Photo: Arab Bus Station in Damascus Gate

Updated on 23 February 2020

By Bus 234

If you are visiting Bethlehem from Jerusalem and you have to make your own way to Bethlehem, you need to take bus number 234 from the Arab bus station in Damascus Gate in Jerusalem (Called Bab el-‘Amoud in Arabic). This bus goes to Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint as the last station. (Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint also known as Bethlehem Checkpoint, Bethlehem Crossing or Rachel’s Tomb Crossing).

The bus runs almost every 5-10 minutes and it takes about 30 minutes to Bethlehem 300 checkpoint.

Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint / Crossing point

Assuming you are on bus 234, you will arrive to Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint, get off the bus and walk through the checkpoint to cross the apartheid wall to be in Bethlehem side; it’s easy and it takes 2 minutes to cross. All you have to do is walk through the checkpoint to Bethlehem’s side. There will be no security checking at all getting into Bethlehem, it’s literally walking through the checkpoint to the other side of the wall. Follow the exit signs or simply, just follow all other people getting off the bus as they are all crossing to Bethlehem side.

The moment you cross the apartheid wall, you are in Bethlehem side. You will arrive at a taxi parking area (Yellow taxis). If your tour is booked with us then your guide will meet you the moment you cross the wall just before you reach the taxis spot. If you arrived earlier than the agreed time then wait for your guide near the taxi parking lot.

If you are visiting Bethlehem by your own without a tour guide, it’s up to you to take a taxi or walk to the old city of Bethlehem (It’s about 2km away from the checkpoint). The taxi cost is 20 NIS to the Nativity Church.

A Second Option Bus 231

A second option to visit Bethlehem from Jerusalem is to take bus number 231 from the same bus station in Jerusalem. This bus is a longer route and will end in Bab Zqaq Bus Stop in the center of Bethlehem.

If You Have A Rental Car

If you have a rental car and you are driving to Bethlehem Checkpoint, there is an open area on the street side where you can park your car (see photo below). It’s not official parking but just an empty space and it’s free of charge. However, sometimes, some guys there they take advantage and ask tourists to pay for parking fees claiming they are responsible for this parking, so in this case, I would suggest you pay no more than 20 Shekels just to avoid any possible troubles.

If you prefer to park your car in official parking, I recommend to cross the Checkpoint in your rental car and park it at Bethlehem side. If your tour is booked with us, then, of course, we will be in touch and discuss this so as to make it easy for you where to park and how to get there.