In The Footsteps of Jesus Day Tour – Dguide Self Guiding App

Jerusalem opens beneath your feet. This $7 self-guided walk follows Jesus from the Mount of Olives through Gethsemane, the Old City, and the Garden Tomb. I like the freedom of the DGuide app, which lets you pause, wander, and return to the route when you wish. I also like the strong sequence of places, moving from wide city views to quiet prayer sites and the crowded Via Dolorosa.

The main drawback is that the app may not give enough exact detail for everyone. One review rated the experience as just okay and wanted more information about how, when, and where events took place. You also need moderate fitness, since the walk includes slopes, stairs, and several hours on foot.

Six things to know before you go

• Start high on the Mount of Olives: The tour begins at Seven Arches, with a sweeping view over Jerusalem and the Old City.
• Walk the Palm Sunday Road: You follow the traditional route downhill through Dominus Flevit and toward Gethsemane.
• Allow extra money for two stops: St. Ann costs 5 shekels, and the Austrian Hospice rooftop costs another 5 shekels.
• The app gives you control: You can follow the suggested path, stop for more or less explanation, or leave the route and return later.
• Save the Garden Tomb for the right day: It is closed to visitors on Sunday and Monday, so plan this final stop from Tuesday through Saturday.
• Expect a small, private outing: The activity is limited to a maximum of two people, but it is self-guided rather than led in person.

What this Jerusalem walking tour is really like

This is not a standard coach excursion or a guided group marching behind a flag. It is a four-hour walking route that uses your phone as the guide.

Uri Goldflam created the route and content after 30 years as a guide and educator. His experience shows in the order of the stops. The walk begins with orientation, moves through places connected with Jesus’ final days, and finishes at one of the possible sites associated with the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

You receive the DGuide app at no extra charge. After booking, use the coupon code in the Before You Go section of your confirmation email to access the tour. Since this is a mobile ticket, make sure you have your phone ready before reaching the starting point.

The biggest benefit is control. You can listen closely at one stop, move quickly through another, or pause for prayer and quiet. If you wander off the suggested route, you can return to the tour later. That flexibility is useful in Jerusalem, where narrow lanes, religious sites, and unexpected closures can change your pace.

The tradeoff is that there is no person beside you to answer questions or point out an exact stone, doorway, or archaeological layer. If you want a guide to explain every detail and manage the route for you, this will feel thin. If you prefer independence and already enjoy using your phone while sightseeing, the format makes good sense.

Mount of Olives: begin with the view

The tour starts at Seven Arches on the Mount of Olives. This is the right place to begin because Jerusalem is spread out below you, giving the route a clear setting before you start walking.

Allow about 15 minutes here. The view is the main attraction, along with the opening explanation of Jerusalem and the route ahead. You then begin down the Palm Sunday Road toward the next stop.

This first area can be lively. Peddlers gather around the observation deck, and there is often a camel available for rides and photographs. You can enjoy the scene, but keep your judgment switched on and act responsibly around sellers and animals.

The Mount of Olives is also where the walk begins to make physical demands. From here, the route heads downhill. That is easier than climbing the same distance, but you still need firm shoes and enough energy for the rest of the day.

Dominus Flevit and the Palm Sunday Road

Dominus Flevit is a small church with a distinctive tear-shaped design. Its form refers to the tears traditionally associated with Jesus as he foresaw Jerusalem’s destruction.

Plan for about 20 minutes. The adjacent viewing area is a good place to stop in silence. Inside, look for the special window facing the Old City and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

I like this stop because it combines architecture, religious meaning, and a strong view without requiring a long visit. The app can provide context as you stand there, but the site also rewards a quiet pause without constantly listening to your phone.

The downhill route continues along the Palm Sunday Road. This is one of the more satisfying parts of the experience because the walk itself connects the stops. You are not simply jumping between unrelated monuments.

