As a general rule of thumb, make certain that your tour guide is officially licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. Also, on any guided tour that includes holy places, you must dress modestly. This means no shorts (men or women), no sleeveless shirts or blouses, and women should have a head covering.
Bus Tours -- The red, double-decker Jerusalem Circular Line Egged bus no. 99 (tel. *2800) offers a 2-hour tour that passes the most visited sights in the city, from the Mount of Olives to Yad VaShem. The bus leaves from in front of Safra Square at 10am, Sunday to Friday. There are no Saturday buses. A single tour ticket is NIS 45 ($10); there are earphone cassettes at each seat with channels for route descriptions in English and five other languages. It is always wise to check with the Tourist Information Office inside Jaffa Gate (tel. 02/628-0382) for the latest information on bus 99's timetable, route and about whether you need to make a reservation. As tourism continues to rebound in Israel, the number of tours per day should increase.
Guided Walking Tours -- Free municipal walking tours in English are offered Saturdays at 10am from 32 Jaffa Rd.; check with the Tourist Information Offices at Jaffa Gate (tel. 02/628-0382, www.jerusalem.muni.il) for current information. The Jaffa Gate office also rents recorded, self-guided walking tours for approximately NIS 45 ($10) per day.
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), 13 Helene Ha-Malka St. (tel. 02/624-4605 or 02/625-2357), offers excellent walking tours within Jerusalem as well as hikes and tours of the surrounding countryside. A 1-day tour is approximately NIS 180 ($40). In July and August, SPNI often has 3-hour late afternoon Summer Neighborhood Tours that are inexpensive or free, and built around themes such as food, architecture, ethnic diversity, or specific geographic areas. Some of the tours end with a concert in a hidden garden or courtyard. Call SPNI for details and meeting points.
Various commercial concerns will take you on guided tours of the city that emphasize its history and archaeology. Most of these are 3-hour excursions in small groups with other visitors -- but remember, you'd need a long, very full day to really get an idea of all the city's quarters and traditions. Jerusalem Walks in English (tel. 02/540-1641) does a twice-weekly morning tour from Jerusalem's New City through the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall for NIS 45 ($10). Archeological Seminars Ltd., 34 Habad St. in the Jewish Quarter (tel. 02/627-3515), will guide you through the Jewish Quarter, Temple Mount, the Temple Mount excavations, the City of David (Ophel), or the Christian and Muslim quarters of the Old City. Tours run Sunday to Thursday and cost around $20 per person for a 3-hour itinerary. For information on schedules, various itineraries, and the chance to "dig for a day" at an archaeological site, phone or stop at the office.
Zion Walking Tours (tel. 02/628-7866) will show you the historical and archaeological highlights of the Old City or the Mount of Olives. Half-day tours depart from the Tower of David and cost NIS 54 to NIS 81 ($12-$18), with senior and student discounts. Walking Tours Ltd. (tel. 02/652-2568) also offers 3- to 4-hour itineraries in the same price range.
