Ben Yehuda is located between two of major Jerusalem roads -- King George Street and Jaffa Road -- has long been ground zero for Jerusalem nightlife. Crowded with souvenir shops, jewelry stores, cafes and restaurants, it drew both tourists and locals. However, a number of bombings in the area have done much to dampen the spirits and depress the economy. Many of the storefronts are empty and a few still bear scars of the attacks. Luckily, the city of Jerusalem has begun to make a concerted effort to lure people and retailers back downtown with a series of festivals, concerts, and other cultural events.
As Ben Yehuda is a pedestrian mall, it's a very easy place to navigate. Running up from Yael Solomon Street, you will see local shops mixed with big name marketers such as Tower Records, Blockbuster, and McDonald’s. For those not venturing into the Old City, or who are nervous about haggling, this is the best area to find gifts for friends and relatives back home. Everything from expensive artistic menorahs to South Park T-shirts in Hebrew can be found along this street. There are many shops selling similar goods, so it is sometimes wise to shop around.
For practicalities, public parking is available at the end of Yael Solomon where it crosses King George. There are a number of banks along Yael Solomon and ATMs are common along Ben Yehuda itself. Nearly all the merchants are closed from early afternoon Friday until late on Saturday. Many, but not all, shops re-open following Shabbat. This can be anywhere from 8pm on, depending on season. For accommodation along Ben Yehuda, see my review of the Zion Hotel . For some dining ideas, Big Apple Pizza is in the area as is Spaghettim . Getting to Ben Yehuda by public transit is easy. It's a 10 minute walk downhill from the Central Bus Station and the buses that run from there to the Old City along Jaffa Road all make several stops along the way.