Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Three neighbourhoods under one name: quiet Arnona, the shops and warehouses of Talpiot, and East Talpiot on the ridge. What living in each is like.
Short answer: "Talpiot" is used for three different places in south Jerusalem. Arnona is a quiet residential neighbourhood of houses and low apartment blocks with a growing English-speaking community; the Talpiot industrial zone next to it is where the city shops for furniture, appliances and groceries; and East Talpiot (Armon HaNatziv) is a large neighbourhood of apartment blocks on the ridge above, with the Haas Promenade's view of the Old City. Prices run from mid in East Talpiot to mid-high in Arnona. There is no light rail yet: the Blue Line is under construction and not expected before about 2029, so life runs on buses and cars.
At a glance
- Who lives here: in Arnona, families and retirees, a growing share of them English-speaking and religious-Zionist; in East Talpiot, a mixed Israeli population of families, including traditional and religious households.
- Housing: Arnona has semi-detached houses, garden apartments and newer low-rise blocks; East Talpiot is mostly 1970s–80s apartment blocks, with newer towers going up. The industrial zone has almost no housing.
- Price band: mid-high in Arnona; mid in East Talpiot, one of the better-value areas in the south.
- Getting around: buses along Derech Hevron to the centre (roughly 20–30 minutes); a car is more useful here than in Baka or the German Colony. The Blue Line will run along Derech Hevron when it opens.
- Everyday shopping: the Talpiot zone next door: supermarkets, malls and every kind of home store within a few minutes' drive.
- Green space: the Haas and Sherover promenades on the ridge in East Talpiot, and the open land towards Ramat Rachel.
Arnona
Arnona sits between Talpiot and Ramat Rachel on the city's southern edge. Its streets are quiet and residential, with more houses and gardens than most of the city, and a mix of long-time Israeli families and newer arrivals. The United States Embassy is in Arnona. For families who want space and a community without German Colony prices, it is often the next place people look.
The Talpiot zone
The industrial zone along Pierre Koenig Street and its side streets is where Jerusalem furnishes a home: Hadar Mall, Lev Talpiot, the big supermarkets, and dozens of kitchen, bathroom, appliance and hardware showrooms. It is busy and noisy on weekdays and quiet on Shabbat. The malls guide explains what is where.
East Talpiot (Armon HaNatziv)
East Talpiot is a large neighbourhood of apartment blocks along the ridge south-east of the Old City. Apartments are bigger for the money than in the older southern neighbourhoods, and the promenades along its northern edge have one of the best views in the city. Check the specific street before you sign: the character changes from block to block.
Community and religious life
Arnona has several English-speaking minyanim and an active community that has grown in recent years; East Talpiot has a wide range of shuls, mostly Israeli. Our mikvah directory lists the mikvaot in Arnona and East Talpiot with addresses and phone numbers. Finding your community explains how people plug in.
In our directory
Talpiot has more directory entries than any other area: supermarkets such as Rami Levy, Yochananof, Osher Ad and Shufersal Deal; bakeries and delis including Chocolatte and English Cake; Home Center, Ace and Max Stock; and most of the city's kitchen, bathroom and appliance showrooms. In Arnona, Café Etz Tzion. See groceries, home goods, hardware and bathroom and kitchen design.
Pros and cons
- For: more space for the money than Baka or the German Colony, a growing English-speaking community in Arnona, everything for the home next door, the promenade views.
- Against: no light rail until the Blue Line, years of roadworks along Derech Hevron while it is built, traffic around the industrial zone, and a bus commute to the centre.
Who it suits
Families who want a house or a larger apartment and can drive or live with buses (Arnona); buyers and renters looking for value in the south (East Talpiot); anyone who wants to be near the German Colony and Baka without paying their prices.
Before you sign
Visit at different times: a weekday morning, Friday afternoon and Shabbat tell you more than any listing. Check the building's mamad or shelter, the stairs and the heating. The renting guide covers the contract, the bills guide covers arnona and the va'ad bayit, and the city-wide neighbourhoods guide compares every area. Nearby alternatives: Baka, the German Colony, Katamon.
Common questions
Is Arnona the same as Talpiot?
They are neighbours but different places: Arnona is residential, the Talpiot zone is shops and industry, and East Talpiot (Armon HaNatziv) is a separate residential neighbourhood on the ridge.
Is there a light rail in Talpiot?
Not yet. The Blue Line, which will run along Derech Hevron through Talpiot to the centre, is under construction and not expected before about 2029. The light rail guide covers the lines that run today.
Is there an English-speaking community in Arnona?
Yes, and it has grown in recent years, with English-speaking minyanim and families, many of them religious-Zionist.
Live in Arnona or Talpiot and think we have something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
