Location: Ramallah
Top Things to do in Ramallah
What to do and see in Ramallah, Palestinian Territories: The Best Places and Tips
Ramallah (Arabic: رام الله Rāmallāh) is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 km (6 miles) north of Jerusalem at an average elevation of 880 meters (2,890 ft) above sea level, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Ramallah was historically an Arab Christian town. Today Muslims form the majority of the population of nearly 27,092 in 2007, with Christians making up a significant minority.
Restaurants in Ramallah
1. Dar Zahran Heritage Building
Overall Ratings
5 based on 169 reviews
1- Dar Zahran Heritage Building: Attractive, historic building with a unique history. For 250 years, this building has been the property of the Ramallite Dar Zahran Jaghab family, serving as a family home, guest chamber, and the place of residence of Ramallah's" Mukhtar" (leader). It includes an art gallery, a photo gallery of Ramallah from 1850 to 1979, a souvenir shop and a Fair Trade corner selling authentic Palestinian food products, embroidery and jewelry. Visit Dar Zahran to experience a journey through centuries of Arab Christian life in Palestine. Location: Old City, opposite Arab Bank branch Al- Balad branch- Ramallah Al-Tahta. 2- Tarfidia is considered to be a historic area of great significance to Palestinian heritage in the city of Ramallah. The name Tarfidia originates from Latin, meaning faithful and sincere. This narrow valley is situated between two Mountains, in which ancient Roman olive trees flourish, as well as pine, oak, eucalyptus, figs, peaches, almonds, apricots, grape vines and wild herbs such as thyme and sage. Ruins in Tarfidia indicate that it was once the site of a Roman village. In the valley there are rock carvings and wildlife, as well as "palaces" that serve agricultural purposes. Referred to as al-manatir, these are important historical monuments to the traditional lives of Palestinian society. There was also a spring of water that used to provide fresh, pure water to the area. The continued survival of Tarfidia as an authentic ecological microcosm is under threat from dwindling water supplies, urban development and competition for land. We invite you to visit Tarfidia, and to experience Palestinian cultural and historical heritage in this area.
Reviewed By Claire H
A wonderfully eclectic time trip through the history and art of Ramallah and Palestine. The owner himself served us coffee and told us fascinating stories about how the house was built. An interesting glimpse into Christian Palestinian life. We highly recommend the gift shop.
2. Taybeh Brewery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 97 reviews
Taybeh Brewery is the first microbrewery in the Middle East and the first Palestine Beer since 1994. Come Visit Us for a tour and tasting! Producing Taybeh Golden Beer, Taybeh Dark, Taybeh Amber, Taybeh White, Taybeh IPA and Taybeh non-alcoholic. Tours are offered 6 days a week, Monday-Saturday, 8am-4pm.
Reviewed By John K - Ramallah, Palestinian Territories
Located in the fascinating small Christian enclave of Taybeh, a location mentioned in both Old and New Testaments as well as in Islamic histories, the Brewery and also the hotel with the winery offerings makes for a very enjoyable excursion. The brewery tour won't take long since the brewery is not large; be sure to call ahead to make a tour reservation. Given water availability, the brewery has challenges that it has creatively solved; the staff is welcoming and very helpful. The small souvenir shop has a nice array of items to take home as remembrances of the tour. Be sure to go from the brewery to the new, modern hotel and winery. If you can combine this with a lunch at Peter's restaurant an easy walk away, you'll have a very nice day in Taybeh, and be sure to visit the Byzantine and Crusader eras' site of The Church of St. George, beautifully located, not as well kept and "signaged" as it should be, but worth the trip, as is the lovely Christian cemetery adjacent to the church site. On a clear day, you can see the Dead Sea and the hills of Jordan from Taybeh and the deck of Peter's Restaurant. Have lunch or dinner and a Taybeh Brewery beer to end your trip.
