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If you’re planning to visit Jerusalem in 2025, we highly recommend that you include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in your itinerary. Visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was one of the most significant and profound points of our own visit to Jerusalem. We absolutely loved exploring the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and actually visited a couple of times, even though we were only in Jerusalem for a few days.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is likely to be the authentic and original site for the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to plan an independent visit.
There are really awesome and important things to know before you visit this significant and beautiful attraction in Jerusalem, so please do read this article carefully. Reading this article carefully will help you gain a better understanding of what to expect and how to make the most of your time when you do visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
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Where is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre located?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is situated right in the heart of the Christian quarter of the Jerusalem Old City.
Is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the authentic burial site of Jesus?
The Church of the Sepulchre does have some fairly persuasive evidence in support of it being the authentic site for the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Following his conversion to Christianity, The Roman Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the early 4th century. This was based on the belief that this location marked the spot where Jesus was crucified and buried.
Constantine’s decision was influenced by local Christian tradition and the guidance of his mother, Saint Helena. Helena had embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to identify sacred sites. When she asked locals where Jesus was Crucified and buried, they directed her to the site where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre now stands. An excavation uncovered a tomb at this site, lending support to the local claims.
However, there was one problem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands inside Jerusalem Old City. On the other hand, the Gospel accounts state that Jesus was crucified outside of the city walls. This caused some scholars to doubt the authenticity of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Recent evidence shows that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was outside of the city walls at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Is it worth visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
Yes, in our opinion, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is well worth visiting if you are exploring Jerusalem. Even if you are not a Christian and not interested in the Christian history of Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is genuinely beautiful, inspiring, and fascinating. This church is packed with art and history. The architecture is stunning and very impressive. Whether you are visiting for spiritual reasons or just interested in the rich and beautiful history of this city, we do highly recommend a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
How much does it cost to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
It is free to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There are no admission fees to any part of this church, including the site of the cross and the site of the Tomb.
Opening Hours at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
5 am to 8 pm in the summer (April to September).
5 am to 7 pm from October to March.
What can you see at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
We recommend allowing at least 30 minutes to 1 hour to explore the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
1 The Stone of Unction (where Jesus’ body was washed and anointed)
As you enter the church, you can see a large slab of stone. There is some beautiful artwork behind the slab depicting the crucifixion of Jesus and indicating that Jesus was anointed on the slab of stone before His burial. Although such a stone slab does not appear in the gospel account, it is still a fascinating feature of the church. Many people like to place a hand on the stone slab and come here to pray.
2 Golgotha (the site of the cross)
As you enter the church to your right, you will see a small set of steps leading up to a small sanctuary with a very beautifully decorated altar. The decorations indicate the significance of this place. This is thought to be the site that the cross was actually placed.
It is possible to kneel at the altar and put your hands in what is believed to be the hole that the cross was put in. They have also used glass to reveal some of the original stone in this cliff area.
3 The Edicule (enclosing the tomb of Christ)
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has a corridor that effectively leads through the building in a loop. If you follow this corridor around the building, you can see artifacts and artwork symbolizing different features of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.
At the opposite side of the loop, you can also see the altar and sanctuary which marks the site of the Tomb of Jesus. It is possible to queue up and enter this sanctuary. Inside the same area, it is possible to see the stone slab that covers the Tomb of Jesus. Many people take a moment here to pray and light a candle.
It is worth being aware that your time in the Tomb itself will be limited. There are staff at this church who preside over the tomb and make sure that visitors don’t spend too long in order to keep the queue moving. So just be prepared for a very fleeting and very special moment.
How does the Church of the Holy Sepulchre compare to the Garden Tomb?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb offer very different and unique experiences. In fact, we highly encourage you to visit both. The Garden Tomb has a sense of simplicity, humility, and beauty that is very reminiscent of Jesus.
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The garden is peaceful, and the staff are welcoming and friendly. Many groups visit this site throughout the day, and from time to time, you can hear spontaneous worship in the garden. It is possible to walk around the beautiful garden and see artefacts like an ancient wine press, and you can also go and see the cliff which is thought to be Golgotha, and you can actually step inside the tomb as well.
