Learn about the origins of Christianity on a half-day excursion to the city of Bethlehem, the very heart of the biblical storey of Jesus’s birth. Visit the Church of Nativity—one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world—and Manger Square, a hub of religious activities for the city.

Literally meaning “City of Bread,” Bethlehem is situated on the West Bank and depends heavily on tourism and the thousands that come each year. People come from all over the world to worship or just be in the presence of the city’s Manger Square, where Jesus is said to have been born.

Standing in the square, you can walk on the very ground where Jesus was placed after his birth. Today it is also home to the beautiful Mosque of Omar, an important site for the many Muslims who reside in Bethlehem.

Explore the UNESCO-listed Church of the Nativity, built on the site that is traditionally considered to be the birthplace of Jesus. Before you leave the city, stop at the Shepherds’ Field, where shepherds “kept watch over their flock,” just east of Bethlehem.