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Easter in Jerusalem: Go where it all began

Nothing quite beats the magic of being in this ancient city for Easter.

Easter in Jerusalem: Go where it all began

Updated April 1, 2025, first published April 7, 2023

Nothing quite beats the magic of being in this ancient city for Easter.

There are many great places to visit during the Easter holidays, but nothing quite beats the magic of being in Jerusalem. Hordes of travellers have been arriving in the holy city this week in numbers not seen since the start of the pandemic, with major celebrations kicking off on Palm Sunday (five days before Easter Friday), when pilgrims gathered at the Church of Bethphage, descended from the Mount of Olives and reenacted Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem (left).

Jerusalem.

A number of other significant masses, vigils and celebrations unfolded during the week. The mother of all processions, however, always takes place on Good Friday, where pilgrims march along the Via Dolorosa in the Christian Quarter of the Old City.

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Want to plan your own Easter pilgrimage? There are a number of tour operators, such as Intrepid Travel and Globus, who offer tours of Jerusalem. But if you want to time your travels around Easter next year, you better start planning now.

Words byAkash Arora

Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.

My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.

Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.

My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.