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Nablus
Palestinian city in the northern West Bank

Nablus

Nablus is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, and the capital of the Nablus Governorate.

Plan a trip to Nablus→From Tel Aviv

It is located approximately 49 kilometres (30 mi) north of Jerusalem, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim with a population of 156,906. The city is a commercial and cultural centre of Palestine, home to An-Najah National University, one of the largest institutions of higher learning in Palestine, and the Palestine Stock Exchange. Nablus is under the administration of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

Get in

Getting to Nablus

As of July 2010 there were no checkpoints for buses and service taxis (aka servees) entering Nablus from other West Bank cities, although you will need your passport and visa stamp to enter back into Israeli territory upon your return. Ramallah and Jerusalem: From Jerusalem, take the #18 bus to Ramallah. The bus departs from the bus station off Nablus Road north of Damascus Gate and the Old City.

See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    The Old City

    This is a charming area filled with winding narrow streets and small shops selling all kinds of foods, clothing, and trinkets.

  2. 02
    Jacob's Well

    The spot where it is believed that a Samaritan woman offered a drink from the well to Jesus and he then revealed to her that he was the Messiah (John 4:5), is located here.

  3. 03
    Mount Gerizim

    Check for the hours, as this place does not seem to be open all the time.

  4. 04
    Monastery of Bir

    Seen from all over Nablus, this monastery offers a great from above Nablus.

  5. 05
    Joseph's Tomb

    In the eastern part of the city is a Muslim and Jewish holy site; however, it closes sporadically and it may not be possible to visit.

  6. 06
    Tell Balata Archaeological Park

    Tell Balata archaeological site, near Nablus, the site contains the remains of a Middle Bronze Age city with a massive fortification wall (ca.

Do

Things to do

Climb Mount Gerizim or Mount Ebal on either side of Nablus for a beautiful view of the city. A small Samaritan community, one of only two left in the world, resides atop Mt. Gerizim, and you can get a look at their temple on the mountaintop.

  1. 01
    Hammam
Eat

Where to eat

Kunafa/Knafeh (sugary couscous pastry on top of melted goat cheese) is one of the most popular Palestinian treats. Nablus residents boast that Kunafa Nablusy is the best in Palestine, and no trip to Nablus is complete without it.

  1. 01
    Al-Aqsa Pastry
  2. 02
    Abu Salha Sweets
  3. 03
    Abu Salha Sweets

    Another highly rated place in Nablus for the delicious kunafa/kenafeh.

  4. 04
    Cafe Ward Alsham

    Real Regional Cuisine about 200 NIS for a big family plate.

How locals move

Getting around Nablus the local way

  • Get inFrom Ben Gurion it is cheapest to take a "sherut" (shared taxi) to the bus station on Nablus Road by Damascus Gate, and then follow the directions above to Nablus.
  • Go nextShared minibus taxis (sherut/servees) leaving Nablus tend to congregate around the center of town and along the two-sided Al-Gazalah (Al-Hadadeen) Street going southeast out of town.
  • Go nextTo get there by hitchhiking, take a sherut to Tubas (₪7.50) and from there hitchhike east through Tayasir and Aqabah to the highway #578 or #90, and then north past the Israeli checkpoint.

From Wikivoyage: Nablus, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-07.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.