take the lift to the 4th floor, and enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Old City. Open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

A story along the way: Challenge the kids to read about the nun from Notre Dame whose dentures fell straight into the no man’s land between Israel and Jordan in the 1950s, and how IDF and Jordanian officers ran a joint operation to get them back for her.

From Notre Dame, take an easy walk of about 11 minutes along the city walls to Jaffa Gate, then head straight down the steps to Teddy Park. If you are visiting with children in the summer, this is exactly the place to cool off, and the entrance is completely free. At the foot of the Old City, you will find an innovative fountain with a spectacular show combining 256 water jets, 1,800 light fixtures, and original music by the New Jerusalem Orchestra. Around it, there are wide lawns and shaded areas, making it a great place to stop for a small picnic and a refreshing break.

From Teddy Park, walk for about 15 minutes along the walls on Hativat Etzioni Street Promenade, head down Aravna HaYevusi Street, and you will reach the longest suspension bridge in Israel. It is 202 metres of adrenaline-filled fun, and entrance is free. The bridge connects the new city with Mount Zion and the Old City, and the view from it is gorgeous.

My hidden farm tip: Do not stop at the bridge. Take the staircase that leads down right beneath it, and you will discover “The Farm in the Valley”, a green gem with an impressive waterfall, ancient agriculture, and a lovely petting corner with cute animals. And yes, it is all completely free.

If you feel like adding a bit of heroic history along the way, Mount Zion Tunnel is right on our route and tells the story of the Palmach and IDF fighters.

When you come down from the bridge on the far side, head up the steps near Touro Restaurant, and within about 12 minutes you will reach the picturesque alleyways of Mishkenot Sha’ananim. This was the first Jewish neighborhood built outside the Old City walls, and it is perfect for a family stroll or a photo session among the stone lanes. From there, head up to its most famous landmark, Montefiore’s legendary windmill, where you will find a visitors’ center for Jerusalem Winery and a historical museum. Right next to it stands his reconstructed carriage, engraved with the family crest and the inspiring motto: “Think and Thank.”

From the windmill, take a short 4-minute walk down, passing the Lion Fountain, until you reach the First Station complex. This is a lively shopping and entertainment area with plenty of restaurants, cafés, and play facilities for children. Here, you will find two summer attractions that I highly recommend:

• World of Trains: a wonderful exhibition featuring hundreds of miniature electric train models travelling through magical landscapes from around the world, created by artist Shimon Puterman. Entrance is completely free.
• JERUSALEM ON ICE: a huge covered ice-skating complex, spanning more than 1,000 square metres, open especially during the summer months and offering a cool, wintry, and fun experience in the middle of a Jerusalem summer.

Champion’s tip: If you still have some energy left, “Bible Hill” is right opposite the complex. It is a small natural hill with a beautiful view of the Old City and the Judean Desert.

Leave the complex, cross the road, and take a bus, lines 74 or 75, straight to the city center. After about 10 minutes, get off at the market stop on Agrippas Street, and you will arrive at the beating heart of Jerusalem, Mahane Yehuda Market. The market is the perfect place for an independent culinary tour and a delicious, indulgent way to end the day. Everything is kosher.

• My recommended flavor map in the market: warm Georgian pastries at “Hachapuria”; amazing Neapolitan pizza in the Iraqi Market at “Pizza Piccolino”; excellent Turkish shawarma at “Akka”; great gluten-free falafel at “Falafel Ayesha”; or classic Jerusalem home-style food at Azura, Rahmo, or Morduch. For dessert, do not miss the chef-style mofletta at “Nona Mofletta”, warm knafeh, or the French-Jerusalem Muslin ice cream in unique flavors like basil or tahini. And for the adults among us, step into “Shuk Café”, order the “real Italian affogato”, and tell them Amazya sent you.
• Two hidden gems near the market: 1. Gan Eden, Muslala: a magical green rooftop in the middle of the busy city center, above the nearby Clal Center, offering urban nature and activities for the whole family. Entrance is free. 2. Tova’s Recycling Garden: just a one-minute walk from the market, on Moshe David Gaon Street, you will find a picturesque alleyway that has become an amazing art exhibition made from recycled materials, created by an inspiring Jerusalem woman who lives there.

(At the end, getting back to the car is easy and pleasant: take the light rail from the market station, and after about 6 minutes, get off at the “City Hall” station, right inside Safra Square and by the parking lot lifts).

Want to keep the Jerusalem fun going? Here are a few more excellent family-friendly attractions that I highly recommend checking out here on the site for your next trip:

• Gazelle Valley Park: the largest urban nature site in Israel, home to a free-roaming herd of gazelles. Entrance and parking are free.
• The Springs Trail: an easy, short, and shaded walking trail, around 2 km long, near Ein Kerem, with cool spring pools where you can take a dip.
• Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem: an interactive and fascinating experience for children, with hands-on science exhibitions and unique displays.
• Jerusalem Bird Observatory: a hidden nature site next to Sacher Park, offering a special birdwatching hide where you can observe birds up close. Free and open 24/7.

A perfect day in Jerusalem does not require a huge budget, just the right eyes for seeing the city. Between refreshing water fountains, adrenaline-filled suspension bridges, and the perfect indulgent bite at the market, Jerusalem offers a family summer experience you will not find anywhere else. Set out at your own pace, and get ready to fall in love with my city all over again.