How to Visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
Visiting the Dome of the Rock that sits atop Temple Mount is one of the best things to do in Jerusalem. Our Dome of the Rock travel guide includes tips on how to get, what to wear, when to go, how much things cost, or whether non-Muslims can enter Temple Mount.
Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is one of those places you cannot confuse with any other in the world.
The octagonal-shaped structure built over a rock that is sacred to Judaism and Islam, easily distinguished for its blue-tiled exterior and golden roof, is undoubtedly one of its kind.
Although the Dome of the Rock is the highlight of this holy site, there is so much more to see and explore.
Even though marveling at the stunning architecture and pretty facade is fun, you'll soon discover that there is so much history hidden in this relatively small area that your head starts to spin.
When you walk around the historical buildings sitting on the top of Temple Mount, surrounded by a peaceful park, it is hard to imagine that this place has been for centuries causing unrest in Israel's society.
Nevertheless, the history of Temple Mount upon which this Islamic shrine was built is one reason that makes this site so fascinating.
Jerusalem is a city with an incredible number of must-visit places. Right now, you should focus only on one thing, how to include the Dome of the Rock in your Israel itinerary.
Don't worry. We've got you covered.
Here is everything you should know before visiting the Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount to get the most of this incredible place.
Temple Mount History
The Temple Mount is a very important site for Jews and Muslims, and unfortunately, this fact has been causing conflicts for centuries as followers of each side think they are the only rightful owners of the holy place.
One of the most important things to know about Israel is that religion has always played a crucial part in this region.
According to Jewish tradition, Temple Mount was home to the First Temple, built by King Solomon in 957 BCE, and was later, in 586 BCE, destroyed by Neo-Babylonian Empire.
The Second Temple was built in 516 BCE, and although it was also later on destroyed by Romans, it was not until 70 CE.
It is believed that the Third Temple will be constructed here on Temple Mount when Messiah comes.
Jerusalem was a city of great importance, and it was also sieged many times.
This also explains why Muslims built one of their oldest and holiest structures here, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.
The new buildings were commissioned right after the conquest in the 7th century.
There were many more situations that shaped history, many disputes, and violence - something we think should not be associated with such a mystical place and we hope one day, everything will be resolved peacefully.
Nowadays, the site is now under Muslim control and Jews are permitted to enter the site.
They even pray with their faces towards the Temple Mount, however, they should not pray (or at least publicly) on the site itself.
How to Get to the Dome of the Rock
There are several ways to get to the Old City. We stayed near the city center, so we got there on foot.
You can also get there by bus running around the walled area or taxi. For more information, read our guide on how to get around Israel.
However, there's basically only one way for regular visitors to get to the Temple Mount and eventually the Dome of the Rock area.
At first, we found all the instructions in guidebooks quite confusing, and before our visit, we felt a bit stressed out.
In the end, we figured out that getting to the entrance was very straightforward.
What we found confusing was the number of gates mentioned that are not accessible to travelers - what will make your way much easier is to focus on the only gate you can actually use.
We must emphasize that in this travel guide, we'll share only the option for non-Muslim visitors, Muslims have more alternatives, but we could not get the personal experience.
The entrance gate to the Temple Mount is on the Western Wall Plaza, where the most interesting sight, as the name suggests, is the Western Wall.
You have several alternatives on how to get to this plaza, but the nearest gate that will get you to the old city is the Dung Gate.
We got to the Western Wall via Jaffa Gate as we wanted to walk the maze of streets before visiting the Dome of the Rock, so it is only up to you what approach you choose.
Once you get to the Western Wall Plaza and stand in front of the Western Wall, you'll see a long wooden bridge on your right-hand side.
It is the so-called Mughrabi Gate, the only entrance to the Temple Mount for non-Muslims.
It is possible that you'll notice it because of the people waiting in line, but even if you arrived first, we think the bridge is hard to miss.
Things to Know Before Visiting the Dome of the Rock
Same as many other religious sites, the visit to the Dome of the Rock that sits on the holy Temple Mount also has its specifics.
Therefore, we would like to share with you answers to the most burning questions you might have.
Can Non-Muslims Visit Temple Mount?
In short, yes. Until 1967, it was forbidden for non-Muslims to enter the site, but luckily, it is not the case anymore.
People of all faith are permitted to enter the site, but you should be respectful and not perform prayers if your faith is different.
It is even forbidden to bring to the Temple Mount Christian or Jewish artifacts, so remember it when packing for the day.
Can Non-Muslims Go Inside the Dome of the Rock?
The Dome of the Rock belongs among the three Muslim holiest sites, it is actually in the third place after Mecca and Medina, so the answer is no.
Unless you are a Muslim, you cannot enter the Dome of the Rock.
Although we believe the interior must be wonderful, the building's facade is absolutely breathtaking, and we were not by no means disappointed we could not go inside.
We could read that a few tourists have already tried to sneak inside, so we can only politely ask you to follow the rules.
It is a privilege to visit such a holy site, and it would have been a terrible punishment for other travelers if the site was closed.
Do I Have to Cover My Head?
