Milk Grotto
Milk Grotto
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Milk Grotto is next door to Blessings Gift Shop and the Olive Wood Factory which we highly recommended to visit after the Milk Grotto Church for your Shopping . Holy Family found refuge during the Massacre of the Innocents, before they could flee to Egypt. A "drop of milk" of the Virgin Mary fell on the floor of the cave and changed its color to white.Milk Powder $2 per packet .Must See
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.5
459 reviews
Excellent
227
Very good
161
Average
61
Poor
8
Terrible
2
charles g
Laurel, NY104 contributions
Feb 2020
I don't think people in the USA ever hear this one. While breast feeding, a drop of Mary's milk hit the floor and the entire grotto turned white - a miracle. This seems to be a story that is well known in the region, but not in the U.S. People now scrap the surface to get the dust and say it could help you have children. Anyway, the whole thing only takes 15 minutes and can easily be included in your tour when in Bethlehem.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ECLadines
Paranaque, Philippines2,743 contributions
Apr 2020
This was the primary reason why me and my spouse are here in Holy Land. My mother had been here 15 years ago as well as 3 of my aunties and an uncle. We were also dreaming of doing the pilgrimage but not today or in immediate future. Until a neighbor approached us that we should visit the Milk Grotto and get this milk powder.
Seemed stars are immediately aligned. We found a good tour operator being managed by the Archdiocese of Manila. We counted our savings and they were enough to sustain a 2- week journey thru Holy Land. Then my 2 sisters in Canada joined us in the pilgrimage. It's also a reunion of sort for my my wife and her brother whose family are already based in Israel and have not been home to Phils. for over 15 years.
And so we're here in this miraculous shrine and prayed to Our Lady of the Milk. We also had mass inside the Grotto officiated by our pilgrimage chaplain. And of course, as promised we got the milk powder. And the rest are blessings from God.
Seemed stars are immediately aligned. We found a good tour operator being managed by the Archdiocese of Manila. We counted our savings and they were enough to sustain a 2- week journey thru Holy Land. Then my 2 sisters in Canada joined us in the pilgrimage. It's also a reunion of sort for my my wife and her brother whose family are already based in Israel and have not been home to Phils. for over 15 years.
And so we're here in this miraculous shrine and prayed to Our Lady of the Milk. We also had mass inside the Grotto officiated by our pilgrimage chaplain. And of course, as promised we got the milk powder. And the rest are blessings from God.
Written 28 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda S
Auckland Central, New Zealand232 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
We view this location after visiting manger square and the cave where Jesus was born. The Milk grotto is a much calmer place and allows personal space to contemplate the historical events and the meaning of them for a Christian life. I did find the behaviour of some a bit ridiculous though: scraping off the modern plaster of the cave as if it had some magical properties. A large display of babies were on display in the Friary next door which was heart warming but as per usual there was no display of the wonderful things done by women for whom God had a plan other than motherhood. Just saying it's time the silence was addressed.
Written 5 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JP Explorer
Vienna, Austria456 contributions
Jan 2020
Within 5min. of walk of the church of Nativity. For Catholics a pilgrimage site - well taken care of chapel/grotto with an attached newer wing. Few people when I visited which made for a more serene experience. Some local souvenier shops on the way.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flore
Arad, Romania1,709 contributions
Feb 2020
A beautiful place with an interesting story. It is assumed that the Virgin Mary, when she was breastfeeding Jesus, dropped a drop of breast milk on the floor and it became white. Although this place is important for Catholic pilgrims, other tourists will be pleasantly impressed by the beauty and cleanliness of the place. The Milk Grotto is approximately 5 minutes walk from the Church of the Nativity and access is free.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hemikiwi
Brisbane, Australia6,716 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
Although my visit was initially spoilt by a very rude monk, on reflection it was still a wonderful experience. Many have spoken about the historical and religious significance of the Milk Grotto, so I will just mention what was the highlight for me.
I arrived at the Milk Grotto very early on a Sunday morning from Jerusalem, and so was quite delighted to find that there were very few tourists, and I had the place almost to myself. There was a mass going on upstairs in the modern looking church, but what caught my attention was the group of nuns downstairs praying and singing, which you can observe through glass. Ther voices when singing were actually heavenly!