3. Arafat's Tomb
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By Lars M - Lystrup, Denmark
Yassir Arafat died in France but after his death his dead body was brought back to the capital of the Palestinian self-governance Ramallah where we can pay a visit to his tomb. It is an enormous monument with a permanent guard of honor. The museum tells the history of the Palestinian people. You cannot go to Ramallah without visiting this place.
4. Wadi Climbing
Overall Ratings
5 based on 33 reviews
Wadi Climbing is the first indoor climbing gym in Palestine! We offer state of the art climbing walls, training facilities, a balancing tightrope and an adventure tunnel for kids. We also offer outdoor climbing trips to sights around Palestine on a weekly basis.
Reviewed By Raed A - Ramallah, Palestinian Territories
Imagine yourself in a breathtaking setting full of big cliffs and boulders, surrounded by and tree-dotted landscape, and learning how to climb with two of the coolest guys in Ramallah, what's not to like? I highly recommend Wadi Climbing to anyone interested in the outdoors, it is a unique experience in Palestine and I guarantee you will have a grand time with Tim and Will and with the other climbers who usually are interesting individuals from various backgrounds. The gear is in excellent shape all provided by Wadi Climbing and included in admission price. The price is quite affordable for the kind of experience. Tim and Will are friendly, experienced, and passionate about growing a climbing community in the region. I feel very safe when I climb under their supervision.
Go ahead and register, no matter what your climbing level is. You will not regret it!
5. Mahmoud Darwish Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By Kay581 - Kuwait City, Kuwait
Mahmoud Darwish Museum (Al-Birweh Park)
Mahmoud Darwish was born in the village of al-Birwa in the Western Galilee. He was the second child of Salim and Houreyyah Darwish. His families were landowners. His mother was illiterate, but his grandfather taught him to read. After Israeli forces assaulted his village of al-Birwa in June 1948, the family fled to Lebanon, first to Jezzin and then Damour.
Mahmoud Darwish was a Palestinian poet and author who were regarded as the Palestinian national poet. He won numerous awards for his works. Darwish used Palestine as a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of dispossession and exil. He has been described as incarnating and reflecting "the tradition of the political poet in Islam, the man of action whose action is poetry.
Mahmoud Darwish died on 9 August 2008 at the age of 66, three days after heart surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. Early reports of his death in the Arabic press indicated that Darwish had asked in his will to be buried in Palestine. Three locations were originally suggested; his home village of al-Birwa, the neighboring village Jadeida, where some of Darwish's family still resides or in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Ramallah Mayor Janet Mikhail announced later that Darwish would be buried next to Ramallah's Palace of Culture, at the summit of a hill overlooking Jerusalem on the southwestern outskirts of Ramallah, and a shrine would be erected in his honor Ahmed Darwish said "Mahmoud doesn't just belong to a family or a town, but to all the Palestinians, and he should be buried in a place where all Palestinians can come and visit him.
Mahmoud Drawish Museum (Al-Birweh Park) is a three-acre space on top of the hill that houses the grave of the late poet. The place includes the poet’s monument, a museum, a multipurpose hall, an outdoor theater, and a garden.
- Museum: Aims to exhibit some of Darwish’s belongings, and some of his original poetry manuscripts. It has also a hall with large screens to display videos of the poet.
- Multipurpose hall: It’s designed to host festival and cultural celebrations. It can be used as one big hall or divided to three separate halls for lectures and discussion meetings.
- Outdoor Theater: It can host more than five hundred persons. It has a podium, and other rooms for special services.
- Garden: It contains several collections of flowers and trees from the countryside of Palestine.
This culture space was designed by architect Jaafar Touqan (son of the late Palestinian poet Ibrahim Touqan.
It's interesting place to visit
6. Birzeit Brewery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 35 reviews
Brewed By Brothers For Friends Passion, precision, and perfection are the hallmarks of our premium quality beers . Hand Crafted to the exact standards of beer lovers. We only use the highest quality Malted barley , noble hops , yeast and pure water to craft a range of well-balanced flavours for every pure taste.
