Type of destination: Religious and Historical Site
Ideal visit duration: 2-4 hours
The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge east of Jerusalem's Old City in Israel, named after the olive groves that once covered its slopes. Throughout Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, it has held a prominent role as a place of worship and a cemetery where many key figures are buried. It rises to over 800 meters above sea level, offering panoramic views of the city. The Mount has been a site of Jewish burial for over 3,000 years, and it's estimated to contain over 150,000 graves. Prominent landmarks on the mount include the Chapel of Ascension, purported to be where Jesus ascended to heaven, the Church of All Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene. It is also significant in prophecy, believed by Jews to be the place where the resurrection of the dead will commence and by Christians as the place where Jesus will return.