Museum#10

Tower of David Museum

מגדל דוד

The Tower of David is a medieval citadel located near Jaffa Gate, the historic main entrance to the Old City. Despite its name, the fortress has no connection to King David — it was originally built by King Herod in the 1st century BCE to protect his palace, then rebuilt by Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottomans over the following centuries. Today it houses a museum of Jerusalem's history and serves as a venue for the spectacular night show 'King David,' which projects animations and light art onto the ancient stone walls. The citadel's rooftop offers one of the best 360-degree views of both the Old City and the new city.

Wikimedia Commons

אורי אלוני (CC BY-SA 4.0)

View full Israel map

Don't Miss

Climb to the rooftop for 360-degree panoramic views of Jerusalem
Attend the immersive night show projected onto the citadel walls
Explore 2,000 years of Jerusalem's history through the museum exhibits
Walk through Herodian, Crusader, and Ottoman architectural layers
See the archaeological garden with excavated remains from multiple periods

The Night Show

The Tower of David's night show (currently 'King David') is one of Jerusalem's most popular evening attractions. Using massive projections mapped precisely onto the ancient stone walls and towers of the citadel, the show tells the story of Jerusalem through stunning visual effects, music, and narration. Sitting in the archaeological courtyard surrounded by 2,000-year-old walls while animated scenes play across the stone creates a uniquely atmospheric experience. Shows run several times a week (typically not Fridays); advance booking is strongly recommended as performances frequently sell out.

Layers of History

The citadel itself is a history lesson in stone. The base of the northeast tower contains the only surviving section of Herod's original fortress from the 1st century BCE. Crusaders added the current walls and the distinctive minaret (which is actually a later Ottoman addition to what was originally a Crusader bell tower). Mamluks built the entrance complex, and the Ottomans added the minaret and renovated the fortifications. Walking through the citadel, you pass through doorways from different centuries, stand on floors laid by different civilizations, and look out through arrow slits cut by Crusader masons 800 years ago.