You're coming to the Holy Land and perhaps you aren't sure if you should visit Bethlehem. You've always wanted to go to Bethlehem and see the Church of Nativity but what else is there? Is it worth planning a  a full day, or even two?

Yes. And to make it easy for you, Travelujah has created our own list of on and off the beaten path places you can visit during your next day or two day trip to Bethlehem.  Below you'll find our top "must see" sites in and around this ancient city, revered worldwide as the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

1. Church of the Nativity

The monastery, structured in the shape of a cross,  is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world (constructed in 325 AD). It is a major Christian holy site, marking the traditional place of Christ's birth. Queen Helena built the Church of Nativity during the Byzantine Empire. Adjacent to th

^{A small prayer box from the Byzantine era was discovered in Jerusalem during archaeological excavations, proving that Christians have in fact been making pilgrimage to and living in the holy city for centuries.}

^{The miniature box, measuring 2.2 by 1.6 cm., is made of animal bone and is adorned with a cross. It was uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority during excavations near the City of David, located in the Walls around Jerusalem National Park.}

^{The inside of the box has drawings of two figures (icons) on a background lined with gold leaf. The bone used to make it appears to have been taken from a large animal (possibly a steer, camel or horse). To open the box, it slides open and includes two flat parts, each of which bears a colored drawing.}

Israel ranked second out of 48 countries in a vote by Russian citizens selecting their choice for the best tourism and sightseeing country worldwide. The vote was part of a competition by National Geographic Russia Magazine and was sponsored by the Russian tourism industry.

Israel's second-place ranking placed it right after Italy, which came in first, and right before third-place Holland. Israel surpassed 22 other countries including the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, China. Competition organizers said the results of the vote signify the attractiveness of these destinations to the Russian market and gives an indication of future tourism to those nations.

The National Geographic Traveler Awards in Russia is an annual competition. During the first stage of the competition countries are chosen by travel agents and tour operators in Russia. Then magazine readers choose their favorite destinations. In the third stage, the c