Well, we'll go through the dress code topic more thoroughly further in the post, but here we would like to answer the burning question of whether you need to cover your head when visiting Temple Mount.
The answer is not that straightforward, but we will base it on our personal experience.
Men do not have to cover their heads at all.
On the other hand, it is recommended that women cover their heads to enjoy a relaxed visit.
I walked around dressed modestly in a long-sleeved T-shirt with a hoodie that I was given by the entrance, and no one told me to cover my head.
Or at least the guards from who I borrowed it.
But later, a random Muslim guy approached me and told me to do it.
As I did not want to offend anyone, I did as I was told, and no one paid attention to my outfit until the end of our visit.
Moreover, it seems that this is not one of those places where you want to argue whether you're right or not.
Just in case, make sure you have a scarf in your backpack, so you can always cover your head.
Crowds and Queues
Being one of the top tourist attractions in the city where the competition is intense also brings downsides.
And one of those downsides is that there are very often queues by the entrance.
We visited Israel in November, which is the offseason, and had the opportunity to go to the Dome of the Rock right away, but there are reports of people queueing in front of the Temple Mount for hours.
If you plan on visiting Jerusalem in the main season, approximately March to October, take this information into account and plan accordingly.
The best approach is to arrive early, even before opening hours, to ensure you'll get inside.
Benches even line the bridge that leads to Temple Mount, which really suggests this site can get crowded.
How Much Time Do I Need?
Visiting the Dome of the Rock does not take that long, especially if you are a non-Muslim
As you cannot go inside any of the religious buildings in the area, it doesn't take hours to see it all.
Still, at a leisure pace, we would recommend you plan for the site for at least an hour or an hour and a half.
The Temple Mount is such a unique location with so much history and beautiful architecture that it would be a shame just to snap a few photos and carry on with your Jerusalem itinerary.
We know there's plenty to see and do in the city, but this is one of the top attractions worth your time.
By the way, 60 to 90 minutes is only an estimated time for the site itself.
It is hard to guess how long you'll spend waiting in line before being let inside.
Bring a Passport
We know that most travelers prefer storing their passports safely in a hotel room's safe, but do not do it this time.
Dome of the Rock is a popular site, same as overall the whole Temple Mount, and security checks are very often.
Therefore, it is not unheard of that a security guard by the entrance could want to see your passport to check your identity.
We had the passport with us, but no one wanted to see it at the time of our visit. Still, we would not risk it.
Do I Need a Guide?
No, you don't need a guide to visit Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock, and it's perfectly fine to explore the site on your own.
However, if you don't have time to read walls of text that explains the history or prefer to visit new places with a local guide, you can consider taking a tour.
Usually, it's a full-day tour that includes Jerusalem's top attractions.
This Jerusalem City Tour is pretty popular.
Alternatively, consider taking a Jerusalem Tour from Tel Aviv.
Remember, you can't go inside the Dome of the Rock if you're a non-Muslim, even if you've hired a guide.
What to See and Do
Visiting the Dome of the Rock was for a long high on our bucket list, and we know that sometimes when we look forward to something for too long, the experience does not have to meet our expectations.
Fortunately, it was not the case with the Dome of the Rock.
You can see its golden roof and colorful walls from many places in Jerusalem, for example, from Ramparts Walk or Mount of Olive.
Still, nothing can match the grandiosity of the moment when you walk towards it, and you know the building is only meters away.
On the day of our visit, there were no queues, so once we passed the security check, we all of a sudden appeared on the peaceful plaza with plenty of shade, which was a relief.
We did not want to rush anything.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
First, we walked slowly to the right, where we could admire Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest mosques in the Islamic world.
The mosque is very large, but it is hard to imagine that up to 5000 people can attend events here.
Unfortunately, same as with the Dome of the Rock, we could not go inside.
Dome of the Rock
Then, it was time to walk towards the Dome of the Rock itself finally.
On the way, we admired beautiful arches that accompanied the view, then we climbed a few steps, and we were on a platform, from where we got an unobscured view of the Dome of the Rock.
The building is so impressive that we found a place hidden from sun rays, took out our travel guide, and read about the history while taking in all the details.
We were disrupted by kids playing football on the plaza from time to time, which brought us back to reality.
Dome of the Chain
Next to the Dome of the Rock is a bower called Dome of the Chain that carries similar patterns and is used for prayers, but mostly local women sit there with kids and wait for their husbands who pray inside the shrine.
The Purification Fountain
Nearby the Dome of the Rock is also a fountain called The Purification Fountain, which is worth mentioning.
We decided to walk around the Dome of the Rock to see it from every angle possible, and then we took a leisure stroll around the park that encircles these religious buildings.
Exit Gate
As our visit was coming to an end, we were again directed to the only exit gate we could use on the western side of the walls.
So we entered the streets of Jerusalem once again and were absolutely overwhelmed by what we had just seen.
If you have still time, don't forget to visit also Via Dolorosa or Ramparts Walk.
Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to the Dome of the Rock.
