Lonely Planet: Jerusalem Book

Lonely Planet's guide to Jerusalem is both authoritative and concise--no less than one would expect from such an esteemed travel publisher. The authors deal intelligently with the peculiar character of the city, covering the sights sacred to the three great monotheistic faiths. And, also in the tradition of the Lonely Planet guides, the authors are perfectly able to deal with the conflicts the city is known for. In pithily written paragraphs, we are taken to the heights of the Mount of Olives, the Old City, and, of course, Kidron Valley. All are evoked with clarity in just a few well-chosen sentences (although, as usual, a great deal of text is packed into 200-odd pages). A key feature is the illustrated guide to the Israel Museum, but the guide is equally good at conjuring up the hipper parts of the city, with the hottest night-clubs detailed. Another useful feature is the excursions section: most people will want to take in Bethlehem, Jericho, Masada and the Dead Sea. Hellander and Humphreys tell us the most economic and stress-free ways to get there. The maps are spare but exhaustive in their coverage, complementing this practically definitive guide. --Barry ForshawRead More