10 Things to Do in Jerusalem in Winter

Winter is a beautiful time in Jerusalem, as it coincides with Christmas, Hanukkah, the Purim carnivals and New Year. Celebrations warm up the atmosphere, so you'll have a great time sampling local dishes and taking advantage of cultural events. The season runs from December to March, with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 14°C. These are usually the cheapest months for travel, so flights, accommodation and activities are more affordable. In addition, the tourist crowds are considerably lower, allowing you to appreciate the sights in detail.

Winter festivals also add colour to the season. If you plan to spend at least 3 days in Jerusalem, you can spend the weekend at the Hamshushalayim Festival or the Winter Noise Festival. These are usually events that promote the traditions of the Holy Land, which show the contrast between Christians, Jews and Muslims. The best things to do in the city are waiting for you to be a part of must-do activities, such as Ramadan and Pesach.

Purim, or the Jewish Carnival, is a pagan festival that takes place between February and March. Each year the exact date is set according to the 14th of Adar in the Hebrew calendar. It is a very joyous day, which adds a touch of colour to the winter. It dates back to the Persian domination of Judea and there are a variety of activities to help you learn the full history of the celebration. It's ideal if you're coming to Jerusalem with children, as there are children's areas.

I recommend a trip to the Adloyada, known as the annual Purim parade. It is a street party that takes place in Holon, a city located one hour from Jerusalem. It's an ideal plan, especially if you want to take advantage of the best local excursions. Upon arrival you will have the opportunity to see the themed floats, as well as the traditional costumes. In case you can't make it to the parade, there is a float exhibition in Holon a week after the carnival celebrations end.

If you prefer to stay in Jerusalem, there are carnival activities in the streets of the Jewish Quarter, so it's the perfect time to consider a visit. You're even likely to come across people wearing traditional costumes, for example masks are a tradition, symbolising the fear that Jews felt when showing their identity in the face of persecution of the community. Additionally, keep warm with Purim dishes such as crepaj, a type of pastry stuffed with meat and onions.

The winter festivals are a great attraction. Although the city is quieter at this time of year, these events give it a lively atmosphere. You can sample traditional beers, walk along trails with light displays and learn more about Israel's history and culture.

In addition, many take place during the Sabbath, which runsfrom Friday afternoon to Saturday night. During these hours many shops, churches and monuments are closed, as Jews retire to pray, fast and rest. If you don't want to waste a minute of your trip, you can take advantage of the weekend festivals.

Experience the Hamshushalayim Festival

In December you can take advantage of the Hamshushalayim Festival, which spans four week ends and starts at the beginning of the month. Specifically, you'll find activities from Thursday to Sunday that include:

• Interactive, guided tours of local culture and history.
• Excursions to Jerusalem's best museums, where special events are held. I recommend a visit to the Tower of David Museum and the Israel Museum, which offer night tours, art exhibits, cultural exhibitions and more.
• Live music shows, street theatre and open-air concerts and other cultural performances in Jerusalem's main enclaves.
• Hamshushalayim menu tastings, when you arrive at the most popular restaurants you can order the festival's signature dishes and enjoy an explosion of flavours.
• Free events late into the night, so be sure to dress warmly.

Take advantage of Winter Noise Festival activities

There's nothing better than enjoying four consecutive weekends of partying, with fun and varied winter events. That's why you should join the Winter Noise Festival or Shaon-horef, an enriching experience that comes to Jerusalem every February on an annual basis. It offers an incredible atmosphere, with activities for the whole family. It's notable for its free attractions, so it's a great way to spend time in the city.

While the streets are quieter in December, with the arrival of this festival the traditional neighbourhoods maintain the energy that characterises Jerusalem. You can enjoy surprises and outdoor performances, cultural presentations, historical tours, art events, traditional dances and craft shops. In addition, you can explore the sounds of Israel that set the country apart from other locations, such as the echo of the shofar, a Hebrew instrument.

Enjoy the Jerusalem Jazz Festival

If you like music, you can enjoy the Jerusalem Jazz Festival. It is an annual event, which attracts musicians from all over the world. You can tour galleries, see exhibitions and enjoy live entertainment. This experience will connect you with classical music, as well as new discoveries from up-and-coming artists.

It's one of the best things to do in Jerusalem at this time, as you can also take advantage of cultural workshops, yearly surprises and a tour through the history of jazz in Israel. At the Israel Museum you can find music performances, featuring top local and international jazz musicians.

Don't miss the Winter Lights Festival at the Jerusalem Botanical Garden.

Another festival not to be missed is the Jerusalem Botanical Garden's winter tour. It is inspired by the winter festivals of iconic gardens such as those in New York, Berlin, London and Vancouver. As such, it transforms Israel's mild winter into a wonderland of snow and colourful lights. It usually takes place every night from December to January and offers an almost one-kilometre walk accompanied by the local orchestra.

When you reach the lake, you'll see the light shows on the water. Plus, delicious food accompanies the experience. You can keep warm with sangria or hot chocolate, as well as dip your palate in snacks at certain signposted stops. It is sometimes merged with Hannukah and Christmas activities, adding to the charm.

New Year's is a celebration that coincides with winter in Israel, so you can have a great time. The city is home to people from many different communities, so there are plenty of activities for the whole family. On New Year's Eve the streets stay crowded, so you can enjoy the good atmosphere, have a drink outdoors or attend the New Year's Eve parties.

The Beer Bazaar for the over 23s is usually held in the city centre. It starts in the evening and becomes the ideal place to sample craft beers, enjoy live entertainment and try typical food.