The grotto itself downstairs from memory consists of several caves, with altars in each. I spent some time at each, praying and reflecting.
However, this is when it all went wrong. A monk appeared and asked me if I was part of a group. I said that I was a solo traveler. At this point I thought he was going to strike up a conversation, which would have been nice. However, instead, he started to raise his voice, literally shouting, and told me to stop going from cave to cave. I apologised and said I was sorry, and that I was not aware that I was not supposed to. He told me that I had no manners, and increased the volume of his voice. We were the only 2 people in the caves and he was most definately shouting. I asked him why he was shouting, and at that point he told me to get out! I was a little shaken as this has never ever happened to me before. I have always had upmost respect for those who dedicate their lives to God.
I left, but it felt awful. When I left the Grotto, I passed a small souvenir store where the owner was by the door. He asked me what was wrong, as my face must have seemed upset. I told him, and he said, don't worry you are number 20! The owner described the monk to a tee, and apparently he does this regularly with visitors, so I was nothing special! A taxi driver was also able to name this specific monk by name, which I won't mention on here. So if you have the misfortune to come across this monk, just remember that he does this all the time, you have done nothing wrong!
I arrived at the Milk Grotto very early on a Sunday morning from Jerusalem, and so was quite delighted to find that there were very few tourists, and I had the place almost to myself. There was a mass going on upstairs in the modern looking church, but what caught my attention was the group of nuns downstairs praying and singing, which you can observe through glass. Ther voices when singing were actually heavenly!
The grotto itself downstairs from memory consists of several caves, with altars in each. I spent some time at each, praying and reflecting.
However, this is when it all went wrong. A monk appeared and asked me if I was part of a group. I said that I was a solo traveler. At this point I thought he was going to strike up a conversation, which would have been nice. However, instead, he started to raise his voice, literally shouting, and told me to stop going from cave to cave. I apologised and said I was sorry, and that I was not aware that I was not supposed to. He told me that I had no manners, and increased the volume of his voice. We were the only 2 people in the caves and he was most definately shouting. I asked him why he was shouting, and at that point he told me to get out! I was a little shaken as this has never ever happened to me before. I have always had upmost respect for those who dedicate their lives to God.
I left, but it felt awful. When I left the Grotto, I passed a small souvenir store where the owner was by the door. He asked me what was wrong, as my face must have seemed upset. I told him, and he said, don't worry you are number 20! The owner described the monk to a tee, and apparently he does this regularly with visitors, so I was nothing special! A taxi driver was also able to name this specific monk by name, which I won't mention on here. So if you have the misfortune to come across this monk, just remember that he does this all the time, you have done nothing wrong!
Written 30 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jojo
Navi Mumbai, India2,833 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
The Church where Mary fed infant Jesus having turned the grass and stones whitish witnessing the miracle and holiness. Believed to be part of stones from here a remedy both for kids and adults as a holy medicine which we purchased.
Written 19 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
piaHongKong
Shanghai, China490 contributions
July 2016 • Solo
A very small place that Jesus stayed a few days before heading to Egypt! The only special thing is the picture of Virgin Mary breastfeeding Jesus that you can't find elsewhere.
Written 7 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Malou674
Saskatoon, Canada79 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
This place is remarkable as it reflected a real family lived there, showing that Mary nursed the infant Jesus in this place. Before reaching this place, there is spring where one can refresh oneself after a long journey .
Written 15 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Khazanty خزانتي
Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories3 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
a historical and religious site that every visitor should visit when travelling to Bethlehem specially for those who are coming as pilgrims. nice location too .
Written 16 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What are the opening times of the Church of Nativity, Milk grotto, Church of St. Catherine and Mar Saba Monastry.
Written 15 March 2019
The opening hours are different per place and per season. What time of year are you looking at? I know the milk grotto is closed Sunday mornings. And when I was there, in October, the Church of the Nativity was open from either 5:30 or 6am until 5pm.
A simple Google search will get you all the info you need :)
Written 19 March 2019
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