In The Footsteps of Jesus Day Tour – Dguide Self Guiding App

Jerusalem tells its story on foot. This self-guided route links the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, and the Garden Tomb in about four hours. I like the freedom to pause, pray, take photos, or wander off the suggested path, and I like the low $7 price, which makes this an easy add-on for an independent visit.

The main drawback is that the app cannot replace a live guide when you want exact historical detail or help finding the precise locations tied to Gospel events. One visitor found the experience too light on information and wanted clearer explanations of where and when each event occurred. You should also plan for hills, stairs, and uneven walking.

Key points at a glance

• Follow the Palm Sunday Road downhill: The route begins at Seven Arches on the Mount of Olives and continues toward the Kidron Valley.
• Use your phone as the guide: The free DGuide app provides access through a coupon code sent after booking.
• Visit several important Christian sites: Stops include Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, Bethesda, and the Garden Tomb.
• Allow extra money for two stops: The Pools of Bethesda costs 5 shekels, and the Austrian Hospice rooftop also uses a 5 shekel turnstile.
• Finish at the Garden Tomb: This Protestant site is one possible location for Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
• Check the day carefully: The Garden Tomb is closed on Sunday and Monday, so you may need to return on Tuesday through Saturday.

Why this $7 Jerusalem walk can be good value

At $7 per person, this is priced more like a digital walking guide than a traditional sightseeing tour. That is exactly the point. You are not paying for a bus, a private escort, or a live lecture. You are paying for a structured route and recorded information that helps you connect the major stops.

I see real value here if you already enjoy exploring independently. The route saves you from planning every turn and gives your visit a clear shape. Instead of seeing the Mount of Olives, the Old City, and the Garden Tomb as separate places, you can follow one continuous story from Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to the final stop at an empty tomb.

Uri Goldflam created the tour after 30 years of work as a guide and educator. That background gives the route a useful foundation, even though the app format means you must manage the visit yourself. You control the pace, the amount of listening, and the time spent at each place.

The low price also makes it a practical choice for two people. The experience has a maximum of two participants, according to the supplied details, so it is not designed as a large group walk. Still, the app is the guide, not a person meeting you at each location. Read that distinction carefully before booking.

Starting above Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives

The tour begins at Seven Arches on the Mount of Olives. This is a strong starting point because you can see Jerusalem spread out below you before you begin walking. The city view gives the opening explanation some meaning, rather than leaving you to picture the setting from a street-level alley.

You get about 15 minutes here. That is enough time to get your bearings and look across toward the Old City. The observation deck can also have peddlers, and a camel may be present for rides or photographs. Treat those offers with care, especially if you are trying to keep the visit focused and avoid an unexpected charge.

From here, the route follows the Palm Sunday Road downhill. The direction matters. You are not simply ticking off religious sites in random order. You are tracing a route connected with Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, then moving toward the places associated with his final days.

The downhill walk sounds easy, but the surface and slope still call for sensible shoes. You should be comfortable walking for several hours and using stairs. The tour is near public transportation, but the supplied details do not describe a shuttle between stops, so plan to walk the full route.

Dominus Flevit and the view over the Old City

Dominus Flevit is a small church shaped like a teardrop. Its form refers to Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and foreseeing the city’s destruction. The setting helps explain why the stop is included: the church sits along the Palm Sunday Road with a view toward the Old City.

You have about 20 minutes here. I would use part of that time at the adjacent viewing deck, then step inside the church. A special window looks toward Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The combination of interior design and city view gives this stop more weight than its small size suggests.

The app format can work well at a place like this. You can listen to the explanation, then stop and look instead of trying to keep up with a group. If you prefer quiet reflection, you can set the phone aside for a few minutes.

The limitation is that an app cannot answer a follow-up question about the church, its traditions, or competing interpretations. The experience gives you a framework, but you must supply your own curiosity and patience.

Gethsemane and the ancient olive trees

The Palm Sunday Road continues down toward the Kidron Valley. A sharp turn takes you away from the noisy road and into the quieter Garden of Gethsemane. That change in atmosphere is one of the route’s strongest moments.

The garden contains olive trees described as hundreds, or even thousands, of years old. The Church of All Nations, also called the Church of the Agony, occupies the traditional site of the Garden of Gethsemane. This is where the Gospel accounts place Jesus praying on the night of his arrest.

