Bethlehem and Jerusalem are very close to each other, only a few miles apart. In modern terms, they are essentially neighboring cities.
Straight-line distance
Most geographic sources give the direct (as-the-crow-flies) distance between Bethlehem and Jerusalem as about 8–9 kilometers, which is roughly 5–5.5 miles. This reflects the gap between the urban centers, not including detours or checkpoints.
By road or on foot
Because roads do not follow a perfect straight line, the driving or walking distance is slightly longer, typically around 9–10 kilometers (about 6 miles) depending on the exact start and end points and route taken. At an ordinary walking pace, this journey generally takes about 1.5–3 hours; by car or bus it is usually under an hour in normal traffic.