Gethsemane: ancient olive trees and quiet reflection

The road winds toward the Kidron Valley and then turns sharply from the noise of the street into the Garden of Gethsemane. The change is immediate. The garden is quiet and shaded, with olive trees described as hundreds or even thousands of years old.

Allow about 30 minutes. The Church of All Nations, also called the Church of the Agony, occupies the traditional site of the garden where Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest.

This is one of the most meaningful pauses on the route. You can look at the old olive trees, enter the church, and spend time in prayer or reflection. The setting is not just a checkpoint to cross off. It gives the story a calmer, more personal place to settle.

You should also remember that the site is traditional, not presented as a proven exact location. That distinction matters throughout Jerusalem. The value here comes from the religious tradition, the setting, and the centuries of devotion attached to the place.

The Tomb of the Virgin Mary in the Kidron Valley

The next stop is the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, located below street level in the Kidron Valley. The site is all that remains of a much larger basilica and offers a fine example of Crusader-era construction.

The visit is brief, around 10 minutes, but the stairs make it more than a quick roadside stop. On the right side of the broad stairway leading down to the crypt is the tomb of Queen Melisende of Jerusalem, daughter of King Baldwin II.

This stop adds a different layer to the walk. The focus shifts from Gospel events to the medieval Christian presence in Jerusalem. You will want to watch your footing and be prepared for the descent and climb back to street level.

Pools of Bethesda and St. Ann

At the Pools of Bethesda, the route reaches the setting connected with the account in John 5, where Jesus heals a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years.

Plan for about 40 minutes here. The pools provide the biblical setting, while the nearby Church of St. Ann gives the stop its architectural character. It is a neoclassical church known for its remarkable acoustics, with echoes that make singing especially effective.

Admission to the site costs 5 shekels per person and is not included in the tour price. That is a small extra cost, but you should carry local currency or be prepared to pay as required.

This is an important point in judging the $7 price. The basic tour is inexpensive, but it does not cover every site or optional feature. The app gives you the route and commentary, while small entry fees remain your responsibility.

The Austrian Hospice and the Via Dolorosa

From the Pools of Bethesda, the walk turns toward the Via Dolorosa, also known as the Way of the Suffering or the Passion of Christ. The stations are marked with round bronze plates, but the route also passes through noisy market lanes.

The Austrian Hospice is a welcome pause after the earlier walking. Large wooden doors open onto a small piece of Austrian hospitality beside the market street. Allow about 45 minutes if you want the full stop.

The rooftop view is the highlight. Access costs 5 shekels through a turnstile. Afterward, you can sit down for coffee and the hospice’s famous apple strudel.

This stop is useful for more than refreshment. It breaks up the religious and historical material with a practical rest, a snack, and another view of Jerusalem. I would not rush it, especially if you are feeling the effects of the downhill walk and stairs.

The Via Dolorosa can be crowded and noisy. That is part of its character, but it can make phone audio harder to hear. Use earphones if you have them, and pause the commentary rather than trying to listen while negotiating a busy passage.

Damascus Gate and the walk beyond the walls

After the Austrian Hospice, follow the market alley slightly uphill and exit through Damascus Gate. The present gate belongs to the Ottoman construction of Jerusalem’s walls, dating to about 1536.

Below it, you can see remains of Roman-period gates. The contrast gives this short stop real value. Jerusalem’s gateways are not just entrances for modern sightseeing. They reveal how the city was rebuilt and reused across different periods.

Allow about 20 minutes. From Damascus Gate, the route continues along the road toward the Garden Tomb, one of the possible sites associated with Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

This section changes the rhythm again. You leave the Old City’s market lanes and begin the final approach to the tour’s quietest major stop. Keep the route on your phone and pay attention to the walking directions, since the tour finishes away from its starting point.

The Garden Tomb: a quiet ending

The Garden Tomb is the final stop, and the suggested visit lasts about an hour. It is identified as one possible location for the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The site was identified only in the late 19th century and is managed by the Protestant Garden Tomb Jerusalem Association, a charitable trust based in the United Kingdom.