You get about 30 minutes here, which is a sensible amount of time. The stop is not just about taking a photograph of old trees. It is also a natural place for prayer and reflection. I like that the route allows time for silence rather than rushing you directly to the next address.

Keep in mind that the age of the trees and the exact location of the Gospel garden involve tradition and interpretation. The tour presents Gethsemane as a traditional site, not as a laboratory-proven point on a modern map. That distinction is important at nearly every religious site in Jerusalem.

The Tomb of the Virgin Mary in the Kidron Valley

The next stop is the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, located below street level in the Kidron Valley. A wide staircase leads down to a crypt, with Crusader-era construction visible inside. The site is linked to the remains of a much larger basilica that once stood here.

You have only about 10 minutes, so this is a brief visit rather than a long study stop. On the right side of the staircase is the tomb of Queen Melisende of Jerusalem, daughter of King Baldwin II. That detail gives the site a second layer of interest beyond its connection with Mary.

Stairs are central here. If you have trouble with steps, this stop may feel more demanding than its short timetable suggests. The route description calls for moderate physical fitness, and that is a fair warning for the whole walk.

Bethesda and the echoing Church of St. Anne

The Pools of Bethesda provide the setting for the Gospel of John’s account of Jesus healing a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years. The ruins help you picture the ancient water complex, even if the site requires more imagination than a well-preserved building.

Plan on about 40 minutes. The adjacent Church of St. Anne is a major reason to spend time here. It is described as a neoclassical church with remarkable acoustics, and the echo is especially suited to singing.

Admission is not included. The entrance fee is 5 shekels per person. That is a small extra cost, but carry local currency or be prepared to pay as required at the site. The tour price is low enough that these modest add-ons do not change the overall value much, though you should know about them before setting out.

This is also a point where the app’s flexibility helps. You can spend more time in the church if the acoustics interest you, or move on if your main focus is the Gospel route.

Walking the Via Dolorosa to the Austrian Hospice

From Bethesda, the route joins the Via Dolorosa, also called the Way of the Suffering or the Passion of Christ. Bronze plates mark the stations along the way. The walk leads through market streets, where the setting can feel crowded and noisy.

The Austrian Hospice offers a sharp contrast. Large wooden doors open onto a small piece of European-style hospitality, including a rooftop view over Jerusalem. The suggested stop lasts about 45 minutes, making it the longest break before the Garden Tomb.

There is a 5 shekel charge for the rooftop turnstile. You can also stop for coffee and the hospice’s well-known apple strudel. Those purchases are not included, but they give you a practical rest point midway through a demanding walk.

I consider this one of the tour’s most useful stops because it combines rest, a view, and a little local character. You are not asked to admire another church and immediately keep moving. You can sit down, refresh yourself, and look at the city from above.

The market route also brings a practical warning. Keep your phone secure, watch your footing, and do not expect the same quiet mood found in Gethsemane. The contrast is part of modern Jerusalem, but it may interrupt a reflective mood.

Damascus Gate and the road to the final stop

After the Austrian Hospice, you follow the market alley slightly uphill and leave the Old City through Damascus Gate. The present gate dates from Ottoman construction around 1536, while remains of Roman-period gates can be seen below it.

This stop lasts about 20 minutes. It gives the walk a welcome historical turn, since you are no longer focused only on Gospel locations. Jerusalem’s layers appear one above another, and the gate helps show how the city changed long after the New Testament period.

From Damascus Gate, the road leads toward the Garden Tomb. The route description connects this road with the traditional Road to Damascus. The walk to the final stop changes the mood again, moving away from the tight market lanes and toward the open grounds of the tomb.

Ending at the Garden Tomb

The Garden Tomb is the emotional endpoint of the tour. It is one possible site for Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, and it was identified in the late 19th century. The Protestant Garden Tomb Association, a charitable trust based in the United Kingdom, owns and manages the grounds.

Allow about an hour. The garden includes chapels and quiet corners for communion, prayer, and reflection. You can view the skull caves on the hill associated with Golgotha and enter the empty tomb.

Entrance is free, which keeps the total cost low. A group visit requires a reservation, with the supplied phone number listed as 02-539-8100. The tour itself is capped at two participants, but that does not necessarily remove the need to check arrangements if you are planning a larger religious group visit.

