The practical route is the one the U.S. government sets for its staff: Checkpoint 300 is described in the West Bank advisory as "the only permitted and accessible route into Bethlehem." A U.S. passport is checked on the way back into Israel; there is no Palestinian visa. Israeli-registered tour buses and most Israeli guides do not enter Area A, so groups switch to a Palestinian guide and vehicle at or near the checkpoint, which is why Bethlehem appears on itineraries as its own half day rather than a city transfer. The older page on visiting Bethlehem as a day trip from Jerusalem explains that arrangement.
Inside the basilica, the Christian Information Centre's list updated September 15, 2026 gives temporary hours of 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. because of maintenance, with the Grotto of the Nativity open only Monday to Saturday 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while work continues. The Franciscans' morning Mass has moved to St. Joseph's Grotto at 5:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday, and closing times shift by season, so a group's local guide should call ahead.
The advisory also says the Israeli government can close access to the West Bank during unrest, sometimes with curfews, and that extra restrictions can come with little notice. A pilgrimage should treat Bethlehem as planned but not guaranteed, with the Shepherds' Field and the Milk Grotto on the same visit when it goes ahead. Conditions change; check travel.state.gov before departure.