Qumran Caves
About
These eleven caves were made famous when the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest manuscript of the Hebrew Bible, were discovered between the years 1947 and 1956.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles390 reviews
Excellent
189
Very good
131
Average
55
Poor
6
Terrible
9

Dan Maarek
Tel Aviv, Israel16,512 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Why?
Because it proves that the Jewish people lived there 2,000 years ago.
And it proves the Jewish people has the right to live here today.
Besides that, the archeological findings are astounding. The scrolls did redefine the History of these times.

I'd strongly recommend you to go to the National Park to see the ruins and reproduction of the scrolls.
As all the National Parks, the amenities are superb and will allow to make the most of this visit in the most enjoyable way.

One important point though: in Summer make sure to drink a lot (there is cold water available on this site), take your hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Now you can really enjoy.
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alice C
Toledo, OH55 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
My second time to the area and still not disappointed. Our tour guide was fantastic - it's so interesting to hear about the Dead Sea Scrolls, their discovery and their value and importance to all of us. The ruins are nicely roped off for easy viewing, lots of signs in English and a great shop/restaurant. Admittedly during this visit , they're renovating the gift shop; but I was still able to make my purchases! The food is good and reasonably priced - going a la carte, that is.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

midway42
Georgia3,477 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
The Qumran Caves are better known as Qumran National Park, found easily off Highway 90 next to the Dead Sea. There is a small entrance fee (maybe 20NIS) to access the site.

The visit starts with an introductory movie (evidently not working when I visited) and a quick walk through a museum addressing various aspects of the site and the group of people (Essenes) who lived there. The museum was a bit dated and seemed at odds at times with modern scholarship, but did give a decent overview.

That aside, most people are not going to visit here for an indoor attraction, and after a quick walk through the museum you are allowed to access the grounds with a suggested walking tour presented on a handout. The site itself was quite well kept and signage was adequate. The real attraction, however, was the backdrop of the mountains and a number of visible caves in the distance that the scrolls were found in; the whole experience seemed a bit surreal at times.

Overall my visit (which took maybe 60-90 minutes to complete) was worth the detour and helped put the whole Dead Sea Scrolls story in context. Not a perfect presentation, but worthwhile for sure. Recommended.
Written 25 December 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hank H
Virginia665 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Yes, the history here is incredible but so much more can be done to explain it to you and immerse you in it. The only thing I felt immersed in was the gigantic tourist shop hawking everything under the sun. The attached restaurant fed you efficiently but the chicken shawarma tastes more south Asian than Middle Eastern.

TIP: Bring your own lunch and your own history book.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William B
Makassar, Indonesia81 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2014 • Family
a place where the holy bible original scrolls were founded. the museum is quiet good, with some illustration about the scrolls and the invention itself. it was nice experience, you can buy some souvenirs at the shop.
Written 14 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marius D
Zagare, Lithuania59 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Friends
Qumran is the location of the Dead Sea sect that gave the world the Dead Sea Scrolls, the greatest literary find of the 20th Century. A small museum, an excellent video, and well preserved ruins of ritual baths and cisterns, plus a great look-out at cave 4, striking mountain scenery, and access to hiking trails, make this...
Written 13 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

redink46142
Indianapolis, Indiana451 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Friends
The Dead Sea scrolls were discovered at Qumran in the Judean Desert. Because they were stored in clay jars and because of the desert environment, many scrolls were somewhat intact when they were discovered nearly 2000 years after they were hidden away. Actual scrolls, remnants, and copies are on display in Jerusalem.

The Qumran exhibit has an introductory film that includes many swirling aerial shots of the large site. Some visitors may feel a bit of nausea during the film, but it sets the scene for visitors to understand the lifestyle and culture of the Essenes, the peaceful Jews who wrote the scrolls. Their lives were focused on writing the scriptures, study, and prayer.

Visitors cannot go inside the caves, but they can view them from a short distance. The ruins of the Essene settlement, including ritual baths and study areas, can be explored on foot. The exhibit in Jerusalem includes samples of practice characters, writing instruments, and strict rules for being a member of the group.

This sect was wiped out by the Romans, but they hid a wonderful legacy in the desert caves. It's remarkable and humbling to read the scrolls and realize our modern texts have the same words. Very young children will probably become bored, but it's a fascinating look into the past.
Written 14 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jojo
Navi Mumbai, India2,867 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Family
Near Jericho, was Qumran where Jesus used for prayers and meditation before Sermon.Monk Yessin Tribes stayed here. Old precious ruins of very historical importance from this area was kept in Israel Museum known as Khumarani Scroll being unexpected finding of Shepard s.in 1947. Later research findings revealed hidden valuable ruins of 2000 years old from the desert such as Assembly Hall,Dining Room,Kitchen,texton on lather, Pepparus, copper scrolls etc a clear sign of inhabitants hidden in the caves from Roman Attacks.
Written 11 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bethany R
Los Angeles, CA11 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2016
Biggest tourist trap I have ever been in, horrible customer service. An employee in the shop told me one price and then when I got to the register it was 3 times as much and the cashier before giving me time to change my mind took my credit card and swiped it and then said she could not cancel the transaction. I've never felt so cheated or used. Save your money and buy the Dead Sea spa goods anywhere else, wait till the airport even because for once they are cheaper there than in the location they are made by the Dead Sea!
Written 23 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kaso L
Tel Aviv, Israel17 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Friends
We were on one day tour. The place in very interesting and educational and authentic. The only minus was that we have to eat in the so called restaurant in the shopping center at the parking lot of the museum. It is a horrible place. The food is disgusting , no taste, small portions (well, it does not really matter, because they are not eatable anyway) , total waste of about 15 USD.
Go anywhere else, take food with you, just don`t waste your time and money on eating in this this horrible dining room.
Weather tips - it is a desert, so it is hot in the summer. Best time to visit is early spring or late autumn. Take hats and plenty of drinking water and you will enjoy your visit.
Written 26 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Qumran Caves, Dead Sea Region

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