Qumran Caves
Qumran Caves
4
About
These eleven caves were made famous when the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest manuscript of the Hebrew Bible, were discovered between the years 1947 and 1956.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
389 reviews
Excellent
188
Very good
131
Average
55
Poor
6
Terrible
9
Hank H
Virginia664 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Yes, the history here is incredible but so much more can be done to explain it to you and immerse you in it. The only thing I felt immersed in was the gigantic tourist shop hawking everything under the sun. The attached restaurant fed you efficiently but the chicken shawarma tastes more south Asian than Middle Eastern.
TIP: Bring your own lunch and your own history book.
TIP: Bring your own lunch and your own history book.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William B
Makassar, Indonesia85 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
a place where the holy bible original scrolls were founded. the museum is quiet good, with some illustration about the scrolls and the invention itself. it was nice experience, you can buy some souvenirs at the shop.
Written 14 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marius D
Zagare, Lithuania59 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
Qumran is the location of the Dead Sea sect that gave the world the Dead Sea Scrolls, the greatest literary find of the 20th Century. A small museum, an excellent video, and well preserved ruins of ritual baths and cisterns, plus a great look-out at cave 4, striking mountain scenery, and access to hiking trails, make this...
Written 13 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
redink46142
Indianapolis, Indiana451 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
The Dead Sea scrolls were discovered at Qumran in the Judean Desert. Because they were stored in clay jars and because of the desert environment, many scrolls were somewhat intact when they were discovered nearly 2000 years after they were hidden away. Actual scrolls, remnants, and copies are on display in Jerusalem.
The Qumran exhibit has an introductory film that includes many swirling aerial shots of the large site. Some visitors may feel a bit of nausea during the film, but it sets the scene for visitors to understand the lifestyle and culture of the Essenes, the peaceful Jews who wrote the scrolls. Their lives were focused on writing the scriptures, study, and prayer.
Visitors cannot go inside the caves, but they can view them from a short distance. The ruins of the Essene settlement, including ritual baths and study areas, can be explored on foot. The exhibit in Jerusalem includes samples of practice characters, writing instruments, and strict rules for being a member of the group.
This sect was wiped out by the Romans, but they hid a wonderful legacy in the desert caves. It's remarkable and humbling to read the scrolls and realize our modern texts have the same words. Very young children will probably become bored, but it's a fascinating look into the past.
The Qumran exhibit has an introductory film that includes many swirling aerial shots of the large site. Some visitors may feel a bit of nausea during the film, but it sets the scene for visitors to understand the lifestyle and culture of the Essenes, the peaceful Jews who wrote the scrolls. Their lives were focused on writing the scriptures, study, and prayer.
Visitors cannot go inside the caves, but they can view them from a short distance. The ruins of the Essene settlement, including ritual baths and study areas, can be explored on foot. The exhibit in Jerusalem includes samples of practice characters, writing instruments, and strict rules for being a member of the group.
This sect was wiped out by the Romans, but they hid a wonderful legacy in the desert caves. It's remarkable and humbling to read the scrolls and realize our modern texts have the same words. Very young children will probably become bored, but it's a fascinating look into the past.
Written 14 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jojo
Navi Mumbai, India2 867 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
Near Jericho, was Qumran where Jesus used for prayers and meditation before Sermon.Monk Yessin Tribes stayed here. Old precious ruins of very historical importance from this area was kept in Israel Museum known as Khumarani Scroll being unexpected finding of Shepard s.in 1947. Later research findings revealed hidden valuable ruins of 2000 years old from the desert such as Assembly Hall,Dining Room,Kitchen,texton on lather, Pepparus, copper scrolls etc a clear sign of inhabitants hidden in the caves from Roman Attacks.
Written 11 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bethany R
Los Angeles, CA11 contributions
Feb 2016
Biggest tourist trap I have ever been in, horrible customer service. An employee in the shop told me one price and then when I got to the register it was 3 times as much and the cashier before giving me time to change my mind took my credit card and swiped it and then said she could not cancel the transaction. I've never felt so cheated or used. Save your money and buy the Dead Sea spa goods anywhere else, wait till the airport even because for once they are cheaper there than in the location they are made by the Dead Sea!
