Sukkot is a very popular time for families to visit Jerusalem. The city comes alive with tourists and locals enjoying unique experiences in Jerusalem.
With festivals, special tours, live concerts and a variety of fun activities, there is something for everyone.
City Festivals & Special Events
The AMAZING RACE with CROSSROADS – Discover Jerusalem’s secrets – from iconic landmarks to hidden treasures while supporting an incredible cause – Crossroads Jerusalem. The race begins with a brief orientation and activity in Gan Hatazmaut Park, followed by WhatsApp clues guiding participants along the race route. Race, laugh, complete missions and conquer challenges together! Friday October 18, 10am-12.30pm. 100NIS per person
What Shall Be After – Sukkot with Kol HaOt – Join Kol HaOt for a day of craft activities and thoughtful music inspired by their new exhibit “What Shall Be After”, a display of designs relating to the book of Kohelet and featuring the handwriting of soldiers and civilians who fell in the past year. Artists young and old and the creative at heart, are invited to bring life and color into the studio using collage, printmaking and stamps. There will also be interactive music activities and a Sukkah to create or eat in. Monday, October 21, 11a.m.-2p.m.
Comedy For Koby Sukkot Shows – Israel’s most popular English stand-up comedy tour, Comedy for Koby raises critical funds for the work of The Koby Mandell Foundation, an organization which supports victims of terror and tragedy. This year’s performers are Avi Liberman, Tom Cotter, Judy Gold & Nick Griffin.
JERUSALEM: Sunday, October 20 @ 8pm at the Jerusalem Theater
HERZLIYA: Monday, October 21 @ 8pm at the Jerzliya Performing Arts Center
TEL AVIV: Tuesday, October 22 @ 8.30pm at ZOA House (Daniel Frisch 1)
Star Wars at the Jerusalem Cinematheque – A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi. (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill). In English, with Hebrew subtitles. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
Plan your own family evening of comedy with Debbie’s Laughter Games Workshops. Exercise your brain and your funny bone as you enjoy special quality time with your family and friends. Debbie’s workshop can be done virtually or in-person.
NEW for Sukkot
Neoja, the world’s first Basketball Entertainment Center, recently opened in Beit Shemesh with futuristic basketball courts where you can dive into an immersive reality, so you play real basketball in a captivating virtual world! They also have a first-of-its-kind DARTS system and an advanced Arcade Gaming Zone.
The NEW National Library will be hosting guided tours in English and Hebrew. For kids they will host their successful “Poof Stories” in Hebrew which includes storytelling, an experiential theater, arts & crafts and the opportunity to wander around the Library, and flop down on any of nine different, colorful “poofs,” created by Israeli artists, whose works were inspired by classic children’s’ stories. Make sure to sign up in advance.
Chasing Your Cocktail – with Sara Eichler
Enjoy the views and learn about Jerusalem’s development while sipping 3 fabulous cocktails featuring spirits from THINKERS Distillery. Each cocktail is site specific, alluding to the builders and dreamers through your taste buds! You’ll have great fun exploring modern Jerusalem of the 1860s like never before. Tours are in English. They are given in the evening and can be customized for special family occasions. Ages 18+.
Just Outside Jerusalem
Bikurei Shilo is hosting a family-friendly Farm Festival over hol hamoed. Harvest grapes and make grape juice, pickle your own olives, pick and eat raspberries and corn fresh for the fields and feed and milk goats. There’s a Cowboy Corral for younger kids, with a Gymboree, games and carnival booths. And tractor and wagon tours too (at an additional cost). There’s a sukkah on site.
Come and see the Mishkan come to life this Sukkot at Ancient Shilo! Enjoy an interactive, full-scale exhibition of the Mishkan’s furnishings, Try on the Cohanim’s garments, play the Levites’ instruments and participate in a hands-on workshop making harps, breastplates and incense. They’ve even got a red-heifer and VR goggles for a tour inside of the Mishkan! They’ll be street actors and guided tours and there’s a picnic site and family-sized sukkah. Sunday – Tuesday Chol Hamoed.
Visit Shlomo’s Exotic Animal Farm with a special collection of over 100 species of exotic animals from around the world, including iguanas, large turtles, anaconda snakes, tarantulas, birds, parrots, peacocks, chinchila, and more. There’s also a petting area for children with goats & rabbits and you can ride camels and donkeys there too! Nokdim, Gush Etzion
The Gush Etzion Regional Council is hosting an “Aliyah LaRegel” (Foot) Festival. Hike in beautiful landscapes, feel the history and connect with past, present and future. There are three different tracks and different levels of difficulty. They will also be hosting special events at Herodion and at the Kashuela Farm.
Caliber 3, the leading Counter Terror, Defense & Security Training Academy in Israel and the world. They have some awesome Commando Tourism packages – for a real “only-in-Israel” experience including an IDF Shooting Adventure, 360 Shoot House, Krav Maga and an Urban Combat Simulator. Ask them about their VIP packages too. Gush Etzion.
Creative Crafts Café in Gush Etzion has a variety of incredible hands-on workshops, perfect for ages 6 and up: different creative workshops offered each day Mosaics, glass-fusing, unique coffee/beer and cocktail Havdalah candles. Create your own masterpiece in their comfortable, air-conditioned space. Kfar Etzion, Gush Etzion
The Zomet Institute Visitors Center has guided tours in English & Hebrew over hol hamoed showcasing how rabbis and engineers solve techno-halachic problems. Learn all about the fusion of halacha & technology, bringing solutions in the fields of healthcare, security and mobility. Kosher sukkah on site. Pre-registration required. Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion.
