Ramallah

Understand

Modern Ramallah was founded in the mid-16th century by the Haddadins, a Jordanian tribe of brothers descended from Ghassanid Christian Arabs. The Haddadins, led by Rashid Haddadin, arrived from east of the Jordan River near the Jordanian town of Shoubak. The Haddadin migration is blamed for fighting and unrest among clans in that area. According to living descendants of the original Haddadin family members, Rahid's brother Sabra Haddadin was hosting Emir Ibn Kaysoom, head of a powerful Muslim clan in the region, when Sabra's wife gave birth to a baby girl. According to custom, the Emir proposed a betrothal to his own young son when they came of age. Sabra believed the proposal was in jest, as Muslim-Christian marriages were not customary, and gave his word. When the Emir later came to the Haddadins and demanded that they fulfill their promise, they refused. This set off bloody conflict between the two families. The Haddadins fled west and settled on the hilltops of Ramallah, where only a few Muslim families lived at the time. Today the town has a Muslim majority, but Ramallah retains its title as a historically Christian Palestinian town. In 2017, the city had a population of 39,000, and the metro area 153,000. Ramallah is known for its religiously relaxed atmosphere; alcohol flows freely and movie theaters and the cafes along its main streets are well attended. Ramallah is, without question, the cultural capital of the West Bank, with a highly educated and fashionable population. It is also the hub of Palestinian feminist activity; the city's women frequently attend university rather than marrying early, and several cafes run exclusively by women are used to fund local feminist organizations. While there, it is easy to make small talk with the locals. Unless you are firmly anti-Israeli occupation, it is advisable that you do more listening than actual talking yourself, however. For the most part, Palestinians are glad to share their problems and plight with any western visitors.

Getting there

Tourists with passports outside the Middle East have no problem entering or exiting Ramallah. Make sure to have your passport and visa stamp with you. Even though you will probably not need your passport to enter, you will be required to show your passport and stamp in order to re-enter Israel. Once through the checkpoint, it is a short drive to downtown Ramallah. Bear in mind that it is illegal for Israelis to enter Ramallah, under Israeli law. On the way back, if you have an Israeli visa stamp or visa paper with your passport from when you arrived in Israel, then just stay on the bus as it arrives at Kalandia. (Many passengers will get off here to go through a different security check.) A couple of border guards will come on to the bus to check passenger ID documents. They will probably speak English well and may ask some questions about where you are from.

By bus There is 1 one bus station on Al-Nahder St. that serves buses from Nablus, and probably other destinations north. There are at least three other bus stations in the city which also serve various destinations. Nevertheless, they are all pretty close to each other. From Jerusalem the best connection to Ramallah is bus/sherut/serves 218 (and sometimes 219). It departs from the Nablus Road station close to Damascus Gate on Nablus Rd (aka Derech Shchem) and will take you all the way to before mentioned bus station near the central square of al-Manara. The price is ₪10-20, and it takes around 45 minutes. From Bethlehem take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the Bethlehem bus station at Manger St. in the center. The trip takes 45 min all the way around Jerusalem and costs ₪20. From Jericho take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the central roundabout with the garden in the middle. The taxis are waiting on the western side of the roundabout. To increase your "luck", you can also wait at the roundabout out of the city with the mosque. Even hitchhiking from there makes sense. The trip to Ramallah takes less than an hour for less than ₪15. The exact price is listed in the tourist information on the central roundabout in Jericho centre. From Nablus the trip is ₪10.5 and it takes about an hour. Ask around from which bus station in Nablus the correct (big) bus starts. It is worth asking the drivers before you get on to double-check the bus is going to the right destination. You might be surprised how many of them can speak basic English. There are two main types of buses. There are small ones with about 20 seats, and biggers ones that look more like coaches and are much more comfortable. They all co

Getting around

It is easy to find a taxi to get around Ramallah (for ₪10 fixed charge, or the amount specified by the fare-meter). Car rentals are also available, but seldom needed. As the city center is relatively small, it is not hard to walk to most destinations downtown (including the old city.) Service shuttles (shared taxis) are also available from downtown to most suburbs and to the outskirts of the city at relatively low prices (₪2.5 inside the city and up to ₪6 to nearby towns and villages). Make sure to confirm a price before getting into a taxi.

See

The city is one of the most vibrant ones in the West Bank. In Ramallah, a few historic and religious sites are present. However, the downtown streets are a must see during the day, as the city is often really congested.

