Visiting the Hospital

Please click here to download our guide for visitors to the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. 

Like Jerusalem itself, the Hospital, or “Mutashfa Eyoon”, is beautiful and steeped in history.

Built in ‘modern crusader style of attractive local Jerusalem stone, the present building was opened in 1960, replacing the original Eye Hospital of 1882, which still exists in the form of the Mount Zion Hotel.

The Hospital is situated in the Palestinian Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem on the road to Mount Scopus at a height of 2,000 feet.  Occupying a three acre site within a kilometre of the fascinating Old City, the Hospital grounds are extensive with orange, lemon, and olive trees shading the lawns and a hard tennis court.  The grounds provide spectacular views of the Old City as well as both East and West Jerusalem. 

Named after Saladin’s physician, “Jarrah” literally means ‘Surgeon’ in Arabic, making the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood the perfect setting for our Hospital.  Sheikh Jarrah has been our home for the last 50 years.

Jerusalem is one of the most attractive, interesting and unique cities in the world, and the surrounding scenery is beautiful.  This guide has been compiled for those intending to visit the Jerusalem Hospital on either a short or long term basis.  It is intended to provide you with an overview of the area and what you can expect upon arrival.  We hope you will find it helpful.