Sukkot is the perfect time of year to take a Hebron Tour. It’s a unique, fun and inspirational tour for all ages, visiting Kever Rachel and Ma’arat HaMachpela – two of the top 10 most visited sites in Israel and a wonderful way to connect to our Jewish history and heritage.
Yvel invites you to come and enjoy a special tour of the world-renowned jewelry factory. Explore the Megemaria Craft Center with artistry demonstrations. Enjoy guided tours in English of the Jewelry School and Yvel Design Center. You’ll end the tour at at the factory store where you can select the perfect holiday gift for yourself or a loved one. You’ll need to reserve your tour ahead of time. Motsa off route 1.
Throughout hol hamoed, you can enjoy an ancient experience at Eretz Bereshit (Genesis Land) when you are greeted by Eliezer and brought into the tent of Avraham. Take a family tour and be a part of the Biblical story when you ride a camel to the tent and partake in some light refreshments from the couple known for their hospitality.
Kakadu Sukkot Festival – join Reut Shachar on a journey of self-discovery at Kakadu’s special Sukkot family festival. Create exclusive, beautiful, functional artistic products that you will paint in the distinctive Kakadu bold colors. Reservations required. Moshav Tzafririm near Beit Shemesh.
At the Galita Chocolate Workshop you will learn to make special treats at the Galita chocolate workshops. Mehadrin. Kibbutz Tzuba.
Holiday Themed Art Workshops
Create a unique Ushpizin wooden wall hanging and other beautiful handmade pieces of Judaica with Jeremy & Mandy Broder at The Workshop Gush Etzion.
Learn to blow glass at a special honey spoon glass blowing workshop at Yael Vloch’s glass studio at the House of Quality.
Create beautiful sun printed sukkah decorations with Liane at Studio Kliche at the House of Quality.
Use leaves to create magical impressions in clay at the Kiyor Clay Studio near the Shuk.
Paint Your Own Pottery at JClay – Book a time slot, come in, chose your piece, and get painting! Leave it with them for glazing and firing, and then pick up your shiny masterpiece. Davidka Square.
At Hadara’s Ceramic Studio this Sukkot you’ll learn how to do hand building with clay & different design techniques to create beautiful pieces of art for display & use. Reservations required. Emek Refaim.
Have you always wanted to create your own Rave Glass Mosaic? There is no better place to learn than at the Rave Mosaic Studio in the Artists’ Colony just outside the Old City.
Mezuzah Making at Uri Kalfa’s Studio. Learn about the history and significance of the Mezuzah and then hand carve and decorate your very own Mezuzah case from olive wood. Maale Adumim
Have you ever created a piece of art from Resin? Learn the techniques at Nicole Friedman’s Studio. Come and create color-bursting useable art and experience first-hand what the resin art hype is all about!
Sukkot Tours & Shows for Families
Take a guided tour through the animal world of the Bible at the Biblical Museum of Natural History just outside Beit Shemesh. Experience many fascinating exhibits, including our Hall of Shofars and the new Art of the Arks exhibit. Reserve a tour in English.
Red Bus City Tours are a new addition to the tourism scene in Jerusalem! Whether you are a history buff, a culture lover, or simply seeking a thrilling adventure, a Red Bus City Tour is the perfect way to discover the hidden gems that Jerusalem has to offer. Tickets are available for 24, 48, or 72 hours, giving you the flexibility to hop on and off the bus at your leisure.
Nachliel Selavan, affectionately known as “The Museum Guy” is offering a special holiday-themed tours at the Israel Museum. His Tishrei Tour examines Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah through the Jewish Art and Archaeology and exploring the connections between the agriculture, history and Torah-readings of this special holiday-rich period of time. Or, on his Magical Family Tour you’ll visit the newest exhibitions and see the hidden treasures and off-the-beaten-path places in the museum. It’s geared towards kids aged 6-12 years old and adults. Teens will also enjoy it!
Private Sukkot Tours with Robby Berman– a tour guide, journalist and stand-up comedian who loves teaching and guiding. He has a special affinity for children and makes sure that they stay engaged and entertained throughout the tour. Robby guides all over the country with an expertise in the Old City of Jerusalem (all the quarters), the Mount of Olives, the Israel Museum, the Old City of Tel Aviv, the Old City of Jaffa and the American colony in Jaffa.
Take an amazing trip as you enjoy a multi-dimensional movie experience at the Time Elevator Jerusalem located inside the Mamilla Mall. The Time Elevator Jerusalem is a journey through the rich 3,000-year history of Jerusalem. You will be entertained on screen by Chaim Topol OBM, the star of “Fiddler on the roof”.
Sukkot Adventure Activities
Sukkot is all about celebrating the great outdoors and adventure. And there’s so much on offer in-and-around Jerusalem!
You can take an off-road Jeep tour of the Judean Mountains or the Desert.
Challenge your family to a Ropes Course at Ammunition Hill or Snappling (Rapelling) down the Old City Walls.
Experience an adrenaline rush at the Laser Tag just outside Latrun.
Rent Family Bikes in Gan Sacher, or take EZ Raiders on a Smart Tour of the city.
Prefer to stay indoors then challenge yourself to Bouldering at The Bloc.
It’s also the perfect time of year to take a Trail-Ride on Horseback, with views of the Jerusalem Hills.
Havent found exactly what you are looking for? Take a look at our activity pages by theme.
Art workshops, Food workshops, Adventure activities or Experiential tours.
Click here to see all the Sukkot the events on our calendar
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