Hisbeh produce market, see below. 1 Old City. While not resembling any 'Medina'-style old city, several churches and mosques can be found that may be of interest to visitors. 2 The Friends Schools. One of the oldest schools in the region, are also a must visit as there is one near the old city, and another in the entrance of the downtown coming from Jerusalem. 3 Dar Zahran Heritage Building (750 m west of the central roundabout). M-Sa 11:00-17:00. A protected and family-owned building and a Historical Museum. One of the top sights in Ramallah, displaying the history and art of Ramallah's past and present. A nice and helpful host takes care of the place with over 250 years of history. Also, you can buy special souvenirs. Free. Al Tireh. A fortress from the 12th century. 4 Jamal Abdel Nasser Mosque (مسجد جمال عبد الناصر). The largest mosque within Ramallah. (updated Aug 2023) 5 Church of Transfiguration (كنيسة تجلي الرب للروم الأرثوذكس). Greek Orthodox church dating back to 1852. (updated Aug 2023) 6 Holy Family Church (كنيسة العائلة المقدسة). (updated Aug 2023) 7 Church of Hope. Evangelical Lutheran Church, built in 1954. (updated Aug 2023) 8 Tell en-Nasbeh (تل النصبة). Believed to the site of the biblical city of Mizpah. There are ongoing archaeological excavations but it's possible to hike around the tell. (updated Aug 2023)

Museums 9 The Palestinian Museum, Museum St, ☏ +970 2 294 1948, [email protected]. Hosts rotating exhibitions on Palestinian history, society and culture. (updated Mar 2021) 10 Mahmoud Darwish Museum. Museum and mausoleum dedicated to Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008), considered Palestine's national poet. (updated Aug 2023) 11 Yasser Arafat Museum (700 m northwest of the central roundabout). Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. The museum is in the building where Arafat was held under siege by the Israeli Army in 2002. The museum is interesting in a way that it displays the Palestinian, sometimes a little questionable but interesting view of the difficult past. ₪5. 12 Mausoleum of Yasser Arafat (next to the Yasser Arafat Museum). The mausoleum is the only part of the Mukata'a two-block complex tourists can visit. You will be asked by the armed guards at the gate to leave any bags (large or small) with them but they will allow you to take your camera with you to visit the tomb. Inside you will find a couple of soldiers standing

Do

Tourism, in the traditional sense, is almost non-existent in Ramallah compared to other cities in the region. If you are visiting Ramallah, it is probable that you are doing so for political, business, and/or humanitarian reasons - expect to have lots of staring, curious (but always friendly) eyes looking at you as you walk through town.

1 Ramallah Cultural Palace. The main venue for performances and concerts within the city. (updated Aug 2023) Join a protest, [email protected]. Many international visitors to Ramallah come to get taxi rides to see the protests in the neighboring villages (like Nabi Saleh and the world famous Bil'in protests) against Israel's separation barrier. Hostel in Ramallah has different tours, twice per week they organize trip to one of the protests and Hebron city. Keep in mind that you would protest at your own risk. Turkish bath (in the twin-city of El-Bireh). A good destination for foreigners wanting to relax for the day. .

Learn Ramallah is the home of the Friends School in the Palestinian Territories. The school has two campuses, one for grades 1-6 and is located near the old city. The other is for grades 7-12 and is located near the old police station destroyed by an Israeli air strike. The schools are famous for their international learning environment, intensive English language focus, and liberal learning atmosphere. The schools are private and have a number of notable Palestinian alumni. The city also has a number of public and private schools that serve a good number of the West Bank youth population. Private schools with specific religious affiliations can also be found. In the twin city of El-Bireh, there is also a school for the blind that also serves as a vocational center. Birzeit University, which is in the neighboring town of Birzeit, is one of the Palestinian Authority's leading educational institutions. The University offers a large number of study options and at different levels for students. It also has several links with international institutions, and often has a number of international students attending it. The PAS (Palestinian and Arab Studies) program is popular with internationals visiting or working in the West Bank who want to learn Arabic and take classes on the history and politics of the Palestinian Authority. The city also has branches for Al-Quds Open University, which offers continuing education opportunities to many Palestinians. There are a number of vocational training centers in the city, neighboring towns, and refugee camps.

