Dung Gate
4
About
Also known as Gate of the Moors, Dung Gate is one of the seven open gates of Old City Jerusalem. They are New Gate, Zion, Dung, Jaffa, Lions’ (St. Stephen's), Herod’s, and Damascus (Shechem).
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Neighbourhood: Givat Ram
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4.0
75 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
22
Average
26
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,527 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
Dung Gate offers access to the Old City of Jerusalem. It's near the Western Wall, which is a sacred site where people worship at the temple's wall. The name of the Dung Gate was derived from the fact that it was used to dispose of garbage. These days, it's commonly used to go in and out of the Old City.
Written 13 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,527 contributions
Nov 2022
The Dung Gate gives the best access to the Western Wall Plaza. It's useful for cars and buses entering the Old City. The Dung Gate was initially a postern gate, built by the Ottomans, and has been expanded several times since.
Written 16 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gidons51
Herzliya, Israel4,756 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
This is one of 7 gates to the old city of Jerusalem on the south side . The nearest to the wailing wall . Was built in the 16 century. Also called Bab Almugaraba or Bab Alsilwan As it is near to this places .
Written 17 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yonatan C
Ottawa, Canada52 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
Though perhaps in and of itself one of the least interesting of Jerusalem's gates, the Dung Gate is a handy reference point to become familiar with.
I frequently exit the Old City from this gate after having prayed at the Western Wall. One is immediately struck by the fact that one is outside the City walls. If upon exiting you turn left down the roadway you can look down into the deep excavations which run along the edge of the sidewalk. Crossing the street at the start of the esplanade wall you can gaze over the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives cemetery. Near its edge just above Absalom's Tomb is a grave painted blue. This is the grave of Rabbi Chaim Ibn Attar, the Or Hachaim. If this is all the time you have you can look down the valley towards the Silwan neighbourhood.
Retracing your steps and glancing over at the Ihr David site one can take the same road along the walls up from the right of the Dung Gate towards Mount Zion. You will pass the odd ruin on your right and then come to a parking lot. Crossing this will get you to King David's Tomb or for Christian visitors to the Church of the Dormition and the Room of the Last Supper.
By going back to the city wall near the parking lot you can re-enter the Old City via Zion Gate with its dramatic bullet holes, the memorial to fallen soldiers and the angled entranceway and vaulted ceiling. The cobblestoned section just before the modern roadway is striking.
Turn left on exiting the Zion Gate and take the Armenian Patriarchate Street all the way along by the walls. You will pass St James Armenian Cathedral on your right just before the street passes under an archway. Pop in and look at the sculpted porphyry basin on a pedestal in the entranceway.
Continue on up and you will come to the plaza inside the Jaffa Gate. Here you can visit the excellant Jaffa Gate tourist office before exiting though the gate itself. You can either head up along the city walls to Jaffa road or bear a bit to your left and descending some steps at the edge of the plaza cut through the Mamilla Mall to King David Street.
By following this route you will have passed through three of the Old City's famed gates and seen many historical points in the space of a little over an hour and a half. Back home when you are learning Torah you will remember having gazed out at the Or Hachaim's grave.
This route is a favourite taken several times on each of my trips. It never fails to amaze me.
through tthe y
I frequently exit the Old City from this gate after having prayed at the Western Wall. One is immediately struck by the fact that one is outside the City walls. If upon exiting you turn left down the roadway you can look down into the deep excavations which run along the edge of the sidewalk. Crossing the street at the start of the esplanade wall you can gaze over the Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives cemetery. Near its edge just above Absalom's Tomb is a grave painted blue. This is the grave of Rabbi Chaim Ibn Attar, the Or Hachaim. If this is all the time you have you can look down the valley towards the Silwan neighbourhood.
Retracing your steps and glancing over at the Ihr David site one can take the same road along the walls up from the right of the Dung Gate towards Mount Zion. You will pass the odd ruin on your right and then come to a parking lot. Crossing this will get you to King David's Tomb or for Christian visitors to the Church of the Dormition and the Room of the Last Supper.
By going back to the city wall near the parking lot you can re-enter the Old City via Zion Gate with its dramatic bullet holes, the memorial to fallen soldiers and the angled entranceway and vaulted ceiling. The cobblestoned section just before the modern roadway is striking.
Turn left on exiting the Zion Gate and take the Armenian Patriarchate Street all the way along by the walls. You will pass St James Armenian Cathedral on your right just before the street passes under an archway. Pop in and look at the sculpted porphyry basin on a pedestal in the entranceway.
Continue on up and you will come to the plaza inside the Jaffa Gate. Here you can visit the excellant Jaffa Gate tourist office before exiting though the gate itself. You can either head up along the city walls to Jaffa road or bear a bit to your left and descending some steps at the edge of the plaza cut through the Mamilla Mall to King David Street.
By following this route you will have passed through three of the Old City's famed gates and seen many historical points in the space of a little over an hour and a half. Back home when you are learning Torah you will remember having gazed out at the Or Hachaim's grave.
