The Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount

The Dome of the Rock, its golden dome shining above the Old City, is the iconic image of Jerusalem, a magnificent seventh-century Islamic shrine of blue tiles and gold crowning the vast elevated plaza known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as the Temple Mount. One of the holiest sites in Islam and the most sacred in Judaism, this deeply revered and contested place is among the most significant, and sensitive, in the world.

What you actually see

• The Dome of the Rock - the magnificent gold-domed, blue-tiled shrine.
• The Al-Aqsa Mosque - the great mosque on the plaza.
• The vast plaza - the elevated Noble Sanctuary compound.
• The old-city views - the outlook over Jerusalem from the mount.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; the plaza is open to non-Muslim visitors only during limited hours, usually mornings and outside prayer times and Fridays, so check current times, which change and can close at short notice for security or religious reasons.

Honest expectations

Access is strictly limited and sensitive: non-Muslim visitors may enter the plaza only at set hours through one designated gate, cannot enter the Dome or Al-Aqsa mosque, and must dress very modestly and avoid any religious display. It closes without notice for security or religious reasons. It is a place of great tension, so behave with the utmost respect and discretion.

Nearby

The Western Wall is directly below; the old-city quarters surround it.