It was beautiful and felt special to visit the Church of the Nativity, currently owned by three church authorities: the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Apostolic, and the Roman Catholic. Interesting to know is that this Church was built over the cave that is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ and is the oldest continuously used site as a place of worship in Christianity. This made the visit really special to me even though Christianity is not my faith.

Beautiful, moving, and a wonderful experience. It was quiet and serene. There was a prayer service happening at the time that we were able to be witness to. So much history, beauty, and magnificence all in one place. Masks are worn at all times. Of course it's a must-visit.

Worth a visit. If you are coming from Jerusalem it’s a little complicated because Bethlehem is under Palestinian control. Sadly, Israeli citizens are not allowed to visit without special arrangements. This means your Israeli guide will have to hand you off to a Palestinian guide and wait to take you back. I’m my case both guides were old friends and everything went smoothly. I didn’t have to wait at all to see the birthplace but I was told that was a lucky circumstance.

A unique experience, a tranquil and good place to visit. We went to the Christmas service at the Catholic Church before seeing the place of Jesus' birth. We waited awhile, only to be rushed out after 2 seconds looking at it. I could not even get a photo before I was grabbed and physically moved - which was disappointing. I loved the architecture and history of the building most of all.

Interesting experience, but I don’t really recommend going. Yes, they claim that it’s the birthplace of Jesus, but scripture points to the shepherds fields outside of the walls. There was a short wait to go into the basement area to see the star on the floor. You could feel the tension in the air as you enter into this Palestinian area. Watched sales people steal money from tourists.

Very beautiful church. It is worth to go also to the side ways, to the little garden on the left especially. From there, there is also a more convenient entrance, as the one used as main entrance now is very very small.

One of the only old church with history remaining as it is even though there are modifications done Very unique experience. Always better to go with a Tour guide to get detailed explanations about the history Along with this visit , it’s easy to roam around the old city and streets of Bethlehem

It is pretty much what you come to see. The police told me I could not go in because my knees were showing, I asked them who decided that, they said the priest would make a problem, I asked for them or me, they said me and I asked if the priest speaks English, he does not and I was allowed in.

The experience at the holy site was good, we went on Christmas Eve (24th Dec 2022) it was moderately crowded. Some service (for which you need tickets, which can be found online) was going on therefore they only allowed everyone else to enter after 12:00AM. The only issue we faced was the management, the long queue to see the Holy spot was chaotic which can very easily be managed but there was no proper management and it looked like a stampede can happen any moment. Other than that, it was really good to visit this place especially on Christmas Eve.

Busy and lots of venders surround the church offering all type of goods, Felt a tad aggressive as you walked into the church. The wait to see the birth place of Jesus; 3+ hours. Grounds are well kept, Roses in the garden are so fragrant.

Fantastic experience. Full of history, of course. If you choose your guide carefully you'd learn a lot about the original architecture as well as changes over centuries. Stories are more or less justified yet all of them are fascinating. Guides almost always speak very good English. Just one tip: don't get into discussions about Palestinian problems.

The Church of Nativity is more than a showpiece of ancient history; it is an active church near the heart of Bethlehem - the funeral of an 87 year old lady in the community was conducted while we were there, the church bells chiming, mourners gathering,. prayers offered, incense burned. It is the oldest church with continuous worship in all of Israel with artifacts dating back to the fourth century CE. Some of the rich artistic details can still be seen, although much was plundered over the centuries. The Church of Nativity is built over the place of birth of Jesus.

If you go to Israel, it is worth every wait, effort and risk to reach this holy place. We went with a rented car and waited about 10 minutes to enter the Palestinian area. After we passed the control point, we were approached by Palestinian taxi drivers who told us that we are not allowed to pass with cars rented from Israel, in Bethlehem. I nodded and moved on. We found a free parking space on a one-way street (Bethlehem-Beit Sahour). We was lucky and it wasn't crowded at all. When we went down to the place of the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ, incredible but it was just us. It was on a Monday, at 1 PM. In the surrounding streets you can find the same souvenirs as in Jerusalem, but at a much lower and negotiable price. Products skillfully made by Muslims for Christians. When crossing back into the Israeli area, we waited in line for more than half an hour because the Palestinians were controlled more severely, they only asked us if we were feeling well.

I started from Tel Aviv. In late 2019, they built an inter-city high speed train service between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. And once in Jerusalem, I boarded a tour bus with a Palestinian plate and operated by a Palestinian tour company to be transported to Bethlehem. have seen many versions of St George and the Dragon and at this point I just feel bad for the Dragon.