Reviewed By Ghadeer N
The place where the best local beer is produced is wealthy with hospitable owners. Bright light beer is made according to high standards using best raw material. We always choose their beer to bring back home in boxes to host friends and family.Dear Ghadeer N thank you for your review , and hopefully we will see you again and in our next beer fest best regards birzeit brewery team
7. Beyond Borders Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 18 reviews
Discover the other side of the border and gain a raw and authentic lens of the difficult political and emotional terrain of Palestine and Israel. Whether your traveling alone, with family and friends or in a large group, Beyond Borders Tours will accommodate all your travel needs throughout the West Bank and Palestinian Territories. Beyond Borders Tours offers a wide variety of private day tours throughout the West Bank; Ramallah Tour, Bethlehem Tour, Hebron Tour, Nablus Tour, Jericho Tour and will gladly custom design a program to meet your interests and ensure providing you with the most exclusive and exceptional West Bank Tour. Accompanying church leaders, politicians, film producers, students, tourists and other luminaries in the streets of Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho, Bethlehem and Hebron; and in villages and refugee camps throughout the West Bank, “this is a tour unlike the rest.”
Reviewed By Zaza1100 - Geneva, Switzerland
Traveling with my husband, two grown kids (18 and 22), my brother and nephew (24) to Israel for a week, we were given Rami's contact by some Israeli friends. After visiting the highlights of Tel-Aviv, Galilée and Jerusalem, Rami picked us up at our hotel to take us on the tour of our life! We were able to visit a refugee camp near Qalandia, Ramallah, Hebron and Bethlehem, meet people, get insights on what life means on the other side of the wall... Rami who is inexhaustible and very knowledgeable was open to all questions and so respectful of the complex situation. We still can't believe the privilege that was given to us. It was a lesson of life not only for our young adults but for us as well. This experience is tattooed in our hearts! We highly recommend this tour, it's a MUST!!!
8. Taybeh Winery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By pacemsi - Delaware
The Taybeh Winery was another highlight in this beautiful hillside town. The wine tasting,showroom, processing plant and hospitality of the Khoury family was over the top. The wine was really quite lovely. A must see where you can combine the winery and brewery all in one morning! Looking forward to a next visit where I can stay at the Taybeh Hotel !
9. Yasser Arafat Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Tj D
The museum, that was opened in 2017, shows the history of Arafat's life on 4 stories. It is located at Arafat's tomb within the Muqata'ah Compound that houses the Palestinian Authority governmental offices.
The entrance is said to be free but visitors are encouraged to give a small donation (5NIS). At the front desk visitors receive a sort of Audio guide (leave some ID as deposit) that plays the sound of numerous TVs playing back video material throughout the museum. Currently the "audio guide" is available in arabic and english and it does not give any more explanation than the audio for the video footage. All signs at the exhibition pieces on display are both in arabic and english.
The whole museum is wheelchair accessible and the 4 stories are slowly ascending ranks.
At the highest level of the museum there is a connection to the privat chambers of Arafat during the sieges of the Muqata'ah in2002.
Before leaving visitors can stop in the museum shop, where you can find (among other things) Kufiyas made in Hebron in decorative boxes. IN my opinion the best place to get one (if you're into that) and wanna make sure it's not a cheap chinese product often sold at souvenir stores throughout town.
If you are a history buff you can easily spend 3-4 hrs. in the museum.
There are modern and super clean restrooms at the entrance and the staff is extremely friendly.
10. The Palestinian Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Jack R - Ramallah, Palestinian Territories
The recently inaugurated museum building and professional team are gearing up for a multitude of programs highlighting Palestinian modern history, heritage, and cultural identity. Meanwhile, you can visit and enjoy the amazing building and surrounding terraced Gardens containing a chronological history of flora in Palestine.
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