The Best Cheap Hotels in Jerusalem

Behind a sand-coloured facade in the downtown area, the JERU embraces a Japanese accommodation concept, with 32 noise-isolating and air conditioned capsule rooms. In the male, female and mixed zones – each of which has its own toilet and shower facilities – expect clever design, from folding tables to under-bed storage. A small bar and lounge area adjoining the lobby has a youthful, convivial atmosphere.

Almost overlooking Zion Square, in the city’s heart, the Ibis stands out with a stark, modern facade. Interiors are engaging with curvy pendant lamps, colourful moulded chairs, decorative wall graphics and close-up prints of fabrics and textures, with regular pops of red in keeping with Ibis branding. Rooms are fairly compact and the better ones have city views, some across to the old quarter. The restaurant is kosher and the lobby bar has a happy hour every evening.

Barely 100 metres from the edge of the old city, Space X’s public areas – a compact kitchen and lounge – embrace decorative themes of astronauts, space shuttles and rockets. But its sleeping pods go the whole hog, and look like a sci-fi film set. Hexagonal entrance hatches access stark white spacey pods – singles or doubles – with large TV screens and panels with USB ports and controls to adjust ventilation and ambient lighting.

Just a block north of Zion Square, the Kook’s arched entrance porch and stripped-floor rooms have an almost boutique polish and finesse. Sleek, modern rooms range from windowless “interior” rooms to spacious suites with appealing, tree-facing verandas and garden furniture. For an extra bit of decadence, order breakfast up to your room. It’s a smart, practical hotel well-located for the city’s key sights.

The Jerusalem Inn, conveniently located in the city centre, is just a short walk from the lively nightspots and restaurants in the Nahalat Shiv’a neighbourhood, and 12 minutes from the Old City. The hotel has 25 rooms, each with an ensuite bathroom and free Wi-Fi, over three floors with no lift access. A buffet breakfast is served daily, and guests receive complimentary passes to the rock climbing wall nearby. The light rail line along Yafo Street is just two blocks away.

This 180-room hotel is set in its own garden and offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools and free wellness facilities, including a gym, jacuzzi, sauna and hot tub. Each room has a balcony with views of the city. The main dining room, which overlooks the garden and the pool, serves breakfast and dinner, and the lobby bar is open daily for light snacks. The Knesset (Israeli parliament) and the Israel Museum are approximately a 15-minute walk away, and guests can use the nearby light rail station to reach the city centre.

Set in the heart of Jerusalem, the Agripas Boutique Hotel is just a five-minute walk from the Mahane Yehuda Market and a 20-minute walk from the Old City. The hotel offers 48 standard rooms and four luxury suites, a sun deck and a roof terrace with views of the city. A kosher French-Mediterranean breakfast is served daily, and complimentary afternoon refreshments are available to guests from Thursday to Sunday.

The City Center Hotel offers individually styled studio apartments for short- and long-term rentals. Each one comes with Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a kitchenette. A daily cleaning service is also available, and the front desk is open 24 hours a day. Located on the corner of HaHistadrut and King George Streets and just a 15-minute walk from the Old City, the City Centre Hotel is popular because of its proximity to galleries, bars and restaurants in the surrounding pedestrian zone, which is locally referred to as the Midrachov District. The nearest light rail station is just a three-minute walk away.

Kaplan Hotel is located on Jaffa Street, opposite Zion Square, and is just a ten-minute walk from Mahane Yehuda Market, 20 minutes from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and 25 minutes from the Western Wall. The hotel has 14 rooms – each with a balcony, shower room and flat-screen TV – a 24-hour reception, Wi-Fi and a communal kitchen available to guests.

The Ben Hillel is a 30-minute walk away from major sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall, and just five minutes from the souk. Each of the hotel’s 16 rooms has a flat-screen TV, an ensuite bathroom or shower room, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Some of the rooms have views over the sun terrace. Besides the night bar, there are no food options available on-site, but a great selection of restaurants and cafés are within walking distance of the hotel.

The Avital is a family-run hotel located just three minutes from the Mahane Yehuda Market and seven minutes from the quiet streets and winding alleyways of the Nachlaot area. It offers a series of modern no-frill apartments for one to five guests, each with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, microwave and fridge. Breakfast, which includes shakshuka and a selection of cheeses, is also included in the price.

The Central Boutique Hotel is close to bustling Jaffa Street and just 45 metres away from the tram station. Guests need to check in at the street-level, 24-hour convenience store, which is run by the hotel’s owner. All of the rooms have an ensuite shower room, coffee machine, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, and many also have a balcony and sitting area. Free tours of the Old City are also offered by the hotel. A grocery store is located right next door, and there are plenty of cafés and restaurants within walking distance.