Church of Nativity, a grand sight to see, In Bethlehem, it stands magnificently, Built on the very spot where Christ was born,A place of worship so sacred and revered, A UNESCO World Heritage site, it's so clear, The church's original structure dates back to 327 AD, But was damaged and renovated over several centuries. The church is architecturally splendid, This ancient church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, With a history that's more than a thousand years old, so bright, Its walls hold the remnants of centuries past, A symbol of Christianity, unsurpassed. As you enter, the overwhelming feeling, Of reverence and awe, leaves you reeling, The interior is majestic, with gilded mosaics, And frescoes that tell stories of miracles and epics. In the Grotto of the Nativity, you'll find, A silver star, marking the holy site refined, The place where Jesus was born, so divine, Peace and serenity, all around entwine. The church has undergone many renovations and restorations, Yet, its authenticity remains, with no destruction's allegations, The crusaders, the Ottomans, all have left their mark, But the church still stands, a living ark. A visit to the Church of Nativity, Is a journey to the heart of Christianity, A spiritual experience, that resonates, A reminder of the miracle, that opens heaven's gates. ..... Steven Musoke

A very beautiful church and a must visit for Christians and non-Christians alike. The interior was being fixed when I visited in 2017 but one could discern the beautiful artwork. The basement is where Christinas can view the site where Christ was born. Many faithful people congregate there to touch a piece of Christinaity. Be patient as there is a long line go to the basement. Also be mindful of the people praying.

I give 3 stars only because of the the sanctity and history of the place. Such a shrine should be better served with (signs, display boards, explanations about the items inside, guides, ... , other facilities such as toilets which are there but closed).

A wonderful and very exciting place for all Christians. Here, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was born and the silver star marks the exact spot. This historical masterpiece was restored in its current form in 565 by Emperor Justinian I. Located on 12,000 sq.m. today the church is managed jointly by the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Churches. In addition to wonderful iconostasis, frescoes on the columns and mosaics on the walls, here is one of the most famous and miraculous icons - "Holy Virgin of Bethlehem" or "Smiling Virgin". It is believed that the icon protects the home from troubles, diseases, helps during journeys and for conceiving healthy offspring. It is free to visit, but be prepared for a long wait as there is always a long line of worshippers.

The Church of the Nativity is one of the oldest working churches in existence today. The first Church was built by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD, over the grotto where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Constantine and his mother, Helena, built a magnificent and majestic church adorned with beautiful marble and mosaics. Later, during the 6th century, the Byzantine emperor Justinian built a new and even more intricate church on the same spot. During the Persian invasion in the 7th century, the church was spared destruction. By the 11th century, the Crusaders raised their flag above the Basilica of the Nativity and renovated it. The main entrance to the Church of the Nativity was gradually made lower and narrower in order to protect it from invaders. Two sets of stairs lead down to the Grotto of the Nativity where a fourteen point silver star marks the exact spot of Jesus’ birth. An inscription on the star states: Hic de Virgin Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est – meaning “Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.”

Beautiful place! It was an amazing experience to be at the place where Jesus was born. My mind translated in time to those days. A very highly recommended experience.

Wow simply unbelievable! Inside this church you can see the place where Jesus was born. There is a place underground as you can see in one of the videos that goes to the place where Jesus was born marked by a star on the ground. The church itself is also pretty big with other things to see

It is busy there - might take a while at the Palestine crossing. get a good guide of your religion choice. The truth always prevails. Israel is fantastic but expensive. They eat gold!

It was definitely worth the visit, but by the time you get to the spot where Mary laid her head and Jesus was born, the crowds kept funneling in and it made the experience a bit more assembly line than I would have liked.

It's always an amazing time when you visit Bethlehem. The history of this place is incredible. It's unbelievable to think these buildings and churches have been here for over a thousand years. It's very cool to picture how the people lived here back in the day.

Church where it's believed that Jesus was born. Was a bit chaotic inside to see the exact spot. Regardless the history in interesting.

We went when it was less crowded, but there were lots of people there. Thanks t is a very special site commemorating the birth of Christ. Prepare to be there for at least 1 hour, maybe more. A nice priest let us go into a less visited spot where we were able to see some of the bones of people killed by Herod the Great.

Originally a cave where Jesus was born. Built over an older church of the 4th century (some mosaic remains), ruined by Samaritans riots. The oldest part of the existing venue dates as early as the 6th century (the pillars with the recently recovered ancient paintings, and the wooden bulk connecting them at the ceiling). Recently renovated with donations from various Christianity branches churches and private enthusiasts. A nice market nearby and a cozy cafe with indoor and outdoor veranda. definitely worth a visit

Amazing. So much history. Had to wait about 20 minutes. Pre covid the wait was 3 hours. Go early

It can a little tricky getting to the “manager” depending on the various services queued up (we missed our window) but just experiences the over the top ornamental nature of the church is mind blowing. All year long the Christmas spirit rings true at this church nestled in the Bethlehem hillside.