Overview

Built in 1830, Petra Hotel & Hostel is the Old City's first hotel and boasts Mark Twain as one of its early guests. Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion held the bar-mitzvah parties of his sons on the premises of what was then the Old City's grandest hotel. Today, its Ottoman architecture, with arched ceilings and beautifully tiled floors, means that even dorm rooms have character. Its rooftop offers a magical view over the crosses and domes of the Christian and Muslim quarters. The hostel has capacity for 300 guests.