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ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Bookshop window display at Christmas time

Historic Bethlehem

Bethlehem pulses with concerts, restaurants, arts, and all the local appeal of a college town and is known as the Christmas City. Yet it also sits in just the right spot for an easy drive to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Don't take our word for it, national publications regularly list Bethlehem as one of the best communities to live in the U.S., including when Bethlehem was named one of the in 2024 and 2025!

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Main Street Bethlehem

Bethlehem Named #1 Main Street in America by USA Today

Big news from the heart of Bethlehem! Our Main Street earned the top spot in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards once again in 2026! With its cozy shops, year-round festivities, and warm community feel, it’s no wonder folks are falling in love with this historic gem.

A Small City with a Big Heart

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½â€™s two campuses book end a mile-stretch of , including a so-adorable-it-hurts block of Historic Bethlehem where well-priced vintage stores, art galleries, and local olive oil and chocolate purveyors share the street with inns and buildings that have roots as deep as our country’s humble beginning.

Main Street is a huge reason why over 75,000 people call Bethlehem home—hopefully you will, too. While you're on Main Street, visit America's oldest continuously operating book seller, the ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Book Shop, which also happens to be the student bookstore for ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½. 

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church Settlements — Bethlehem now a World Heritage site

Brethrens House

Above: Brethren's House, built in 1748, today houses the ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Music Department.

World Heritage Logo

On July 26, 2024 ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church Settlements — Bethlehem; Gracehill, Northern Ireland/UK; and Herrnhut, Germany joined Christiansfeld, Denmark (already inscribed in 2015) as a single World Heritage site that represents the outstanding universal value of these historic settlements and the worldwide influence of the ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church.

The City of Bethlehem, ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½, Bethlehem Area ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½s, Central ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, and Northampton County partnered with one another to help ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church Settlements — Bethlehem join the other three ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Settlements and earn World Heritage designation after more than two decades of dedicated work.

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ is just the second university in the United States to be part of a UNESCO World Heritage designation site and only the eighth university in the world to have this very prestigious recognition.

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church Settlements — Bethlehem was established in 1741 near the confluence of the Monocacy Creek and Lehigh River to house a congregation of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church immigrants from Europe and to support missionary outreach to Native Americans. This was funded by a General Economy concentrated in the community’s Colonial Industrial Quarter and supplemented by light manufacturing in the Choir Houses. 

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church Settlements — Bethlehem is the 26th World Heritage site in the United States and only the third in Pennsylvania.

Located in the heart of downtown Bethlehem, the site spans 10 acres. It includes nine structures, four ruins, and God’s Acre cemetery, all within the already designated Historic ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District — one of only eight Landmark Districts in Pennsylvania and one of just over 200 in the nation.  

Other celebrated World Heritage Sites in the United States include iconic landmarks like the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty. Globally, our World Heritage site in Bethlehem is now in the same prestigious company as the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt.

In April 2025, ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ announced the opening of the , an academic institute dedicated to advancing global understanding of ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ history, culture, and the transnational World Heritage designation, ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church Settlements — Bethlehem.

The following locations in Bethlehem’s historic ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church settlements are included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site designation:

  • 1741 Gemeinhaus
  • 1746-49 Bell House
  • 1744 First Single Brethren’s House, later Single Sisters’ House
  • 1752 Single Sisters’ House
  • 1772 Single Sisters’ House
  • 1751 Old Chapel
  • 1748 Second Single Brethren’s House
  • 1768 Widows’ House
  • 1803-06 Central ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church
  • God’s Acre cemetery
  • Common Grounds
  • Colonial Industrial Quarter
  • 1761 Tannery
  • 1762 Waterworks

To learn more, visit .

Our Favorite Events

Bethlehem is a constantly-evolving blend of culture and commerce, progress and preservation. What does that mean for you? There’s always something to do. Don't miss these festivals, street fairs, and concerts throughout the year: 

  • : A free10-day music festival drawing a million visitors each August, named the Best Music Festival in North America by USA Today
  • Christmas Vespers: The university's annual service at Central ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ Church in December
  • : A celebration of Celtic heritage with musical, food, and traditional competitions in athletics, piping, and dance.
  • : Sample sweet treats like blueberry pies, coffee cake, streusel, or pierogies, while listening to live music and watching the pet parade
  • : Annual two-day New Year’s Eve festival celebrating the fun and excitement of the PEEPS® Brand at the iconic SteelStacks

Explore the Lehigh Valley

Need a break from Bethlehem? We’re right between Allentown and Easton. Together, we form the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, home to nearly three-quarters of a million people and eight colleges and universities. In Easton you'll find the and a lots of new restaurants, bars, and stores that all make for a great afternoon or evening. The Phillies Triple A team, the are close by and the Flyers AHL team, the are a 10-minute drive away in Allentown. Like to hit the slopes? You're in luck because , and are just a short drive from campus.

 

Lehigh Valley