Nelson Mandela Square

Ramallah


It appears that a visit to Ramallah is no longer complete without a stop at this towering statue of the late Nelson Mandela for a selfie. Unveiled in 2016, the 20ft statue was a gift from Johannesburg, which is twinned with the Palestinian capital.

Madiba stands, fist forever raised, on a roundabout some 15 minutes outside of the city. Either catch a service on Al Tira St away from town or take a taxi.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ramallah attractions

1. Dar Zahran Heritage Building

1.21 MILES

One of Ramallah's oldest buildings, Dar Zahran was restored and converted into a gallery-cum-museum in 1990, and plans are now underway for a coffee shop…

2. Khalil Sakakini Centre

1.53 MILES

Hosts art exhibitions by the locally and internationally renowned, along with a whole host of other cultural pursuits. Check the website for upcoming…

3. Yasser Arafat Museum

1.56 MILES

Next to the ornate tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is a new museum that bears his name. Divided into two parts, the first half traces…

4. Mahmoud Darwish Museum

1.72 MILES

Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish was buried on this hilltop in Al Masyoun after his death in 2008, and this recently completed complex in his honour is…

5. Taybeh Winery

7.44 MILES

Canaan, the son of Taybeh Brewery founder Nadim Khoury, began making wine in this modern facility below the Taybeh Golden Hotel in 2013 and now produces…

6. Benedictine Abbey

8.6 MILES

The centrepiece of this Benedictine complex is the grand, vaulted Church of the Resurrection, which dates to the mid-12th century. This Crusader-era…

7. Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant

8.61 MILES

Crowned with a statue of Mary carrying the infant Jesus, this hilltop church was built on the site of Kiryat Ya’arim, believed by many Christians to be…

8. Palestinian Heritage Museum

9.08 MILES

Within a school complex (the Dar Al Tifil Al Arabi Institute) in a 19th-century building, this museum provides a useful primer on ancient and modern…