Shepherd's Sanctuary
Shepherd's Sanctuary
4.5
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 11:45 AM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
127 reviews
Excellent
56
Very good
60
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
0
stevebintley
Bedford, UK6,797 contributions
Aug 2022
It’s a pretty remote area but totally worth visiting for the history and story behind it, especially if you visit with a guide who can explain everything. The church isn’t the largest nor most elaborate but it’s the simplicity which is memorable. The number of people inside is limited giving the opportunity to take in all the paintings properly and the surrounding grounds are equally as impressive when you understand the background. Certainly worth a visit.
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
smvNYC
New York City, NY284 contributions
Jun 2022
As we were making our way back to Bethlehem, we stopped at Shepperd's Sanctuary. As were explained, it is not clear if the location is the place where the biblical shepherds took refuge but it is an area where shepherds lived at the time.
Written 10 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lynette L
Wichita Falls, TX18 contributions
Jun 2022
Beautiful place to tour. Just being in the Holy Land is an awesome
experience! Cannot describe the complete feeling I got while there!
experience! Cannot describe the complete feeling I got while there!
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shareef Jibreen Palestine guide
Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories54 contributions
Apr 2022 • Business
The shephered field is the place where the angels appeared to the shephereds and told them about the news of Jesus birth.. It is located in Bethlehem.. We meet tourists at bus station 231 in Bethlehem and then visit the area in my private car
Written 7 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kim G
Pacific Grove, CA3,134 contributions
Dec 2019
Upon entering the tree-lined area, visitors are greeted by a tall, imposing fountain supported by stone-carved sheep and sheep-head spigots, with a shepherd presiding over the sheep from atop. Transition to the lovely Roman Catholic Sanctuary designed by Italian, Antonio Barluzzi, which celebrates the birth of Christ being revealed to the lowly shepherds. Look above the entry to see the impressive angel, heralding the birth of our Lord. Behind this Sanctuary is a cave (or grotto), where worship has transpired throughout the centuries. An expansive view overlooking the rocky fields down to the valley brings clarity to the difficult job of the shepherds throughout the ages. This impressive site left us spiritually moved as we listened in on a Scriptural reading and Bible Study, being conducted overlooking the Shepherds' Fields.
Written 15 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
FredPurdue
Seattle, WA2,239 contributions
Jan 2020
There is much history associated with this site, but it also presents a number of interesting subjects to photograph. Generally, be aware that the grotto will have masses scheduled for pilgrims and it can be crowded. Travel light, so forget tripods. My DSRL with a zoom lens gave flexibility for wide angle, telephoto, and wide ISO. The grounds include a monastery ruin, a challenge due to monochrome nature. The Byzantine Church is interesting from the outside. Inside think about stitching to get the altar and dome. The Grotto is quite dark and leads to areas lacking detail. Post-processing may be needed.
Written 18 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ECLadines
Paranaque, Philippines2,801 contributions
Apr 2020
This is inside the vast Shepherds Field. We went inside a small cave before heading to the church with a bronze (looks dark) statue of an angel of the shepherds. Inside there are murals depicting the birth of Jesus and the visitation of the angels. There were not much people around when we went there so less stressful walking around.
Written 27 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ChrisJS51
Sevenoaks, UK504 contributions
Dec 2019
One must have a certain cynicism about whether the various religious sites are in fact the real ones, but this one stays in my memory from our trip. It has exactly the view of Bethlehem that one would expect; it has archaeology showing its age; it has evocative caves, and a tasteful new chapel with inspiring murals of the scene at that first Christmas.
Written 29 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,649 contributions
Jan 2020
It was here, east of Bethlehem in what is now the Palestinian West Bank, that the Angel of the Lord visited the shepherds and announced the birth of Christ. Today, a park-like area overlooks the valley, and with sheep bleating in the distance, it doesn’t take much imagination to visualize that first Christmas night. Ruins suggest that the area has been occupied since the time of Jesus and venerated since the mid-4th century. Both the Roman Catholics and the Greek Orthodox each have their own Shepherds' Field, less than 600 meters from each other. The ‘Status Quo’, a religious understanding dating back to 1757 for 9 shared religious sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, applies here. Not to be missed: The 1953 Franciscan Roman Catholic Chapel of the Angels. The chapel was designed by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi to resemble a shepherd’s tent, complete with a small starry dome. The painted murals are stunning, with each wall displaying a part of the birth narrative from Luke’s Gospel. And then there’s the Chapel acoustics – amazing! We were treated to a spontaneous rendition of ‘Silent Night’ by another group of pilgrims and it was indeed a special moment.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JP Explorer
Vienna, Austria461 contributions
Jan 2020
The area field where according to the Bible the shephards received the news of Jesus' coming. It fields several chapels and underground caves/excavations which can be found. Toilets on site. Touristy but not too bad as it spreads out.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SHEPHERD'S SANCTUARY (Beit Sahour) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Shepherd's Sanctuary
- Shepherd's Sanctuary is open:
- Sun - Sun 8:00 AM - 11:45 AM
- Sun - Sun 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
- Mon - Sat 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- We recommend booking Shepherd's Sanctuary tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 37 Shepherd's Sanctuary tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Shepherd's Sanctuary:
- Travel to Bethlehem Half Day Guided Tour - Daily Trip from Jerusalem (From ₱2,758.77)
- Tour From Jerusalem: Half Day Travel to Bethlehem & Grotto Visit (From ₱3,862.28)
- Mount of Temptation, Saint George Monestary, Saint Saba & Bethlehem One Day Tour (From ₱5,517.55)
- Full-Day Bethlehem, Jericho, and Jordan River Tour (From ₱5,407.19)
- Bethlehem Half Day Private Tour - Pick up from Jerusalem/Tel Aviv/Ashdod (From ₱8,276.32)
- Hotels near Shepherd's Sanctuary:
- (0.01 km) Sheperds Field
- (0.17 km) Manoly Plaza Hotel
- (0.18 km) Shepherds' House
- (0.51 km) Sahara Hotel
- (2.24 km) Dar Sitti Aziza
- Restaurants near Shepherd's Sanctuary:
- (0.01 km) The Tent Restaurant
- (0.16 km) Cheers Restaurant
- (0.22 km) Grotto Restaurant
- (0.22 km) The Shepherd's Tower Restaurant
- (0.21 km) Shepherds Nai