Great place to visit and nice people. Contrary to the reviewer above. NO TOURISTS were ever held hostages in this city.

They are great resturants in the shappards fields area.

Loved seeing a wedding at the church of nativity

I'm in Bethlehem at least 3 times a year doing a combo. of business and tourism, and often take my family. As a 6'3, blonde-blue eye 'white boy' it's obvious that I'm a tourist, and am always treated like a guest in someones shop, restaurant and in the souk. The town is not the cleanest in the world, but very much cleaner ...

I visited there in Nov 2005. It is definitely NOT Israel, it's under Palestinian (Muslim) control, and it shows. The people exist almost exclusively on tourist income, and are very aggressive. As for it being a "safe" or "nice" place, I'm afraid it is not. The birthplace of Jesus makes it a must see, but the whole place ...

Who on earth would think that Bethlehem is in Israel???? It's in the West Bank you fools. You have to go through a checkpoint and a Berlin Wall to get there and Israeli citizens are banned from visiting it.

It is a beautiful city with some of the most hospitable people you will ever meet, currently being strangled to death by an ugly wall ...

EVERYTHING THERE WAS BREATHTAKING AND YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PEOPLE THE ARE SO NICE AND THEY REALLY LOVE NEW FACES. THE BEST TIME TO GO IS DURING THE SUMER AND JUST RELAX AND SPEND TIME IN THE DIFFERENT PLACES OF HISTORICAL SITES AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING AND YOU WILL BE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE TRIP.

I liked everything from weather and atmosphere to the holy places like Nativity Church (Where Jesus Christ was BORN) and other holy places like Shepherd's Field.