Category

Holy Cities

The cities Scripture names and the faithful still walk.

The holy cities of Christianity are where faith, history and daily life still share the same streets. Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Rome anchor this guide to the most important Christian cities to visit — what to see in each, how many days to allow, the pilgrimage seasons to plan around and the churches, quarters and holy sites that make each city essential.

13 destinations

5/5 Significance

Selçuk, Turkey

Ephesus

Paul lived here for three years, and his preaching once caused a riot. The ruins are some of the best kept in the world.

5/5 · Scripturally central

5/5 Significance

Antakya, Turkey

Antioch (Antakya)

The city where followers of Jesus were first called Christians, and where Paul started his mission trips.

5/5 · Scripturally central

5/5 Significance

Bethlehem, Palestine

Bethlehem

The home town of King David and the place where Jesus was born. A small hill town the Bible comes back to again and again.

5/5 · Scripturally central

5/5 Significance

Nasiriyah, Iraq

Ur of the Chaldees

The ancient city Abraham left behind when God called him to move to a new land.

5/5 · Scripturally central

5/5 Significance

Hebron, Palestine

Cave of the Patriarchs

The cave Abraham bought as a family grave. People have prayed here for thousands of years.

5/5 · Scripturally central

5/5 Significance

Nazareth, Israel

Nazareth

The small village where Jesus grew up. Today it is the biggest Arab city in Israel.

5/5 · Scripturally central

5/5 Significance

Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem

The city at the heart of the Bible story: the temple, the cross, the empty tomb and the promise of a new city.

5/5 · Scripturally central

4/5 Significance

Jericho, Palestine

Jericho

One of the oldest towns on earth, with a stone tower older than the pyramids and the famous walls from the Bible story.

4/5 · Major biblical site

4/5 Significance

Rome, Italy

Rome

The city where Peter and Paul were killed, and the city that later spread their faith around the world.

4/5 · Major biblical site

4/5 Significance

Damascus, Syria

Straight Street, Damascus

The old main street where Ananias found Saul after he went blind. Saul then became the apostle Paul.

4/5 · Major biblical site

4/5 Significance

Hillah, Iraq

Babylon

The great empire that took the people of Judah away from home. Many sad and famous Bible songs were written here.

4/5 · Major biblical site

4/5 Significance

Mosul, Iraq

Nineveh

The capital of Assyria, the city Jonah was sent to. Its old walls still form a huge rectangle across the river from Mosul.

4/5 · Major biblical site

3/5 Significance

Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia

For 900 years the biggest church in the world. It became a mosque, then a museum, and is a mosque again today.

3/5 · Well attested