The Holy Land is a term which refers to the geographical region of no definite borders which has significant religious importance for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Nowadays, it comprises roughly the territory of Israel, the Palestinian territories, parts of Jordan, and Lebanon. The perceived holiness of the land to Christianity was the ideological driving force behind the Crusades; the land has been a destination for religious pilgrimages since biblical times.

For Christians, the concept of the Holy Land is derived from the promise made by God to Abram in Genesis 15:18-21. New Testament Matthew 2:19-21 refers to the land as the land of Israel:

"An angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel."

The uniqueness of the Land of Israel is thus 'geo-theological'. The concept of the land being holy is especially prominent in the Book of Numbers. The land is also considered holy because God's "holy people" settled there. At the end of Joshua, the land has been distributed among the tribes, the patriarchal promise is fulfilled, and the land becomes the holy land. The Holy Land is also significant because of the association with the place of birth, ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The holy cities for Christians of all denominations are: * Jerusalem is believed to be the site of some of Jesus's teaching, the Last Supper (occurred at the Cenacle), the subsequent institution of the Holy Eucharist as well as His entombment; he was crucified on a nearby hill, Golgotha (sometimes called Calvary). It notably contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Church of All Nations, but many other Christian institutions as well. * Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus. * Nazareth is Jesus's hometown and the site of many holy places, including the Church of the Annunciation in Basilica and Mary's Well.

During the Crusades, Christian pilgrims often sought out the Holy Places in the Outremer, especially in early 12th century immediately after the capture of Jerusalem. Besides the sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Christian holy places also included:
* Sephoria (Tzippori), where the Virgin Mary spent her childhood
* The River Jordan, site of Christ's baptism
* Cave dwelling of John the Baptist
* Sea of Galilee
* Mount Tabor, site of the Transfiguration of Jesus
* Jericho, along the road to which was the location of the Good Samaritan's charity.
In the Orthodox Church, Mount Athos is revered by Orthodox Christians, and is inhabited exclusively by monastics.