You can see the hill’s Skull caves, enter the empty tomb, and find quiet corners and chapels for prayer, communion, or reflection. The entrance is free.

This ending works well because it gives you time rather than pushing you straight back onto a bus. The garden offers a calmer setting after the Old City streets and the crowded market. Even if you approach the identification of the site with caution, the place has clear spiritual importance for many Christians.

There is one crucial scheduling issue. The Garden Tomb is closed on Sunday and Monday. You can still follow the rest of the route on those days, then return to the Garden Tomb from Tuesday through Saturday.

The provided operating information also lists Monday through Thursday hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., which does not fully match the specific closure warning. Because of that conflict, confirm access for your chosen date before setting out. Group visits require a reservation at 02-539-8100.

Is $7 good value?

At $7 per person, this is an unusually low-cost way to cover a major Jerusalem route. You get the DGuide app and access to the Jesus-themed walking tour, while the route links eight significant stops over about four hours.

The value is strongest if you want independence. A private guide would give you conversation and live explanations, but would cost much more. Here, you pay mainly for a planned route and organized content.

The extra charges are modest but worth noting:

• St. Ann and the Pools of Bethesda: 5 shekels per person
• Austrian Hospice rooftop: 5 shekels through the turnstile
• Coffee and apple strudel: additional cost
• Parking: not included

The tour can also save you the effort of planning the order yourself. The sequence makes geographic sense, beginning at the Mount of Olives and ending near the Garden Tomb. From the end, you can walk back toward the Old City or uphill toward hotels and restaurants in the New City.

Who will enjoy this walk most?

I would choose this experience if you are comfortable walking independently and want a faith-focused route without a large group. It suits visitors who like to pause, read, pray, take photographs, or skip material that does not interest them.

It is also a good choice for couples or very small parties. The activity allows a maximum of two people, although the actual experience is self-guided through the app.

You should think twice if you need extensive site-by-site explanation. The only detailed criticism provided says the tour needed more information and more exact guidance about how, when, and where events happened. That is a fair warning. The DGuide format gives you structure, but it may not satisfy someone seeking a full academic account or constant personal interpretation.

Moderate physical fitness is necessary. You will walk downhill, climb and descend stairs, cross market areas, and remain on foot for around four hours. The tour is near public transportation, but no parking is included.

Should you book In the Footsteps of Jesus?

Book it if you want a low-cost, flexible route through Jerusalem’s Christian sites and you are happy to guide yourself by phone. The Mount of Olives view, Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, and the Garden Tomb create a strong day of place-based storytelling.

Set realistic expectations. This is not a substitute for a live guide, and the app may leave you wanting more precise detail. Choose a Tuesday through Saturday visit if you want to complete the Garden Tomb in one outing, bring comfortable shoes, budget for the small entry fees, and allow extra time for the Austrian Hospice.

At $7, the risk is small. For an independent visitor with enough time and energy, the route offers solid value and a meaningful way to connect Jerusalem’s streets with the final days of Jesus.

FAQ

How long does the self-guided tour take?

The route takes approximately four hours, although your exact timing depends on how long you spend at each stop and whether you pause or leave the suggested route.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at Seven Arches on the Mount of Olives and ends at the Garden Tomb on Conrad Schick Street in Jerusalem.

Is the DGuide app included?

Yes. The app is free, and your confirmation email includes a coupon code in the Before You Go section to access the In the Footsteps of Jesus tour.

Is the Garden Tomb open every day?

No. The Garden Tomb is closed to visitors on Sunday and Monday. You can visit it from Tuesday through Saturday, and a group visit requires a reservation.

Are admission fees included?

No. The Pools of Bethesda and Church of St. Ann cost 5 shekels per person. The Austrian Hospice rooftop also costs 5 shekels through a turnstile. Parking fees are not included.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour requires moderate physical fitness, walking, and using stairs. The route includes a downhill walk from the Mount of Olives, stairs at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, and several hours on foot.