We were pleasantly surprised that admission is free to some of the best places to see in Jerusalem, such as the Western Wall or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
And the Dome of the Rock is one of them, so it is great news for all travelers exploring Israel on a budget.
The whole visit is free of charge, so you can keep your Israel Pass in your backpack this time.
Opening Hours
The only downside we could see in visiting the Dome of the Rock was that we had to plan it a little bit, which we often do not like.
We prefer visiting places where we can simply show up.
But the Dome of the Rock's opening hours pushed us to change our habits.
The Dome of the Rock and overall the Temple Mount are open from Saturday through Thursday, so do not plan your visit for Friday and Saturday when the site is closed.
If you have only two days for Jerusalem, this is crucial information - make sure you plan your itinerary accordingly.
The site has different opening hours throughout the year.
In the summer (April to September), you can visit the place between 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM and then 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM.
In the winter (October to March), the visiting hours are pushed one hour back, so it is possible to go inside between 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM, and in the afternoon, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Dome of the Rock
As you can clearly see above, there's not that much room for visiting the area in the afternoon.
When it comes to the best time of the day to visit the Dome of the Rock, we would certainly opt for the morning, especially in the summer.
Preferably the early morning, before the heat becomes unbearable and before the crowds arrive.
We are not saying that this strategy is a secret, but it is definitely your best bet.
When it comes to the time of the year, we would say it does not matter when you decide to visit the Dome of the Rock.
Jerusalem is a year-round destination, with the peak season between March and June and then September and October.
July and August are also perfect months, but it is usually too hot for sightseeing.
It rains the most in the winter, specifically in January, but we would not be too worried about it. However, winter in Jerusalem is colder than you would probably expect.
The important thing is to wear proper clothing, and we're sure you'll enjoy your visit.
For more information, read our guide on the best time to visit Israel.
What to Wear
The Dome of the Rock is a holy site where visitors must strictly follow the dress code that is affected by the religion, Islam.
Take this advice seriously. You're not in Tel Aviv anymore.
Otherwise, you won't be allowed to enter the Dome of the Rock if you do not dress modestly.
Men
For men, the rules are not that strict. It is actually enough for you to wear jeans or long pants (no shorts) and a T-shirt with sleeves.
Make sure your shoulders are covered.
Women
For women, the same rules apply, but make sure you wear a (baggy) T-shirt with long sleeves as your elbows should not be exposed as well.
I was not aware of that and thought that a regular t-shirt was enough, so I had to borrow a universal shirt with long sleeves and a hoodie at the entrance to be allowed to go inside.
It seems you can wear a long skirt (make sure it's at least below the knees), but I rather opted for loose travel pants. Don't wear leggings to the Temple Mount.
Head covering is optional.
Always remember that it is better when your clothes are loose-fitting.
What to Pack
Bring a daypack, camera, and water bottle.
Do not overpack, though, plus pay attention to items that should definitely not be stored in your backpack during the visit.
Although it is not forbidden to wear flip-flops or sandals, we would opt for sneakers as they are more practical.
What Not to Pack
It should go without saying, but since the Temple Mount is one of the most guarded sites in Jerusalem, you should not bring with you anything that could be used as a weapon.
As we mentioned above, Christian and Jewish artifacts are not allowed, and we do not think it is worth it to push your luck.
Traveling is also about respecting local rules, so keep your mind open.
Safety and Security Situation on the Temple Mount
Because of its troubled past, Temple Mount is one of the most guarded places in Jerusalem.
The truth is that the area, from time to time, attracts fanatics who want to express their disgruntlement with the country's politics in a violent way.
Only a few days after we left the country, we could actually read in the papers that police stopped an armed person who tried to make his way to the secured area.
That's, unfortunately, something no one can predict, and we can only recommend keeping your eyes open and staying vigilant.
Despite this unpleasant reputation, once we passed the security control, we felt very safe in the Dome of the Rock's vicinity, and the entire visit felt idyllic.
It was just us and the magnificent architecture surrounding us.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Israel.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Where to Stay in Jerusalem
Jerusalem is an intriguing city that has a firm spot on every Israel itinerary. What else, many people spend their entire vacation here because there is so much to see and do.
This fact comes with its challenges, though, and one of them is that accommodation is hard to get, especially in the peak season and during holidays when rates skyrocket.
We also noticed that the price/quality ratio does not match in Jerusalem, so the only advice we can give you is to book early to secure the best deal.
In the end, we found quite a decent hotel within a few steps of the old city.
Hopefully, our list of the best places to stay in Jerusalem will help you narrow down your search a bit.
Budget | De Cardo Hotel - If this hotel has availability, go for it. The location is hard to beat for the money spent, and everything looked new and well taken care of. It was actually one of the nicest budget hotel rooms we stayed at in Jerusalem and the entire country.
Mid-range | Herbert Samuel Hotel Jerusalem - This exceptional hotel is located only a few hundred meters away from the old city. Except for the comfortable rooms, guests can also enjoy relaxing in the wellness center.
Luxury | Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem - If you want to experience something exceptional and your budget does not have a low daily limit, stay in this hotel. The location and overall architecture are simply wonderful.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
