The Best Kids Activities in Jerusalem:

The keys to successful family travel to Israel

Be sure to check our Jerusalem Events Calendar for more seasonal activities, performances or special exhibits.

Here's our list of the best activities for kids in Jerusalem – the ones we and our friends enjoy the most:

This has got to be my kids' all time favorite excursion, especially when they imagine themselves smuggling water into the city through this tunnel during the Assyrian siege.

There aren't many kids activities that allow you to touch the past in quite this way, and at only 15 shekels for adults and 12 shekels for kids aged 5-18, it isn't one to pass up.

Call ahead to make reservations: 972-2-626-8700, or toll-free in Israel *6033.

A word of warning – although you can supposedly adjust the motion of the chairs, the Time Elevator isn’t for kids (or adults) who get motion sick!

The movie is about 40 minutes long and is shown daily from 10:00 to 17:00 Sun-Thur and 10:00 to 14:00 on Fridays. 37 Hillel St., Tel: 02-624-8381. (At about $13 a ticket, it's a bit expensive for a short movie, but a unique experience older kids seem to enjoy.)

To avoid waiting in the very long lines at the ticket booth only to find out the show you want and the next two after that are sold out (I speak from experience!) book your tickets here. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before the show.

After trailing their parents through historical sites, children may appreciate an afternoon at the Tisch Family Biblical Zoo, where they visit the petting zoo, feed the animals, romp through the playground or climb Niki de Saint Phalle's fantastic sculptures. As far as kids activities go, this one's never boring, no matter how often we go. Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 Sun-Thu; 9:00 to 16:30 Fri.;10:00 to 18:00 Sat. Fee: 35 nis children; 45 nis adults. Entrance is only until one hour before closing time.

To propel kids and adults from ancient history into the future, nothing beats the Bloomfield Science museum, which packs an unbelievable collection of hands on, interactive exhibits for children of all ages. Where else can you make your own lightning? Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 Sun-Thur; 10:00 to 14:00 Fri; 10:00 to 15:00 Sat. Hebrew University, Givat Ram Campus. 02-654-4888.

Although not nearly as exciting as the exhibits at the Bloomfield, don’t miss the Youth wing of the Israel Museum, nor the model of first century Jerusalem.

For a quiet place to walk around in lovely surroundings, spend an hour or two at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens. There's a little train to take you around and a restaurant by the lake where you can have lunch.

Further afield, you’ll find a Jerusalem landmark – Monster park, while on the other side of town, Gilo park is a lovely place for a picnic and to let the children stretch their legs on the way back in town from a visit to Bethlehem.

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