On the other hand, if you like to party big, you have to consider First Station Complex's Latin New Year's Eve Party. It's an innovative proposal until dawn with salsa classes, bachata, reggaeton and more. You won't have to worry about your dance partner, as it's packed with people willing to share their culture.

Winter temperatures tend to drop considerably, but that doesn't stop you from enjoying some of the best things to do in Jerusalem. At this time of year you can enjoy the flowering of lupins, a seed with healing properties. Get ready to enjoy this outdoor activity, which will lead you to the famous Lupin Hill.

Lupin Hill is a valley that offers stunning panoramic views of Jerusalem, away from the hustle and bustle. The flowers that grow here are mostly white or a shade of violet. They pile up to create a colourful sweep, where you can take unparalleled photos. Be sure to dress warmly, so you can enjoy the experience and explore the wildflowers to your heart's content. Of course, there are other species to appreciate, as there are around 2,500 indigenous species of flora in the region.

In winter, it is normal to feel more hungry as the body seeks to return to its normal temperature. The best way to keep your appetite up is to take a gastronomic tour of Jerusalem. Especially during December it is possible to indulge in the Hanukkah menu. This is an annual Jewish celebration that lasts for eight days.

The Jewish quarter of Jerusalem is the best area to sample the delights of Hannukkah, as well as the typical dishes of this community. Therefore, I recommend you consider a stroll through its elegant streets, where you can sample Jewish pastries and bread.

Typical Hanukkah dishes

• Blintzes: a kind of pancake, filled with a cottage cheese cream. Of course, they are very tasty, especially when topped with the traditional rosewater syrup.
• Hanukkah doughnuts: This is a variation on the traditional doughnut, which is made with a classic jelly filling.
• Cottage cheese croquettes: When Jews emigrated, they began to spread their customs around the world and fuse them with other traditions. This is the origin of this delicious dish, which is inspired by Mexican fried cheese. It is prepared with different cheeses, matzah flour and breadcrumbs.
• Fried chicken: this is a Jewish-Italian dish which is accompanied by a marinated sauce.

Typical winter dishes

• Sajlav: is a rather sweet hot drink, which is only sold in winter. As such, it is a Turkish delicacy that was adopted in Israel and is made from milky milk, rice, coconut, nuts and other spices.
• Krembo: a typical winter sweet, made from chocolate and marshmallow.
• Kubbeh soup: if you're facing extremely cold days, you can soak your palate with this Iraqi dish consisting of meatballs in broth.

The Herzl Museum is a must-see at any time of the year, to see the replica of the ancient Citadel and the Dead Sea. Candles are lit here during Hanukkah, in a special ritual that takes place every night. It's a great way to keep warm while enjoying local traditions.

Candle lighting also takes place in the ultra-Orthodox Mea Sharim neighbourhood. People spread out in the alleyways, creating a path of light. Additionally, this activity can be found in other parts of the city, both in the more touristy and more reserved areas. Sometimes a shamash is used, a candle that lights the others and is carefully passed around.

The Old City is the best location to escape the cold as hundreds of locals and tourists crowd in. You can wander through the Muslim Souk, which offers a cultural contrast with sounds, smells, tastes and experiences like no other. If you enjoy this atmospheric time of year, you're sure to have a good time at the Winter Food Fair. Held annually in the Christian Quarter, it offers hot drinks and tastings of local delicacies.

There are also Christmas displays, craft sales, street theatre, light shows and surprises for children. It's a good place to take advantage of the holiday atmosphere, as it is often open even during Shabbat. Concerts with carols and music of the season are often scheduled at local churches and tourist sites in this neighbourhood.

Tu b'Shvat is a celebration that marks the midway point of winter, when the cold is more bearable and there are more outdoor activities. It also celebrates the rebirth of trees, as it is believed that new fir trees are born at this time. Strange as it may sound, it is the birthday of the trees and is a highly respected date in Jerusalem. Specifically, it takes place on the 15th of Shevat in the Hebrew calendar, i.e. between January and February.

Some activities also commemorate the New Year of fruits, so you may come across activities at local markets, such as the colourful Mahane Yehuda. If you plan to spend at least 3 days in Jerusalem I recommend visiting the local plantations, or enjoy a trip to the Land of the Seven Fruits, better known as the Guei Ben Inom Valley.

Ramadan is a holy celebration for Muslims, which takes place in March, right at the end of winter. There are activities all over the world, but in the Holy Land it comes alive with different cultural events. Usually the festivities officially begin with the sighting of the crescent moon to respect the Islamic lunar calendar.

Sometimes they coincide with other celebrations such as Passover, so the local neighbourhoods are filled with interesting contrasts. I suggest you enjoy the singing, traditional dances and processions to the Holy Sepulchre. You can make your petitions by kneeling with your forehead to the ground, or by fasting. Above all, remember to maintain a respectful attitude. Additionally, fasting is not recommended for pregnant women, people with serious health problems, the elderly and menstruating women.

A few days later, Pesach takes place, which is highlighted by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is a Jewish celebration, which celebrates the liberation from Egypt. On this day, it is forbidden to eat leavened food, as it is considered disrespectful. This is the perfect excuse to try the typical mazzat in local restaurants. This also applies to drinks containing yeast, such as beer.

The Jerusalem Bird Observatory is a fascinating place to visit all year round. However, November to March is the best time to book a visit. In these winter months, the European bird migration takes place, a spectacle of nature not to be missed. The trails used to be the best place to spot birds in the city, but modernisation has made it necessary to build a sanctuary for their preservation.

Also, the low season gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the best tours in Jerusalem, without the crowds. The observatory is usually less crowded. During this experience you will be able to see trilling nightingales, European bottle-bills, masked shrikes, bulbullos and more. Occasionally it may snow during this time, but the birds are usually out in force.