This route is a favourite taken several times on each of my trips. It never fails to amaze me.
through tthe y
Written 1 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeanMurphy2020
Orlando, FL7,757 contributions
Dec 2017 • Friends
No, “Dung” is not a Hebrew word. It means what you think. Dung Gate in Hebrew is שער האשפות (Sha’ar Ha’ashpot), also known in Arabic historically as Moroccan or Mughrabi Gate (باب المغاربة). It was used primarily—hence the name—for camel dung to be disposed of, thus the small size. This was not a gate hierarchy was received in processions. Since medieval times, it has been known as Silwan Gate, but this small gate in the wall of Old City Jerusalem was built in the 1500s, in the southeast section of Old City, near the Temple Mount. Adjacent to the Western Wall was enlarged in 1952 (year of my birth), it is now used as the main entrance for busloads of tourists bound for the Western Wall and Tunnels, both of which I highly recommend. The entrance to the “bizarre bazaar” (endless shops hawking touristy tchotchkes), this gate came under Jordanian control in 1948. Israel took control in 1967, and architect Shlomo Aronson renovated it.
There’s nothing special about the gate, itself, but it is the major access to a street interchange, where our group members disembarked to explore the Western Wall Tunnels, and for me, to place written prayers for the souls of my deceased parents into crevices of the Western Wall. Don’t think of the Gate as a tourist attraction. It’s not much to look at, but it represents 600 years of history. And, it provides phenomenal views of Jerusalem. Without Dung Gate, access to the Mount, Western Wall, Tunnels, and a host of other attractions. Think of it as Jerusalem’s version of JFK airport to New York City.
There’s nothing special about the gate, itself, but it is the major access to a street interchange, where our group members disembarked to explore the Western Wall Tunnels, and for me, to place written prayers for the souls of my deceased parents into crevices of the Western Wall. Don’t think of the Gate as a tourist attraction. It’s not much to look at, but it represents 600 years of history. And, it provides phenomenal views of Jerusalem. Without Dung Gate, access to the Mount, Western Wall, Tunnels, and a host of other attractions. Think of it as Jerusalem’s version of JFK airport to New York City.
Written 24 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Howard P
Charleston, SC1,123 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
The Dung gate is one of eight gates into the Old City. It is the closest gate to the Western wall and the temple mount. It is a busy point with city buses, taxis and tour buses. It is one of the security check points when entering the wall plaza. The western wall is at one of the lowest points in the old city. If you plan on visiting the old city and the Western wall start at the Jaffa gate and walk down hill to the wall. If you use the Dung gate you will walk uphill all the way thru the old city climbing to many stairs to count. Recommend, Hope this helps.
Written 20 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,440 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
We entered through this gate on our way to Davidson Center archeological park. The gate had some bullet holes from 1948. It was built in 16th century but enlarged in early 1950s. It allows for pedestrian and automobile traffic.
Written 17 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn F
Midlothian, VA151 contributions
Nov 2015
When you walk this path, take pictures to go back and read the history. You are walking where other people did for centuries, and yet the locals are there every day. Wow!
Written 13 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dylann G
Seattle, WA187 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
Best gate to reach the Western Wall inside the Old City; best gate to reach The City of David outside the Old City.
Quiet gate. On quiet side of Old City away from tourist side of Jerusalem. Yet frequented by large tourist buses for unloading/loading. Outside of tour bus hours, individual foot traffic very low.
Entering for the Western Wall, go straight uphill through security checkpoint.
Entering for Temple Mount, go halfway up the hill to entrance on the right.
Entering for the Jewish Quarter, go uphill and turn left before security.
Exiting for The City of David, immediately turn left out of the gate. Walk downhill on the sidewalk along the wall of the Old City about 50 meters to first road right. This is your road. The City of David is about 100 meters down on left.
Tip: Good facilities just inside Dung Gate within the Western Wall Plaza. Must go through security checkpoint.
Quiet gate. On quiet side of Old City away from tourist side of Jerusalem. Yet frequented by large tourist buses for unloading/loading. Outside of tour bus hours, individual foot traffic very low.
Entering for the Western Wall, go straight uphill through security checkpoint.
Entering for Temple Mount, go halfway up the hill to entrance on the right.
Entering for the Jewish Quarter, go uphill and turn left before security.
Exiting for The City of David, immediately turn left out of the gate. Walk downhill on the sidewalk along the wall of the Old City about 50 meters to first road right. This is your road. The City of David is about 100 meters down on left.
Tip: Good facilities just inside Dung Gate within the Western Wall Plaza. Must go through security checkpoint.
Written 30 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ccgorman
Glasgow, UK15 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
This is likely the busiest gate to enter the old city, and also the best in terms of beauty and location. The walk along the wall up to the gate is just as impressive as entering into the old city itself. On entering you are really within streets of all four quarters. The Christian on your left, the Islamic straight ahead and to the left, the Armenian to the right and the Jewish straight ahead and to the right.
Written 24 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marioferragud
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Me gustaría saber un recorrido con silla de ruedas por Jerusalén histórico
Gracias
Written 18 February 2018
What buses go from central bus station to Dung Gate?
Written 20 November 2016
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