Jerusalem and Bethlehem are very close to each other—only about 8–10 km (5–6 miles) apart, depending on the exact points and route used.

Quick distance facts

  • Straight‑line (point‑to‑point) distance: about 8.9 km / 5.5 miles.
  • Commonly given general distance: about 8 km / 5 miles between the two cities.
  • By road, depending on route and checkpoints, it is often around 7–10 km (4–6 miles) of driving.

Travel time overview

  • By car or taxi: usually 15–30 minutes , depending on traffic, security checks, and border procedures.
  • On foot: roughly 1.5–2 hours of walking , because the walking route is a bit longer than the direct line and includes hills.

Context and significance

  • Bethlehem lies just south of Jerusalem, in the Judean hills of the West Bank, making it an easy day trip between the two.
  • The short distance is part of why journeys between Jerusalem and Bethlehem feature so prominently in biblical and historical narratives about the region.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.