The Garden Tomb is not presented as the only possible location connected with Jesus’ final days. It is one of the proposed sites. That makes the stop valuable for its setting and devotional use, but you should not approach it as an undisputed archaeological conclusion.

Pay close attention to the closure note: the Garden Tomb is closed on Sunday and Monday. You can still follow the rest of the route on those days and return later from Tuesday through Saturday, but this requires planning. The supplied schedule also lists Monday through Thursday opening hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so I would confirm the current access details before setting out.

What the app format does well, and where it falls short

The DGuide app is free. After purchase, you receive a coupon code in the Before You Go section of the confirmation email. You need that code to access the In the Footsteps of Jesus route.

The best feature is control. You can follow the suggested path, leave it for a while, and return to the tour later. You can listen to as much or as little information as you like. That suits people who dislike being hurried through sacred places.

The weak point is depth. One assessment described the experience as acceptable but wanted more information, more detail, and clearer explanations of the exact locations, dates, and events. That is useful advice. If you want a detailed lecture on archaeology, theology, and historical debate, you may find the app too brief.

I would use the tour as a structured companion, not as your only source of understanding. Read the app material carefully, pause at each site, and allow time to observe what is around you. The experience is strongest when you treat the phone as a tool rather than the main attraction.

Timing, costs, and practical planning

The advertised duration is about four hours, and the listed stop times add up to roughly four hours. That estimate does not leave much room for delays, extended prayer, food, shopping, or time spent waiting at a site.

You should budget for:

• $7 per person for the self-guided tour
• 5 shekels per person at the Pools of Bethesda
• 5 shekels for the Austrian Hospice rooftop
• Coffee and apple strudel at the Austrian Hospice, if desired
• Any parking fees, which are not included

The route starts at Seven Arches and ends at the Garden Tomb on Conrad Schick Street. From the Garden Tomb, you can walk back toward the Old City or go uphill toward hotels and restaurants in the New City.

Wear comfortable shoes and expect stairs. Moderate fitness is required. Since the experience uses a mobile ticket and app, bring a charged phone and make sure you can find the coupon code before leaving. The available information does not promise a live guide, transport, or included admissions.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this Jerusalem walking tour?

I would recommend it to independent visitors who want a clear Christian route without paying for a private guide. It suits couples, solo visitors, and anyone who prefers to stop for prayer or photography without holding up a group.

It also works well for repeat visitors who already know Jerusalem’s basic layout and want a focused route through sites tied to Jesus’ final days. The $7 price makes it easy to add to a larger sightseeing plan.

I would hesitate if you need extensive historical detail, precise archaeological arguments, or personal help navigating every turn. Families with young children, anyone uncomfortable with hills and stairs, and people visiting on Sunday or Monday should plan carefully.

Should you book In the Footsteps of Jesus?

Book it if you want a flexible, low-cost walking route with strong locations and a quiet finish at the Garden Tomb. The Mount of Olives view, Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, and the Garden Tomb give the experience real purpose, while the app lets you set the pace.

Skip it if you expect a live expert guide or a full academic explanation at every stop. For the best experience, schedule it Tuesday through Saturday, allow more than four hours if you like to linger, carry a little cash for admissions, and treat the app as a helpful guide rather than a substitute for careful preparation.

FAQ

How long does the In the Footsteps of Jesus tour take?

The tour lasts approximately four hours. The listed stop times add up to about four hours, but extra time for meals, shopping, prayer, or delays is not included.

Where does the tour begin?

The route begins at Seven Arches on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at the Garden Tomb on Conrad Schick Street in Jerusalem. From there, you can walk toward the Old City or uphill toward New City hotels and restaurants.

Is the DGuide app included?

The DGuide app is free. After booking, you receive a coupon code in the Before You Go section of the confirmation email to access the tour.

Is the Garden Tomb open every day?

No. The Garden Tomb is closed on Sunday and Monday. You can take the rest of the route on those days and return to the Garden Tomb from Tuesday through Saturday.

Are entrance fees included?

Most listed stops have free admission. The Pools of Bethesda costs 5 shekels per person, and the Austrian Hospice rooftop has a 5 shekel turnstile charge. These fees are not included.

Is this tour physically demanding?

You should have moderate physical fitness. The route requires several hours of walking and the use of stairs. Parking fees are also not included.