Work Ramallah is a vibrant Palestinian busines

Buy

There's not a huge amount to do in Ramallah if you are just visiting. A great way to spend your time could be to dip in and out of shops. Shop-keepers are among the most ready-to-talk and many have colourful lives. It gives you a good reason to walk around and take your time. You will never find everything under one roof, but for a basket of common necessities, you will need to visit a baker, grocer, butcher, pharmacy and mini-market. Ramallah city centre, despite the development and growth of some new stores retains a small-town feel due to the protections for tenants that mean many shops have been in the same location for decades (rent agreed at the outset cannot be increased, so in many cases is only a few USD per year).

1 Hisbeh produce market (Souq) (near the main bus station and the central mosque, about 150 m away from al-Manara Square (the centre of Ramallah)). A great place to visit. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at reasonable prices. Produce is a mixture of Palestinian, Israeli and imported goods. Prices are basically fixed although bargaining is possible if you buy more than a few kilos.. 2 Noora Heritage House, Al masion area. Traditional Palestinian handcraft can be found here. Butchers in Ramallah normally sell meat (Beef/Lamb) or chicken. If they sell both, they are separated and attended by different people. One of the best butchers is on Tireh Street about 1 km from Al-Manara. The butcher will cut the meat to your specification and will mince it for you while you wait for no extra charge. If you ask for barbeque meat, you will also get a mix of coriandar, garlic and spices ready for BBQ.

Eat

Eating should be no problem in Ramallah, regardless of the budget of visitors. The bakery on Al-Quds street where the buses emerge from the bus station is one of the best in town. The staple is 'kmaaj' or pitta bread. A bakery in the Old City (Ramallah Tahta) produces brown kmaaj and sliced bread. Also the Arabic variety of ice cream in many places in Ramallah is worth trying - a very different and more gooey and sticky version of what is available in the west. Regular ice cream can be found everywhere also. Try Rukab's and Baladna ice cream shops on the main street. There are a huge number of falafel and shawarma places on all of the main streets. A filling falafel or hummous pita sandwich with a drink should run you around ₪4-6 from any of the common downtown restaurants. At nicer restaurants, such a combination will run you a bit more. A large shawerma, kebab, or chicken sandwich goes for around ₪10-15 in most restaurants. A hamburger, fries, and a drink go for around ₪15-25 depending on the restaurant. Abu Alabed is an excellent shawerma place located in the old city next to fish and chips restaurant. Big Bite located at the end of the main street offers a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches.

Nazareth Restaurant, Tireh Street (at the end of the main street). Popular for locals and serves really great (but hummousey) falafel. Saba, Tireh Street (on the main street across the road from Rukab ice cream shop). Falafel. Abu Khalil, Tireh Street. Another delicious Falafel. Fish and Chips restaurant (in the old city). You can have a delicious dish of fresh fish or other seafood dishes. You can choose your favourite fresh fish from Palestine Fishery and ask the chef to prepare that fish for you in the way you like. They also prepare very delicious fish sandwiches at reasonable prices. Angelinos (on the left at the end of the main street). Another place to eat. Their menu includes sandwich with turkey, stuffed pigeon and pizzas. Price/quality is very satisfactory. "Tomasso's" pizza. For a nice pizza dine-in or take-out. Checkers. For those who want more American/Western food, this place is a fast-food joint in the mini-mall and on the main street. 1 Cheese Steak (Al Batouni Building across Bank of Palestine), ☏ +972 22967616. American/Western 2 Chicago Cheese Steak (a little south-east from Manara Square). American/Western The city has a number of upscale restaurants. A nice steak or seafood dish will cost around ₪80. "Darna", "Angelo's", "Azure" are all nice options for upscale dining.

Ziryab, Main Street (just past the Jawwal office). 1

Drink & nightlife

Although predominately Muslim, Ramallah is still a Christian town, hence Ramallah's large restaurants usually serve alcohol. Expect a selection of imported beers (Heineken, Corona, etc.), spirits, and perhaps red or white wine. Do not display public intoxication, as at best, it is rude and inconsiderate to your Muslim hosts. At worst, it could be dangerous. The city's active nightlife and its relatively liberal culture makes it a hot destination for visitors from other cities including Jerusalem during the weeknights and weekends. During the night, a good number of shops are still open, especially during the summer. A common habit of the citizens of the city is going out for a drink, dinner, or an argila (flavoured tobacco waterpipe). The city's various coffee shops, bars, and restaurants are a must see/visit. The nicer ones are often available closer the older city and on the road going to Betunia, while some good ones can also be found outside the city center.

