Saint Mark's Lutheran Hospice

A very special place in a very special location!
I stayed here twice in 1981 (I was twenty then) and 1982. Met a very special person there in 1981 and we just met again in Paris (2007) after twenty-six years! Great memories of the hostel which we just learned both of us never forgot. I say it is a very unique place in a very unique location in the world.

I was here in May. Hostel guests have a curfew, and the posted information claims an age limit of about thirty-five, but it did not seem to be enforced. I stayed in a private room in the contiguous hotel, without curfew, and quite a bit pricier, maybe $65 a night. The entire old town is a ghost town at night, really creepy to come back in late from a club. Almost no one is on the streets at late hours. The place is clean, quiet, has great city views, a manicured garden, and the hostellers seemed to enjoy the outdoor seating and kitchen. The breakfast buffet which comes with the hotel rooms is varied and filling.

I, a single white female, chose to spend the one night I had in Jerusalem here. I was very disappointed! It is difficult to find, especially after dark. As I descended the stairs, I was accosted by every shopkeeper along the way. Being that I have never visited Jerusalem before, I was not prepared for their aggressive ways. After finally finding their sign (a local helped point me in the right direction.) and ascending the stairs, I rang the doorbell twice before I was allowed inside. Upon entering the hostel, I was greeted by the manager of the hostel. He was kind but I was put off by his crotch-adjusting during the entire check-in process! It was bad enough that I had second thoughts about staying at the hostel. After signing in, he gave me a quick tour and my bed linens. I descended to the cellar, passing the bathroom along the way. The bathroom was at the top of the stairs and was fairly clean, although a bit smelly. This smell carried itself all the way to the door of the dorm room. The dorm room, too, had a smell. Of course, it is located in the cellar of this very old building! The dorm room was very unique with its stone walls and cave-like setting. Not much to the beds -- typical bunkbeds laid out in haphazard fashion. As for the kitchen, decent facilities and plenty of open space in which to sit. I favored the garden terrace. It had great views of the Old City. This hostel is in a great location but there are many that are and I'd like to be able to compare this to the others.

The Lutheran Hostel in Jerusalem was one of my favorite places to stay in all of Israel. Located within the walls of the old city, it is quite an experience and the view was magnificent! The hostel is within walking distance of the temple mount and the western wall. The help was very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious.

The best hostel I stayed ever! Everytime I visit Jerusalem, I stay in this hostel. Not only it is clean, is safe, and has a lovely terrace to view the Old City. Staff is also very helpful.

Stayed here on our first visit to Israel about four years ago -- a real gem of a place -- a very quiet haven after the bustle of the souks. Magnificent views over the old city from the roof garden and balconies. We are staying there again this year. I would highly recommend it to anyone. We stayed in the Guest House and had a room with en-suite -- almost a luxury hotel.

I stayed here for four days during March '05, and found the place very nice. Cost at the time was 40 NIS [shekels] for a dorm bed (about $10 US). They have one 20-bed dorm for the men, but it is split in two, so it's not like everyone is in one dorm. Kitchen facilities were good, and they have a security door at the entrance. The place is also located "off the beaten path" away from tourist traffic. You have to look sharp to find it. I'm hoping to stay there again sometime.

I stayed here a few years ago before tourism declined drastically. It was fantastic. The rooms were clean and the roof garden is a fantastic place to have a snack and look over the rooftops of the Old City. The location could not be better.