Located just south of Jerusalem in the West Bank, this massive, fortress-like church is built over the cave that is revered as the exact birthplace of Jesus. Because it requires crossing from Israel into the Palestinian Territories, the logistics are highly searched.

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

  • The Border Crossing (Checkpoint 300): This is the number one searched topic. While guided tours take care of this, independent travelers want to know how to cross. The cheapest and most popular method is taking the public Arab Bus (Bus 231) from the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem directly into Bethlehem, which bypasses the grueling pedestrian checkpoint queues.

  • Rental Car Bans: Tourists attempting to drive themselves constantly search for rental car rules. The vast majority of Israeli rental car companies strictly forbid their vehicles from being driven into the Palestinian Territories (Area A), and their insurance will be completely voided if they cross the checkpoint.

  • The Door of Humility: Tourists look up why the main entrance to this grand basilica is a tiny, four-foot-high stone hole. It was reduced in size centuries ago to prevent looters from riding their horses directly into the church, forcing every visitor to bow low to enter.