What's on in Bethlehem (West Bank), Palestine through the year

Busy — Greek Orthodox Christmas, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Greek Orthodox Christmas

  6–7 JanChristmas & New YearCrowded

  The second Christmas of the season, on 6 and 7 January, with its own procession into the same square. Quieter than the Latin one and far easier to get near the church. Source ↗

• Festival

  Armenian Christmas

  18–19 JanChristmas & New Year

  The third and last Christmas, in the Armenian rite around 18 and 19 January. By the end of it the decorations have been up for a month and the town goes back to itself. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  18 Feb – 19 MarClosures

  Bethlehem is a mixed town and the fast changes its daytime rhythm: shops open late, and the hour before the evening meal empties the streets completely before they refill. Source ↗

Busy — Ramadan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar)

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Holy Week and Easter

• Festival

  Holy Week and Easter

  29 Mar – 12 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook early

  Palm Sunday to Easter, with the Western and Eastern dates usually a week or so apart and pilgrims walking the road from Jerusalem for both. The busiest fortnight after Christmas. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar)

Busy — Holy Week and Easter, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Holy Week and Easter (29 Mar – 12 Apr)

Busy — Eid al-Adha, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Eid al-Adha

  1 May – 5 Jun · usuallyRamadan & EidClosuresCrowded

  Eid al-Adha brings several days of public holiday: shops and offices close for the first days, families visit relatives, and parks, pools and restaurants fill. Traffic is heavy and waits at checkpoints can be longer. Source ↗

Still on: Holy Week and Easter (29 Mar – 12 Apr)

Busy — Eid al-Adha, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Summer pilgrim lull

  15 Jun – 31 Aug · usuallyOff-season shutdown

  Between the Easter and autumn pilgrim seasons fewer tour groups come, so queues for the Grotto of the Nativity are shorter. Walking between sites in the midday sun is tiring; start early. Source ↗

Still on: Eid al-Adha (1 May – 5 Jun (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Summer pilgrim lull (15 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Summer pilgrim lull (15 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Al-Khader grape market

  1–30 Sep · usuallyHarvest

  Each September the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce sets up a grape tent in Al-Khader, a village just south-west of town, where farmers sell the harvest along with raisins, grape molasses and local produce. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Nature

  Olive harvest

  1 Oct – 20 Nov · usually

  Families take a fortnight off to pick the terraces around Beit Jala and Battir and the presses run late into the night. Stand still near a tree and you will be handed a bucket.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Olive harvest (1 Oct – 20 Nov (usually))

Busy — Latin Christmas, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Latin Christmas

  24–25 DecChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The patriarch's procession into Manger Square on the 24th and midnight mass in the Church of the Nativity, which is ticketed. The square is full from mid-afternoon and rooms go months ahead. Source ↗