Located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, this massive, ancient church encompasses what are believed to be the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified (Golgotha) and the empty tomb where he was buried and resurrected (the Edicule).

• What Tourists Actually Search For (Tips & Hacks):

  • Beating the Tomb Line: The absolute most searched logistical question is how to get inside the Edicule (the actual tomb). During the day, the line to enter this tiny, cramped shrine routinely stretches to 2 or 3 hours. The ultimate hack is to go either right when the church opens at 5:00 AM or late in the evening just before it closes, when the large tour groups are gone.

  • The "Status Quo" Ladder: Tourists heavily search for the "Immovable Ladder." Because the church is fiercely divided among six different Christian denominations that guard their territory aggressively, an old wooden ladder left on a window ledge in the 1700s cannot be moved because no one can agree on who has the authority to touch it.

  • No Clear Entrance: The exterior of the church is completely swallowed by the surrounding buildings. Tourists often wander right past it. There is only one main door, hidden in a small, easily missed stone courtyard at the end of a narrow market street.