Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

Character and identity

Set in the city centre minutes from the Jaffa Gate, Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, this 226-room hotel rises from the foundations of the 1920s Palace Hotel, its restored Jerusalem stone walls and arabesque windows folded into the streetscape. Inside, Turkish designer Sinan Kafadar reworks art deco opulence around a glass-roofed atrium lobby that opens to the sky during Sukkot. Rooms run classic in cream and taupe with deep-soaking tubs and crystal chandeliers. A subterranean pool sits beneath arched ceilings and sandstone columns, and the Guerlain Spa is the only one in Israel using the French house's products.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The pull here is position and provenance: a historically sensitive building within walking distance of Jerusalem's most significant sites, paired with a serious spa and strong family programming. Book a higher category for the deep tubs and atrium views, and time a stay around Sukkot if you want to see the lobby roof retract. Families and first-time pilgrims get the most from it.