Which one to choose in Bethlehem
Two churches in Bethlehem. Chapel of the Milk Grotto has no online ticket listed; Church of the Nativity has 1 ticket or tour to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Bethlehem, Palestine
The grotto is five minutes on foot from the Church of the Nativity, down a lane at the eastern edge of the old town of Bethlehem, and entry is free. Almost every pilgrimage tour of Bethlehem includes it after the basilica, and that order makes sense because the contrast is the point: one is a crowded fourth-century church under three competing denominations, the other a small quiet chapel run by Franciscans where visitors sit.
Bethlehem, Palestine
Entry is free and no ticket exists; the queue for the grotto is the cost. Almost all visitors arrive on a tour from Jerusalem, because Bethlehem lies in the West Bank and crossing the checkpoint is easier with a Palestinian-registered vehicle and a guide who knows the procedure; those half-day trips cost a moderate amount and usually include Manger Square, the Milk Grotto and a souvenir workshop. Israeli hire cars are generally not insured to enter Area A, so driving yourself is inadvisable.
| Chapel of the Milk Grotto | Church of the Nativity | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Chapel | Basilica |
| Opened | 1872 | 327 |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | none listed | 1 |
| Official website | yes | yes |