The citadel and tower at the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City have guarded Jerusalem's western approach for over 2,000 years. The present structure is largely Mamluk and Ottoman — built on Herodian foundations — and contains within its courtyard the remnants of every period of Jerusalem's long occupation. The museum inside charts 4,000 years of the city's history through maps, models, and artefacts arranged chronologically as you walk through the rooms and towers.
The citadel's courtyard hosts a remarkable sound-and-light show on summer evenings, projecting imagery onto the stone walls. The views from the towers over both the Old City and the newer neighbourhoods of West Jerusalem are among the best vantage points accessible to tourists. Entry fees apply; the museum is open most days. The newly renovated permanent exhibition opened in 2024 after a multi-year renovation.