On the other hand, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has all of the high Church Orthodox vibes, with priests wearing robes, plenty of artwork, candles, incense, and gold. Ironically, all of this can actually make it more difficult to connect with the gritty history of Golgotha and the tomb. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is genuinely inspiring and may well be the authentic site for the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, so we do highly recommend a visit. However, it is more likely to be an intense and crowded experience. For some people, all of the artwork and ornaments may help them connect more deeply with the death of Jesus. Other people may find it obscures the death and burial of Jesus.
How do you get to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
To get to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, you will need to get to the Jerusalem Old City. The best way to do this depends on where you are staying and your preferred means of transport. The local bus system in Jerusalem is efficient, reliable, and very affordable. Tickets on the local bus cost 5.5 NIS per person, and this is a fixed price for any length of the journey.
Alternatively, a convenient and fast way to get around in Jerusalem is to use a local taxi. You can either flag a taxi at the side of the road, but remember to agree on the price. Alternatively, you can use the Gett Taxi app to book a taxi. The advantage of doing it this way is that you do not need to negotiate for a price. The Gett app tends to default to the taxi meter option, so the price of your journey will be set by the taxi meter.
To get to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we recommend getting dropped off at the Jaffa gate of the Jerusalem Old City, which is located on the west wall. Alternatively, get dropped off at the Damascus gate, which is situated on the north wall of the old city. From either of these gates, it is a short walk of less than 1 km to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, walking through the Jerusalem Old City is very charming, and there is a lot to see and take in as you walk through the narrow Market Streets.
When is the best time to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre several times, and it was fantastic to get a feel for the atmosphere and busyness throughout the day. Personally, our favorite time to visit the Church of the Sepulchre was early in the morning at around 7am or 8am. At these times, they are normally holding Mass services, and the church is actually relatively quiet and peaceful.
However, there is one disadvantage of visiting too early—the tomb itself is not open. Therefore, if you are very keen to step inside the tomb and lay your hand upon the stone that covers a tomb, you will need to visit a little later in the day. To do this, you will probably need to queue up for at least 20 minutes.
One of the quietest times of year to visit the Church of the Sepulchre are the summer months of July and August. One of the busiest times of year to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is during the peak season, which is in September, October, and November in Jerusalem. There is also a peak over the Christmas holidays in December, and things are a little more quiet in January and February.
TOP TIPS for visiting the Church of the Sepulchre
It is very important to keep your expectations in check. We absolutely loved visiting the Church of the Sepulchre. However, you need to be aware that this can be quite a busy and intense place. Sometimes the crowds are shoulder to shoulder, and it can feel a little pushy, especially when you are visiting such an important and significant site.
We recommend that you go with the flow and just enjoy the fact that there are a lot of people experiencing what you’re experiencing. It is also important to remain vigilant and look after your valuables, especially in crowded places. You may not think that there are pickpockets in the Church of the Sepulchre. But remember, pickpockets are more likely to target crowded places where people’s guards are down. So you really do need to look after your belongings when you are visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
If you’re looking for a peaceful moment for tranquil reflection, then you really do need to visit the Church of the Sepulchre early in the morning. If you do visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher later in the day, be prepared to share the experience with many other people.
Is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre suitable for families?
We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre with young children, our boys are aged 6 and 3, and they are both very active and fascinated by their environment. We felt welcome as a family and had no problems bringing our boys to this beautiful Church. However, it is important to be aware that there are regular services at the Church of the Sepulchre, and young children may well be disruptive, which leads to parents feeling embarrassed and may well detract from your experience. So we do recommend considering this when you visit.
Is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre accessible?
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is reasonably accessible. However, there are some sections that you will not be able to access with prams or wheelchairs. For example, you need to take a set of steep steps to get up to the site of Golgotha where the cross is believed to have been placed. The tomb itself is relatively crowded, and it would be very difficult to get a wheelchair or pram into this space. Furthermore, there are some other sanctuaries and altars in the church which are not accessible by wheelchair or pram. However, we would mention that if you are visiting in a wheelchair or you have a child in the pram, you can see a lot of the church without accessing these specific parts of the church.
