When traveling north to Galilee, Jesus chose the less common route through Samaria. Samaria and Judea had a long history of racial tension (see 2 Kings 17:24–41; Ezra 4:1–5; Nehemiah 4; 6:1–19). In the time of Jesus, there was intense racial and cultural conflict between Jews and Samaritans. Jews usually avoided Samaria by first going east to Jericho and then traveling north through the Jordan Valley.
Sychar was likely in the area of Shechem. Jesus arrived at Jacob's well. Jacob had owned land near Shechem (Genesis 33:18–19).