Fruit juice Palestinians love fresh fruit-juice. For under ₪10 you can get a large juice with a mixture of anything from Pomegranate to Orange juice.

1 Silwadi (on Al-Manara square). This juice shop is the most famous and has been around for decades. Silwadi's something of a purist, serving only pure juice. 2 Alsham Cafe (?) (on Al-Manara square just below Stars & Bucks.). This one also serves a cocktail which includes ice cream, nuts and dried fruit as well as chocolate sauce. ₪7-15.

Coffee shops Ramallah offers a wide variety of coffee shops ranging from the local low-scale ones serving Arabic Coffee for ₪2, to those fancy places serving the same item for ₪10-15. Try the Arabic drinks (Arabic coffee, mint tea, sahleb, etc.), cappuccinos and lattes, and fresh juices and cocktails at the numerous cafes around downtown and in the suburbs. 'Coffee shops' are places to drink coffee and smoke waterpipes. The term Argila is often used in Ramallah to describe the waterpipes, while shishah is also used at some places. You might even see a 'hookah' or 'Hubbly Bubbly'. You can also smoke arghila in almost any restaurant, although some have special areas for them. You can order normal ('aadi') or fresh ('fresh'). Fresh means the tobacco is placed in a piece of fruit like an orange (or even a watermelon). It has a smoother flavour but is more expensive. You should also choose your flavour. Common flavours are double-apple ('tufateen') and lemon and mint ('limun-w-nana'). Depending on the location and type of restaurant of cafe, the price of smoking a nice and soothing tobacco waterpipe costs anywhe

Sleep

Budget 1 Hostel in Ramallah, Arafat square al-Nuzha Atreet (Almaktaba) 12 (from Ramallah bus station walk 5 min to Arafat square (ask at Silwadi Juice at al-Nanara Aquare)), ☏ +972 569001020, toll-free: +972 22963555, [email protected]. Check-in: any time, check-out: 12:00. The first youth hostel in Ramallah. They make available breakfast, city tours, political tours and an introduction to Palestine, and they have a roof terrace and bar with local beers, Palestinian cooking and a great city view. Close to night life in a safe zone in the city at night. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and many other activities can be organised. If you stay here you can collect a stamp for the AubergInn in Jericho for a discounted dorm bed of ₪60 there. Also, the Nablus Youth Hostel offers a discount of ₪10 (from ₪70 to ₪60) if you say you got recommended by Hostel in Ramallah. Dorm bed ₪50. 2 Area D Hostel, Top Floor, Maliki Building, between Jerusalem bus station (#18) and main mosque al-bireh (At the bus station arriving from Jerusalem, take street towards big mosque and enter the second building on your right. Take the elevator to the top floor. You will see our sign on the building from the bus station. At night, enter via the parking garage using the doorbell there.), ☏ +972 569349072. Check-in: 24/7, check-out: 24/7. Area D focuses on the political situation, with lots of information and tours. A place to relax for a few days, get to know the city and its people, and learn more about this fascinating part of the world. Dorm bed ₪70, Private room ₪200, Apartment US$400 per month. 3 Al Wehdeh Hotel, Al Nahdah Street, ☏ +972 22980432. Great Hotel, but a little run down but the cheapest in town.. single ₪150. Al-Hajjal (on Jaffa Road), ☏ +972 22987858.

Mid-range City Inn Palace. Best Eastern. Rocky Hotel.

Splurge 4 Grand Park Hotel, ☏ +970 22946800. The most common destination in the city for businessmen and government officials. Room prices vary according to season, but often exceed the US$80 per night.. 5 Royal Court Suites Hotel, 24 Jaffa Street, ☏ +972 22964040. An all-suites hotel where every room has a kitchenette and A/C. Daily and monthly rates in a tourist area close to restaurants and bars. Prices US$50-140, depending on type of suite. 6 Millennium Palestine Ramallah (Formerly the Mövenpick Ramallah), 10 Emile Habibi Street, ☏ +970 22985888. It is the only five-star hotel in Ramallah. Room prices start from US$180, depending on the season and type of suite. (updated Nov 2017)

Go next

As mentioned above, there are at least four bus stations in Ramallah. Simply ask around or at your accommodation which one is the relevant one for your next destination.

Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to this region. Nablus – One of the oldest cities in the world and famous for its kunafa/kenafeh. Bethlehem – The biblical birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David, surrounded by Mar Saba Monastery and Herodium (Herodion) Park. Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East, and a great starting point for Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea.