Guided Tours and Admission to the Tower of David Museum

History made and in-the-making is everywhere in Jerusalem, from stones Abraham trod upon to shiny new urban infrastructure, but it can be hard to appreciate the sheer scope and epic sweep of the city's antiquity without a generous time budget, sturdy legs and a knowledgable guide. Unless, of course, you go to the Tower of David Museum.

The Tower of David, also called the Citadel, is both one of Jerusalem's most striking and iconic landmarks and the most fascinating testament to the many conquerors who have contested her. Layered beneath the visible structure are the remnants of fortifications by nearly every army who ever seized the ramparts of the Holy City, from the Canaanites and Israelites at the dawn of recorded history to the Ottomans of the nearly-modern era. Every would-be ruler of the Holy City left their mark, and the Tower of David is where each one is easiest to see.

The Tower of David Museum brings this tumultuous history of Jerusalem to vibrant life, with each level of excavated ruins available for exploration. And with the guided tours included in the price of your ticket, those excavated ruins aren't just piles of rubble explicated by dry informational plaques; you'll have an expert guide beside you explaining, in English, the historical significance of everything you see (for English guided tour times, see Details below). Rotating contemporary exhibits fill out the Museum's lineup, and every visitor to the city owes it to themself to witness the museum's Night Spectacular, a see-it-to-believe-it multimedia presentation projected onto the walls of the Old City itself.