17 Best Hotels in Jerusalem, Israel

One of East Jerusalem's longtime favorites, the Ambassador has been tastefully renovated with loads of Jerusalem stone. Rooms are airy and well appointed; for extra space, upgrade to a junior guest room with an Old City view. In fine weather, the Al-Diwan restaurant—Middle Eastern and Italian fare, mostly—expands to the patio where there is a summer bar in the inviting garden. It's a 15-minute walk from Salah-A-Din Street in downtown East Jerusalem.

Inside the Jaffa Gate, this guesthouse is part of the oldest Protestant church in the Middle East. Pinkish limestone floors and simple furnishings define the guest rooms, many of which have balconies. There's also a shaded courtyard and wholesome cafeteria.

On a quiet street, this small inn was built by the original settlers of the German Colony, and the creaking wooden floors attest to its European roots. The simple but pleasing rooms are great for couples, but if you're traveling with kids try to reserve the more spacious Gottlieb Suite. A kosher breakfast is included in the rates.

The address in the heart of a prestigious hotel district—just a five-minute walk from Downtown or from Jaffa Gate—is a major draw here. Rooms are sunny and decorated in cheerful colors. Those over the main entrance are smaller but quieter. Rooms facing King David Street (some with views of the Old City) are more spacious, but expect traffic noise when the double-glazed windows are open. The rental-car company that owns the property often offers good deals to hotel guests.

This huge hotel offers a large, airy lobby with limestone walls and marble arches, and comfortable guest rooms with soft decor and bright bathrooms, although staff can be unresponsive. The suites are impressively large. Complimentary parking is a nice perk.

This popular hotel makes a practical—if somewhat remote—base for families, since rooms are reasonably priced and there's plenty of space for kids to run around. Standard rooms have a double bed and two fold-out single beds. Shower walls feature large photographs of old Jerusalem. Animal lovers will enjoy being close to Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo. The lobby has a beautiful coffee shop on a terrace overlooking the Jerusalem hills.

Steps from the Old City, this hotel's prime location makes it a great option if you want to be close to the action. The rooms are smallish and lack frills, but thoughtful updates and splashes of color give them a light, airy feel. Ask for an east-facing room above the sixth floor to guarantee an Old City view. The dining room and bar have a modern feel.

A huge circular skylight in the middle of the lobby gives this hotel a sense of light and space. Rooms have parquet floors, sophisticated color schemes, and beds covered with crisp linens. "Superior" is the house term for standard rooms; the better "deluxe" rooms are on the 8th floor and have private balconies. This place is favored by local families and large tour groups.

This handsome Ottoman-style mansion with dramatic arched windows sits on the edge of a residential neighborhood dotted with many shops and restaurants. Some rooms at this budget-conscious lodging are a little cramped, but all have nice touches like hardwood floors and refrigerators. Family rooms have space for up to five people to sleep comfortably. A room with vaulted ceilings serves as an inviting bar and coffee shop, and in warm weather the action spills out onto a shaded courtyard.

The small hotel makes no pretensions about being a full-service facility, but it is comfortably furnished, a good value, and within walking distance of the Old City. There is some street noise, but double-glazed windows help. Some of the rooms are more spacious than others, especially those for families. In warm months, enjoy plenty of outdoor seating for breakfast.

Tucked into an alleyway behind the souk in the Armenian Quarter, this guesthouse is a maze of stone buildings and tranquil gardens. It has beautiful views of Jerusalem's holiest places. The single rooms are very small, so reserve a larger one if space is important. Room 25 and 36 have their own balcony.

The side-street location in the center of town—on a pedestrian-only block with shops and restaurants just outside the front door—adds to the serenity of this reasonably priced hotel. The lobby is an aesthetic blend of rough limestone walls, parquet and flagstone floors, and faux-leather sofas. The modestly sized rooms have flat-screen TVs, large mirrors, and simple wood furnishings. Rooms facing the street are larger, and the windows are double-paned to keep out the noise. The rooftop terrace is great on warm nights.

Five minutes from the Old City, this historic hotel puts you in close proximity to Jerusalem's great sights. Back in the 1950s, this was the favorite Jerusalem hangout for Jordan's King Hussein. Rooms are small but decorated with wood furnishings, and family rooms sleep up to four. The well-equipped gym, ground-floor coffee shop, and the al-Watani rooftop restaurant are nice bonuses.

Tiny iron balconies overlooking Jaffa Gate make this century-old hotel a solid choice for a historic—if humble—night near the Old City walls. The guest rooms are fairly basic, but the large family rooms with sleeping lofts are excellent value.

This West Jerusalem hotel right on the light-rail line has a good reputation thanks to its pretty stone courtyard, reasonable prices, and tastefully decorated rooms. You have free access to nearby Hebrew University's sports center, which has tennis and squash courts and a year-round pool.

In the heart of leafy Baka, this apartment hotel offers mostly two-room suites with well-equipped kitchenettes and extra space for the kids. Ground-floor rooms have nice terraces that are perfect for summer evenings. Three penthouses have huge terraces, full kitchens, and large living areas. This place is a great solution for families on a budget or for anyone who wants the option of cooking the occasional meal. There's no in-house restaurant, but the excellent Grand Cafe is downstairs, where guests can have breakfast for an additional fee.

Built in 1933, this limestone building with its famous domed bell tower has long been a Jerusalem landmark, and its basic guest rooms have fabulous Old City views. Stone arches, exotic murals, and Armenian tile give the place charm and character. Guest rooms are comfortably spacious, if a bit dated, and include prints by landscape artist Anna Ticho. The gym, pool, location, and live Arabic music performances on weekends make the Y an attractive deal.