Written 23 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaso L
Tel Aviv, Israel17 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
We were on one day tour. The place in very interesting and educational and authentic. The only minus was that we have to eat in the so called restaurant in the shopping center at the parking lot of the museum. It is a horrible place. The food is disgusting , no taste, small portions (well, it does not really matter, because they are not eatable anyway) , total waste of about 15 USD.
Go anywhere else, take food with you, just don`t waste your time and money on eating in this this horrible dining room.
Weather tips - it is a desert, so it is hot in the summer. Best time to visit is early spring or late autumn. Take hats and plenty of drinking water and you will enjoy your visit.
Go anywhere else, take food with you, just don`t waste your time and money on eating in this this horrible dining room.
Weather tips - it is a desert, so it is hot in the summer. Best time to visit is early spring or late autumn. Take hats and plenty of drinking water and you will enjoy your visit.
Written 26 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Journeyfamily
Western Australia, Australia417 contributions
The site includes a small museum as well as 2000 year old ruins from the community that used to dwell there.
There is a spectacular view of some of the caves where the Scrolls were found (note that you can't actually visit the caves itself).
Considering the size of the museum, there is quite a large store there - souvenirs, jewelry and Dead Sea products.
Is about an hour's drive from Jerusalem.
Including spending time in the store, we spent about an hour and a half there.
There is a fee to enter the site.
There is a spectacular view of some of the caves where the Scrolls were found (note that you can't actually visit the caves itself).
Considering the size of the museum, there is quite a large store there - souvenirs, jewelry and Dead Sea products.
Is about an hour's drive from Jerusalem.
Including spending time in the store, we spent about an hour and a half there.
There is a fee to enter the site.
Written 1 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan L
Bloomington, MN50 contributions
Dec 2014 • Friends
We loved seeing these caves. I wanted so badly to be able to go in them and explore. But of course you can not do that. 2 shepherd boys found the Dead Sea Scrolls in clay jars in one of the caves. Our guide explained that because this area is the lowest point on earth it caused weather conditions to be perfect for preserving the scrolls.The area reminded me of the Badlands of South Dakota.
Written 11 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6 839 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
The caves are a very quick stop but if younger interested in the Dead Sea scrolls you should do it. It’s about a 30minute stop.
Written 29 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you drive a rental vehicle from Jerusalem to the park?
Written 10 April 2024
Can you drive a rental vehicle from Jerusalem to the park?
Written 10 April 2024
Vorrei sapere gli orari di apertura del sito e il costo d ingresso
Written 31 March 2017
Can you actually go into the caves? Or mainly you hike to get near the caves and seem them from a distance? Also, how far is the hike to where the caves are. Thank you!
Written 18 March 2017
I meant "see" the caves not seem the caves.
Written 18 March 2017
Se puede ir a Qumram con auto alquilado en Israel?
Written 20 February 2017
I would like to visit Qumran and Masada on a day trip from Jerusalem, in October. Viator offers a tour on Monday but that is not a good day for me. Any suggestions on who I should contact for an escorted day trip? Thanks!
Written 10 February 2017
do you need any special travel knowledge going there from jerusalem since it is in West bank?
Written 10 October 2016
We are planning a visit to this place in 2017 and would like to know how much time you spent here, and was it enough?
Written 8 October 2016
We spent about 2 hrs, went through the museum and watched a nice video, we enjoyed the hiking, it was hot. I felt like a few hours was enough time to see everything, you might want a little more time if you are into every historic detail.
Written 28 October 2016
We are visiting Israel and will have a hire car. We plan on visiting Qumran caves. Should we purchase admission tickets online ahead of time? How much time should we allow on our trip to spend if we want to watch the video and walk around teh area to visit teh caves?
Written 17 July 2016
Went there with a friend driving a rented car. We bought our tickets there. There was one group in front of us but did not have to wait many minutes to get the ticket. After seeing the film and ruins, we walked uphill and climbed some time for a meditation in a cave we found. This way our visit lasted for 2-2,5h.
Written 30 July 2016
I've been searching a day tour from Jerusalem to Qumran but most tours in Viator and City Discovery combine it with the Dead Sea and Masada. I prefer just focusing on Qumran for a day, visiting the museum and just taking my sweetest time. Renting a car and driving is out of the question. Any suggestions?
Written 13 September 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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