What to Do During Your Free Time in Palestine: Palestine is a land rich in historical significance and natural beauty. When you are not busy studying or participating in your designated volunteer program, you will have plenty of free time on your hands. In the evenings and on Fridays, which everyone has off in Palestine, you will be able to explore the area on your own. There are many sights to see and things to do during your free time. We want to share a few of those things to help provide ideas about what to do during your time off in Palestine.
Starting with Hebron, the Excellence Center is located a walkable distance away from the city center as well as the Old City. Daily, you will find the city streets bustling with people as they hop in and out of stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. With so many people walking from here to there, some may stop you and ask where you are from and what you are doing in Hebron. Not a lot of foreigners come to Hebron, so Palestinians may be curious about you and what you are doing here.
In your free time, simply walking the streets, making conversation with the locals, and enjoy the surroundings can be one way to spend your time. Travelers can stop into a coffee shop, go to the gym, or head to the mall or market to shop. Abraham’s Oak and the old city, including the Tomb of the Patriarchs, are a couple popular sights to see while in Hebron. These are great places to explore and simply wandering around. Discovering hole-in-the-wall wonders and meeting new people can provide great opportunities for you to practice your Arabic with locals as well.
Outside of Hebron, there are even more beautiful and historical places to travel within Palestine include Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, and Nablus. Bethlehem is a short bus ride away and spending an afternoon or full day in Bethlehem can easily be done. There, travelers can see the Church of the Nativity, St. Catherine’s Church, Manger Square, Aida refugee camp, the separation wall, and so much more. If you have been eager to visit Jerusalem during your time in Palestine, you can find buses in Hebron that will take you right to the city.
There is no place in the world like Jerusalem. No place has the same significance and holiness to all three major world religions – Islam, Judaism, and Christianity – as Jerusalem. Should you decide to spend some free time in Jerusalem, you can meander through the Old City, visit the Western Wall, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, and visit the Temple Mount which holds the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
During your free time in Palestine, you may also wish to hike to Jericho through Wadi Qelt, visit the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Ramallah, or take a trip to Nablus. As you can see, there are limitless possibilities when it comes to spending your free time in Palestine. Stay and explore Hebron or hop on a bus and journey to various parts of the West Bank. The choice is yours!
